Smoking and drinking

Regarding drinking, there is good evidence that a minimum unit price for alcohol would reduce harm. The recent court ruling opens the way for the Scots to proceed with this. the Welsh are talking about it too. Does London have the power to go it alone in England??

Smoking should be banned
without question or delay.
I'm tired of living in a country where bad habits are tolerated and used by big business and the chancellor for financial gain.
And in the meantime roads, pavements are used as dumping grounds for this dangerous and unnatural habit.
I expect the hypocrites aka MP's to do something to stop this horrible death causing habit.

Personally I don't drink or smoke but a lot of my friends do. What would make them drink and smoke less, would be to put the price up.

I gave up smoking many years ago after several unsuccessful attempts. I think the line between encouraging smokers to give up (if they want to) and vilifying them is quite a tricky one. It's really hard to give up smoking.

I also drink alcohol. I've cut back a lot in recent times and ideally would like to stop altogether but that's so difficult drinking is such a central part of socialising (for my generation at least). I think supermarkets could do more.

I also agree with a previous comment about supporting those who overeat too.

Sometimes I like to have a cigarette after a meal, with a drink, or to relax. Maybe a few times a week (my cardiologist says this amount of infrequent smoking has very little impact on my health). However, at a price of £10 for pack of 20 cigarettes with no option to purchase any less now that smaller packs of tobacco and cigarettes are outlawed, I end up buying a whole pack and smoking more than I wanted to. Fortunately I managed to find a shopkeeper who will sell me a couple of most likely Chinese knockoff single cigarettes on the sly, which I sometimes resort to. Also the new packaging has no information about tar or nicotine levels unlike the old branded packaging - which is not helpful if you don't want something strong and can't afford to sample every option first because you aren't a millionaire.

This is where the current attitude and legislation for smoking has got us.

I get the impression that this forum is mostly frequented by Londoners who look down their nose at any decadent or uncouth behaviour. Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde must be turning in their grave. I love some avocado toast as much as the next person but God forbid you might catch a whiff of a cigarette as you walk home from the gym with your Waitrose shopping. And we wonder why we're branded 'snowflakes'...

There needs to be some balance, it doesn't have to be one or the other. Allow clubs and pubs to apply for smoking licenses. If it's really that bad I'm sure they'll rapidly go out of business right? The smoking ban was a major factor in the decline of London's once vibrant dance club scene. A cigarette once a blue moon is less harmful than walking to work every day down any of London's main roads, or the daily mentally draining incessant racket of basement excavations and rooftop extensions - but you wouldn't ban all vehicles on main roads or all loud asset enhancing construction work would you? Or would you...

Smoking definitely a minority now, few post hipster types that still perpetuate the 'cool' myth where i work. I stopped in my early 20s through vanity more than anything its incredibly ageing and damaging. I drink socially and love fruit beers and pale ales. Bit of a binge drinker but you gotta have one vice I guess, other than spending money on stuff you don't need...

I smoked for 40 years but gave up 3 yrs ago with the use of E-cigarettes. Why anyone continues to smoke after the advent of non toxic nicotine delivery is a mystery to me. I am no longer a pariah with smelly clothes and breath, and no one minds if I vape in their home.
I, too, drink but not to excess. It ruins the enjoyment.

I have never smoked and don't intend to start. I do like a drink but only socially.

I strongly oppose smoking. Nicotine is an addictive drug and causes more deaths than heroine or cocaine. In fact all heroine, cocaine and crack users start by smoking cigarettes, then move on to cannabis, then cocaine...

I believe smoking should be banned in all public places and that if people must smoke, they should do it in the privacy of their own homes away from everybody else.

I also want to see the E cigarettes banned anfpd their use inside restaurants, pubs, under shelters, etc.

I drink one maybe two units of alcohol a week or a fortnight, very rarely any more.

More needs to be done to educate the children of today of the severe dangers of smoking and alcohol and how if they saved the amount they would spend on cigarettes and/or alcohol they would not experience the financial issues that many of those who decide to smoke or drink do and they may be able to spoil themselves with nice meals out or great holidays instead of standard ones.

My fiance'e quit smoking 15 years ago, has no debts, has saved over £45,000 - which she would have spent on cigarettes and we go on 4 and 5 star holidays to places like Mexico, Cuba, America, etc