The smoking ban

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Segregation and discrimination

Wednesday, 9th April 2008

From Angela Morgan

On 2 April 2007 came the end of my social life as I knew it.  The smoking ban came into effect in Wales. Little did I know then the effects it was going to have on me as a smoker. Almost overnight I became a leper.  Not allowed to smoke in the pub any more, I was banished to the outside to have a cigarette.
           
My husband is a non-smoker and he agreed prior to the ban that he would join me outside so I would not feel vulnerable. The first evening I went outside it was freezing but my husband kept to his promise, but by the time we were ready to go home we not on good terms.  We were cold and angry and ended up having words.

The worst time is when it is raining (which it does a lot in Wales).  Some pubs have put table and chairs outside, which is fine when the weather is nice, but not all premises have bothered to put any form of heating or shelter up to keep us warm and dry, their attitude is that it is your choice to go outside, nobody makes you. (But they do).  My husband no longer comes outside with me, it is too cold he says and he does not like it, so I am stood there all on my own.

The feeling of being segregated from my husband and my friends is awful.  I know the choice is mine to go outside for a cigarette, but when you have been smoking for many years and have been used to smoking with your friends and family in the pub it is a very lonely and sad feeling especially when you look through the window and see them looking back at you and laughing, but the saddest thing is that you laugh back, trying not to show the feeling of hurt and anger inside you.
             
I thought that this country had rules regarding segregation and discrimination.  I feel that smokers are being discriminated against.  Surely it would have been better if the bar had been made a smoking bar and the lounge non-smoking.  This way everyone is protected and the non-smokers would have their smoke free environment.
              
I did write to the Prime Minister, but was fobbed off with a letter from the Department of Health.

• Editor's note: UKIP policy is to overturn the smoking ban and allow freedom of choice. The party is currently engaged in a nationwide campaign of protest against the ban.

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