Should Sporting Arenas Allow Smoking Areas?

We all know smoking related diseases kills millions around the world every year but should sporting arenas bow to popular demand and set aside smoking areas?

The smoking ban in public places became law in various parts of the United Kingdom at different periods in time, with England being the last country within Great Britain to introduce the ban, but with the pressure building from smoking lobbyists to have the law watered down should sporting arenas set aside a smoking area?

Reports from Manchester suggest nearly a hundred smokers were found at the Haye - Harrison World Boxing bout on Saturday puffing away but neither stewards nor the police, who were mingling with the smokers did anything to enforce the law and instead turned a blind eye.

Many of us who go to football stadiums are well aware of the 'no smoking policy' but there are always those who flout the law. In fact and similar to the weekends boxing match officials in the main say, 'no smoking here please' and then walk off into the distance and do nothing about it.

Another area of discussion is the demise of the British pub and depending who you listen to many believe the smoking ban is in part why nearly 900 pubs have closed every year due to the ban on smoking in public places.

Is it time we Brits followed the Dutch who will now be able to light-up again in over 2000 of the country's small owner-operated bars or pubs.

An incoming coalition government in the country has allowed the partial lifting of the ban for pubs which are less than 743.5 sq ft in size and which are staffed solely by the owner.

Prominent anti-ban campaigner Weil Maessen told The Sun...

'This is great news for small bars and the common man. Lower-class people tend to drink in these places and they were being punished.'

'Small bars have an important social function. Public health workers tell us smoking is bad for you. Well, the ban is very bad for your social and psychological health.'

'I hope that the same thing happens in the UK now.'

So I go back to my original question...

Should Sporting Arenas Allow Smoking Areas?

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