About Time Someone Did Something..

[tommy.irene]

www.u.tv/News/ROI-order-ban-on-cigarette-branding/de653d90-e5b5-4354-a359-ec2e5de40783

[tommy.irene]

ROI moves towards tobacco branding ban

The Republic of Ireland has become the first European country to move towards ordering a ban on branded cigarette packets.

Australia introduced plain, non-branded packaging rules in 2011. (© Getty)

Following the example set by Australia and New Zealand, big tobacco companies could be forced to use standardised packaging and carry harrowing-looking health warnings and images on the boxes and pouches.

If enacted, the new laws will remove all logos, trademarks, colours, designs and graphics except for the make or name of the product which will be in a uniform typeface on a plain background.

Dealing with smoking-related disease costs the country's health sector more than €650m a year.

Approximately 5,200 Irish people die each year from diseases caused by smoking - with one in two of all smokers dying as a result of their addiction.

To maintain smoking rates, it is estimated that the tobacco industry needs to recruit 50 new smokers every day.

[ilove2patch]

I really can't see how it stops a nicotine addict from buying them. Whatever pack they are in they will still buy them sadly.

[saasher2012]

I agree if people want to smoke they will & taking the branding off the pkt won't stop them, I don't smoke but I really feel if they put in as much effort to stop drug taking & the sale of them as they do into this the world would be a safer place, I as far as I know haven't seen anyone at court for stealing , stabbing & mugging for a pkt of cigs!

[ed_blackadder_1]

Sorry Tommy but as someone who has been addicted to the dredded weed for a number of years it wont stop me from buying them, I am an addict after all no less than an alcoholic and a drug addict, as for children sadly most of them get them from adults not the shops.

If I thought it would stop anyone I would be behind it all the way.

It would be the same with alcohol, if they put nasties on the bottles it wouldn't put off hardened drinkers sadly, because a lot of people who drink die of liver complaints, cancer of the mouth and throat, stomach not to mention, accidents caused by drink driving and kids on binges, fight related injuries.

I drink on very rare occasions so I only have the one vice,

[chickengrandma-2008]

When I was 10 we moved to a corner shop in a very poor area.  People used to buy one cigarette at a time so it  (or 2 or 3)  would be put into a paper sweet bag.  Having no fancy packet didn't seem to put any of those people off smoking!

[soppysofty]

I was addicted to the dreaded weed for over 30 years.  Tried all the normal stopping stuff but nothing worked.

Was then introduced to vaping (not ecigs) and have never looked back.

Cut down on the nicotine until I now use 0 nicotine vape fluid so I still have my dummy and the feeling of smoking but no adverse effects.

My clothes dont smell anymore, I dont smell anymore, the car is a pleasure to drive in again and we can have friends over without worrying.

Even better my lungs are now clear and my taste buds work again.

All this in just 2 years and I have not even felt the desire to try a fag - cannot stand the smell now.

A win win situation for everyone.

By the way, once I made the initial outlay - about £30 - my vaping costs me about £1.20 per day.

If you want any more information/advise please PM me.

[5129frederick]

It's not the nicotine that kills you  Nicotine is the main constituent of tobacco, but it's not a killer - it is the tar content that is the killer.  Namely though, it is what the cigarette makers mix in with the tobacco that causes "The big C".  It's a closely guarded secret the *bleep* that goes into the making of a cigarette but amongst the content, OK sobeit in miniscule quantities, is a base of rocket fuel!  This is no joke.  But  as you say, it's not going to put anybody off buying cigarettes any more that a bottle of whisky bearing a public health warning about sclerosis of the liver.  If they want to smoke or drink, they'll do just that.  The crass hypocrisy is that of the Government playing a caring auntie, putting up the price of tobacco to deter smokers.  A packet of twenty will cost you around £8.50 - how much of that is taken by our caring Government in tax??  If people took it really seriously and gave up smoking, they'd cry their eyes out!  Yes, I know: it's an old chestnut that's been going around for years, but it's true.  We don't live in a nanny state - yet.  

What about confectionary, giving people diabetes - plain wrappers showing pictures of people with rotting teeth?

For the record, my mother smoked - and paid the ultimate price.  For myself, I find smoking highly offensive.  People demand the right to smoke in public - I too, demand the right - to move away.  Because cigarette tobacco stinks, as do their clothes. and breath.

[guardpig]

And just yesterday I read somewhere that since introducing brandless packaging cigarette use in Australia had risen!

[ed_blackadder_1]

I find drunks and drug addicts offensive too Fred, not nice when you go into a pub and you have people staggering around, then when you do go outside for a ciggy you find drunks peeeeing in the alley, - nice.

I am well aware that I smell of smoke,  however, I do not smoke around people who do not smoke, I don't smoke in the house or the car because of the smell, I consider myself to be a considerate smoker if there is such a thing.

I did give up smoking before I fell for my son and didn't smoke again until he was 3, a stressful time for me,  I NEVER smoked when he was with me.

I realise that I am in some peoples eyes a horrible person because I smoke, but I am still me, I am a generous, thoughtfull person, a good friend and good listener, I am always there if anyone needs me, so does smoking make me a bad person?

I do realise what I am doing does me no favours.

Like you say maybe we aught to put plain wrappers on sweets, burgers, Maccy D's, booze, chocolate, fast cars, casinos need I go on.

[chickengrandma-2008]

I don't shun anyone who smokes as I was a smoker myself for years.  I'm not one of these who say how disgusting it is, how it stinks etc etc.   Each to own. I'd rather meet a smoker in a dark alley than one on drink or drugs!!  As to the packets, when they started putting pictures of black lungs and things on them I just made a point of not looking!  Come to think of it, are they gonna take the horrible pictures off and just have completely plain packs?  That sounds much better!  

