I was discussing smoking with my mum this morning since we are moving back to the UK soon.

My mum and I sometimes clash a bit, well I guess this is possibly due to age difference and we have very different views on life e.c.t. My mum is titally againts anyone drinking any form of alchohol or smoking, so I am of course her worst nightmare since I do enjoy a nice bottle of wine with a meal

Anyway, we got to talking about smoking and my mum announced that "nobody is allowed to smoke anywhere in the UK anymore", I commented that obviously I understand, like in Belgium that people are obviously not allowed to smoke in places such as restaurants/pubs and other public areas, but of course people can light up on the street. She replied "NO! you are no longer allowed to light a cigarette on the street or smoke it!, it is 'definately, not allowed" ??

I don't want a debate on smoking or whether or not it is good or bad for you, I'd like a sensible answer to what actually is the truth. She went on to tell me that people also have to carry portable ash trays with lids??? otherwise if a cigarette butt is dropped on the floor as well as being in trouble for lighting up, I'd also be fined for dropping litter.

I just want to know the truth basically, thanks.

Laurel you are not allowed to smoke inside any public buildings or restaurants, but you are still allowed to have a fag on the street or in the privacy of your own home. If you walk past any of the pubs or restaurants there are loads of people having a quick fag on the street. Some of the restaurants and pubs supply a large ash tray thingy at their doors, but others do not and the streets are a bit of a mess with fag ends. It is perfectly legal to smoke outside - there has been talk of fining people who throw their fag ends on the street but nothing has come about with regards to this as yet. Loads of people also walk down the streets smoking - I dont have a problem with this, but it is not something I would personally do as my old father used to tell me it looked common.

Last time I was back there everyone was standing on the pavement in front of the bars (or in the beer garden if there was one) smoking outside. Often there were more people outside the bar than inside.

I'm pretty sure the ban covers offices/bars/cafes/restaurants/shops/pubic transport (no, NOT a spelling mistake!)/etc, but looks like you can still smoke out in the open air.


(oh yeah, if you have a company car in the UK you can't smoke in that either, as it's effectively company premises!)

Thanks, thats what I'd assumed, I guess this was one of my mums vain attempts to try to stop me from smoking

Yes - especially if she is 'titally againts' anyone drinking any form of alchohol or smoking.
:O) Sorry LJ - it just made me laugh.

Is this the same type of ban being bought to the Netherlands this summer? Today I believe ( I might be way out there though).

I did see my mistake but just couldn't be asked to change it

I had a glass of red wine at my mums house last time I was over, then god forbid poured a second glass.. Her words still ring in my ears now " Ooooh Laurel! thats silly isn't it!" I was 36 yrs old! then rushed off to tell all of her very aged friends that I'm an alchoholic. I just find it funny,

I'm glad she never saw me on a night out with me mates when I was younger I think it shocked her enough when she came home early from work once to find me shagging me boyfriend in doggy position on my bed, enough said All she got then was "well, I told you to always knock before barging in" poor old mum, I do love her really

I was the good one though, my sister used to grow cannabis plants on her window sill( they hardly ever grew then usually died. My dad thought this was great! He even watered them for her if she was away at weekends telling everyone how he thought it nice that she was so interested in horticulture.

Your Mum sounds just like mine!
I got exactly the same story.
And she tries to get me to stop smoking and counts the beers out.
Thankfully never caught me shagging!

I haven't been back to UK for 2years - but am doing so in 3 weeks. It will be interesting to see how it's changed things down the pub.
I shall be going up my 'local' here in NL later today to see if I can still have a smoke with a pint. I expect I will be able to. The coffeeshop was business as usual yesterday, still handing out cigarettes to skinup with.
haha - on the growing hash thing, I got (wrong word) my mum & sis growing it back in UK. They had plastic flowers on them for disguise in the window. They dont even smoke or cook it - they just think the leaves are pretty. They compete for who gets the most fingers like normal people compete with sunflowers.

Sorry, this hasn't answered anything for you at all, just like hearing about your mum.

PS: I get my daughter to water mine!

Laurel, you smoke! You drink! My God! I'm shocked! Next thing you'll be admitting you have s-e-x!

I don't agree with the smoking ban at all.I still think it should be left to the discretion of the owner of the bar. Restaurants, ok,I can understand that.
Having said that,it wasn't such a big deal when I was in the uk....some of the smoking sheds are quite nice really...like conservatories....but in the uk there's that bit more room to build a bit of a smoking den...and you get to complain with fellow smokers outside.
And I probably smoke a bit less.
Its a bit crap for the little bruin cafes where 90% of the clientele are smokers.
And its also crap that there will be the civilian smoke police who'll be snooping around...

Yes Laurel,could you please go into a bit more detail about your mum catching you doing it doggy style...I'm intrigued LOL.

Laurel ... I've had to reach for the tranquilisers before typing!

My God! I just read ALL the thread ... you ALSO admit to having s-e-x!

Anyway, on the subject of you shagging your boyfriend doggy-style ... he wasn't the Den Haag goalkeeper, was he?

Please Laurel, don't be intimidated by those lecherous blokes. Don't tell them anything about our little private secrets!

Of course emilio, I'd obviously never tell anyone

Yep, shocking eh, LJ has s-e-x . Mr Fook, actually it was terribly embarassing that incident because I had music playing so didn't even hear her come into the house. It's about the only time she didn't lecture me. She walked in, took one look and walked out, I never saw her move so fast!

I don't know who the den haag goalkeeper is, but nope it certainly wasn't him Although I must admit, I do like a nice pair of decent legs on a footy player. Seeing as hubbys cousin used to play for Feyenoord hubby also has a gorgeous butt and nice legs like his cousin so you can't really blame me

LJ - If its not a too personal question,what music did you have playing at the time ? :o)

I'm far from being a prudish person but I wonder what all these specific questions have to do with the smoking ban in the UK? Could it be that we are slightly off topic?

He was all over the 'net a couple of years back after his ex posted a video of her and a strap-on implement giving him a thorough servicing in some anonymous hotel room. I believe he had to leave Holland after it came to light.

Or could it be possibly construed as mild flirting with a fellow (and well respected) member of the forum by other regulars of the opposite sex. I doubt whether LJ's too preturbed by the posts in this thread ...

I'm just havin a laff ....

Oh, that poor goalkeeper!