..and apart from being a sanctimonious git what makes you think you have the right to impose on other peoples liberties?

well lets see what everyone else thinks

My issue is that far too often the response to anything that's even remotely considered 'dangerous' or, as far as you seem to be concerned, offensive to your sense of smell, then it needs to be legislated against, banned, fines imposed, prison sentences handed out. It's ridiculous.

Youre just looking for an argument. Everyone knows fags kill you and so does passive smoking. Ask Roy Castles followers. Put them up to a ridiculous price to force people off them.(from a former 60 a day man)

and your average 'passive smoker' doesn't normally walk round with a trumpet in their gob for 40years !! Of course its well known that they cause medical issues... but we have guys going on on here as though just walking past somebody in the street having a ciggie is tantamount to being given a death sentence.

Can't smoke indoors as its illegal.
Can't smoke outdoors because it might offend some poor souls sensitive nostrils.

I do not agree with the nanny state whatsoever, there are far far too many laws in this country (UK but can apply to anywhere) but I know the reason why there are so many, the simple reason is that ,imo, as time goes on and things like civil rights and the compensation culture occupies the mindset of more and more people, they, the people are becoming less and less considerate to each other, their children, their pets etc that eventually laws need to be passed to bring people into line.
Forget the health issues for a minute, do you remember the time when you were sitting in a restaurant and trying to enjoy some food you are probably paying a far bit to eat and the person on the next table is smoking, and even worse holding their burning cigarette away from the table SO THEY DON'T UPSET THE PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN TABLE so the smoke drifts straight to yours and spoils your enjoyment of the fine food.
Although the laws where brought in for health reasons, it was felt, I imagine that as people would not be responsible for their actions, someone else has to be and that can only be the state.
Many of these laws can go way overboard, usually the ones brought in by local councils that use health and safety as a reason to ban everything they don't like, but many stem from the reason I belive is that if the people won't use common sense and decency then they will have to be told.

Then tell them... don't use legislation for bloody everything. I'm not as anti your stance as you may think... I'm just anti the concept of trying to make anything and everything illegal if it gets up the nose (pun intended) of a few people.

You have used the example of walking past somebody stood outside a shop smoking as being inconsiderate of them and offensive... why is that?. Where do you expect them to go? How much time of one of your average days does that impact on.. 30secs?

Whatever your response you and I both know that someone out there is probably already drafting the legislation to make their actions illegal because that 30secs in your day, when you might get a slight wiff of a cigarette, is 'dangerous'.
Then it will 'you can only smoke at home'... unless of course you have kids. Then that will be illegal as well..... remembering all along that smoking isn't actually a criminal offence.

From a former 60 a day man, I must say I still quite like the smell of the fag when it passes me but a guy came and sat next to me at the kids award night and I had to get up and stand at the back as he was rotten with stale smoke. He even popped out for a fly puff half way through and I thought, that used to be me.

I used to be a 40 a day man as well.... so I know what you mean about the smell of freshly lit ciggie.

I haven't smoked for well over 10 years, but my wife still does, so I'm a bit immune to the stale smoke smell... but not all the time and there are occasions when it really does stink.

Yuk - I hate the smell of stale smoke, and I can't stay sitting next to someone when the are minging of the stuff. If that happens to me, I usually walk away, with a sly 'aw ffs' dig

I have to agree wiht this comment.