[saasher2012]

I work & socialise with people that smoke I don't consider them disgusting or horrible Ed, & you certainly don't have to justify yourself.
I'd like to think I'm not that shallow that I wouldn't want to be around someone that smokes! xx

[5129frederick]

You go outside for a smoke and then see drunks relieving themslves in the alley?  I hope you avertrd your eyes! 

Give up smoking?  Easy - I knew somebody who did it five times!   ( Think about it)

[ed_blackadder_1]

Thank you Fred, I will give up today.  I have given up a few times and goodness knows I wish it were as easy as just stopping, sadly I do not have a lot of will power, I am the same with chocolate. 

My husband gave up some 15 years ago when he broke his leg, because of the severity of the break he was in hospital for 10 days and didn't get out of bed so he had no choice, he hasn't smoked since.  I think that is a bit of a severe way of giving up though.

I have actually been standing in a smoking area and someone did relieve themselves and walk away, charming. There was a group of us standing there, and I swear to this day he didn't even see us.

[ilove2patch]

I was a heavy smoker. I gave up for seven years & then in a moment of weakness started again. Not for long though as a customer of mine (I made kiddies knitwear) was overheard saying they thought the jumpers were lovely but they could never buy something that smelled of cigarette smoke. They did smell even though I didn't smoke when I was working. I smelled of smoke as did my breath. I cringe now thinking about it. I have nothing against smokers personally, I have been there, but if you smoke you smell of cigarettes. Fact. It's not pleasant. In fact on occasions it makes me feel sick to be next to a smoker in an enclosed space & I have to move. People are not horrible because they smoke but it's not nice to be near & is antisocial. There is also the health side of things. Von & more recently our own Merc have very serious COPD due to their having smoked. I have bad asthma for the same reason. We can't tell people what to do but it's all food for thought. I have read this through twice as I don't want to offend or upset anyone but it's just my story & how I feel personally.

[rose2008-2008]

I started smoking at 15 and used to go into a little wine and spirit corner store in my school uniform and he used to sell me cigarettes!!!. Now when i look back i think that was terrible really!!!!.

Before i finally gave up about 4 years ago i used to stop and start again lots and lots of times. I used to want people to ban cigarettes altogether as i wanted to give up but found it so hard. Also when someone said above they used to sell cigarettes in ones ,,i think thats a good idea,,especially if your trying to stop,, then you can just go and buy one or two.

Im curious (not that i want to try it) what this vaping is about???. Their all different flavours and things arent they. It sounds a bit like when they suck on them HOOKA pipes in Turkey and other places???. Is it like that then?. Its still got nicotine in it though has it not but in smaller amounts?. ooooooerrrrrr.

[chickengrandma-2008]

Apparently those e-cigs have the nicotine but none of all the other nasties found in cigarettes.  I think I would find it harder to stop smoking if I'd changed to those instead.  To my mind, using those is still 'smoking'.

[merc1_clocks]

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@ilove2patch wrote:

I was a heavy smoker. I gave up for seven years & then in a moment of weakness started again. Not for long though as a customer of mine (I made kiddies knitwear) was overheard saying they thought the jumpers were lovely but they could never buy something that smelled of cigarette smoke. They did smell even though I didn't smoke when I was working. I smelled of smoke as did my breath. I cringe now thinking about it. I have nothing against smokers personally, I have been there, but if you smoke you smell of cigarettes. Fact. It's not pleasant. In fact on occasions it makes me feel sick to be next to a smoker in an enclosed space & I have to move. People are not horrible because they smoke but it's not nice to be near & is antisocial. There is also the health side of things. Von & more recently our own Merc have very serious COPD due to their having smoked. I have bad asthma for the same reason. We can't tell people what to do but it's all food for thought. I have read this through twice as I don't want to offend or upset anyone but it's just my story & how I feel personally.

---

 I'm not on much these days, as I'm so unwell right now.

 Maggie, you are spot on with what you say !

 Today, I am 10 weeks & 1 day off the stinky stix...& I wish all those smokers could see what I now am like...

 I struggle for every breath & can no longer walk more than 10 yards.

 I am still at the stage of finding the right medication for me.

 I have only a total of 30% lung capacity.

 I knew none of this when I stopped smoking, only that I had had a cough for nearly a year.

 COPD is not curable.

 I sppose I took the attitude that " it will never happen to me "

 My COPD is most certainly caused by smoking for 40 odd years ; completely my own doing & self-inflicted.

 Von is a wonderful inspiration & help to me - thank you Von 

 I can still knit, & I'm aiming to, perhaps not dance, but be able to sing along to songs again.

 I don't mean this to sound depressing - it's just my story, & I wouldn't wish this to happen to anyone.

 Thank you if you've read this far 

[ed_blackadder_1]

Thanks for that Mercs, I do know it could happen to me, but that like you said isn't easy to accept and stop.

My brother is living with only one lung and the other being only 50% capacity so I do know how difficult it is, not 1st hand but secondhand.  His was due to being a wood machinist many years ago and breathing in all the dust. He has never smoked and if he had maybe they might have picked up on his problems a long time ago, rather than when it was too late.  Everytime he went about it, they discounted any problems because he didn't smoke and put it down to asthma.  He is on the transplant list.

I have been to the doctors because I had a cough that was hard to shift after I had a cold, they ran tests, did a lung capacity test and xrays and everything is fine.  However I know that is not an excuse to carry on smoking.

[saasher2012]

Stop beating yourself up Ed! I'm sure the ladies who gave up will tell you it was right for them at that time! You WILL give it up when the time is right for you & the more you stress about it the more you'll continue to do it if that makes sense?