slightly off the topic here, but does anyone find that alcohol PLUS fags (cigarettes, that is) results in the most killer hangover? and if so, does anyone know why that is?
Are you talking about the toxic passive smoking and alcohol or people who smoke and drink. The biggest hangover from being in a smokey pub is having to strip off when you get home and put all your clothes on the balcony to get rid of the stench of smoke.
By the way I am curious about anti-smoking propoganda. I have not seen any but I seen many pathetic cigarette adverts since I have been Switzerland.
By the way Ticino has finally gone non smoking and showing how it can be done in the rest of Switzerland. Hopefully, it will not be long before smoke free pubs and restaurants and then your hangovers will not be as bad as you will probably smoke less if you have to keep going out to for your "coffin nails" as they call them here.
See this is what I mean, I'm not talking about cigarette ads, I'm talking about anti-smoking public service announcements (what I refer to as propaganda and before anyone complains please read the above posted definition). Which, I don't know if people haven't noticed they don't really have in Switzerland, Germany etc. which I think is why there isn't the overall attitude that smoking is repulsive, gonna kill you, only idiots smoke blah, blah, blah, etc. etc. you hear from Americans and Brits (where we have these announcements in spades). If people want to believe that their beliefs/opinions aren't a product of the images and sounds they are subjected to daily, well I just don't know what to say about that.
You are right, I have never understood why in Switzerland do not have the natural repulsion to cigarettes that you find in other countries. Hopefully, that will change here soon. I read today that Bern will ban smoking in restaurants and bars from mid 2009 and in Basel people are collecting signatures for a vote on banning smoking in restaurants so there is some hope. I would like them to start using the same advertisments here that they use in the UK, US and Australia so that attitudes here start changing.
I don't mind people smoking in private where they are only killing themselves but passive smoking is a killer.
This really seems like a no-brainer to me ... Even if (contrary to all studies and public knowledge and statistics), as you suggest, smoking doesn't cause cancer, the fact remains: Cigarette smoke, simply, absolutely, totally, completely, undoubtedly, colossally, unquestionably, irrefutably, undeniably STINKS!!!
I'm sure I'll get flack for this too but it always amazes me how often I get told I smell good or my hair smells good when I get a hug from a non-smoker (not in a smoky bar either). Which is not saying they like the smell of smoke but is saying that although I do smoke I someone manage not to smell like sh*t.
Unless you are in a confined space or a smoky bar like environment, the cigarette stink stays around the mouth and hands. Breathe mints don't fool anyone either. The hand smoke/residue was chronic in the office I work in, I would open doors or use a phone and get the smell on my hands. Started a habit of kicking doors open instead
I think that if restaurants had banned smoking a long time ago and bars had put in place good vent systems (and ban it inside when it's warm enough to open a terrasse), then there would have been less pressure for a complete ban.
Passive smoking is indeed a danger but particulalry so if you share a smokey room with people 8 hours day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year, not if you go to bar for a few hours for a drink. If you are worried by that little amount of pollutants, you better move to the country, as far away as possible from car traffic.
I do share the dislike of the smell mind you and I hate the stink on my clothes when I go back home hence why, as a smoker, I'm not unduly upset about the impending ban in my country of residence.
I think in terms of the stench of tobacco products I find it difficult to choose between cigars and pipes as the most revolting smell and cigarettes are not too far behind in terms of things that I prefer not to have anywhere close to my nose. I think when I found out that cigar smokers do not even inhale made me wonder why they bother is it just to show that they have more money than sense and they don't give damn about all the people around them ?
Smoking a cigar is a whole different experience to smoking a cigarette. With a cigarette you are simply getting your hit of pollutants to satisfy your craving. A cigar is to be savoured and tasted while you play with the thick smoke. Inhaling cigar smoke is much less fun than cigarette smoke, anyone who has ever done it by accident will probably confirm that it's not a pleasant experience.
Smoking after dinner is a marvelous hobby. Apologies to anyone annoyed by my past smoking in public, whoever you are. Although I've long given up, I find this nebulously acceptable social form of drug taking quite pleasant.
To those who vehemently object, can I suggest you calmly and politely ask the annoying smoker to desist? I'd have had no objection to stubbing it out if asked nicely