[Muffminer]

From the good old BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6664871.stm

About half way down the page

[MikeTV]

I smoke outside all the time, throughout the year, without patio-heaters. I think it's patio-heaters that are the problem here, and they should be banned.

[Zack Attack]

Perhaps patio heaters should be banned on July 1st along with the smoking ban, what's the point in risking the environment for the sake of not wearing warm clothing. If you want to be outside and warm, perhaps you should be in southern Europe!

[damo_in_sale]

Originally Posted by Zack Attack

Perhaps patio heaters should be banned on July 1st along with the smoking ban, what's the point in risking the environment for the sake of not wearing warm clothing. If you want to be outside and warm, perhaps you should be in southern Europe!

Why not ban central heating in homes? What's the point in risking the environment for the sake of not wearing warm clothing?

[runner05]

who cares about global warming, by the time it has any major effect we will be all dead anyway

[Zack Attack]

Originally Posted by damo_in_sale

Why not ban central heating in homes? What's the point in risking the environment for the sake of not wearing warm clothing?

This is true. My vulcan logic seems to be rubbing off on you! You'll be a pro-MMGW in no time!

[damo_in_sale]

Originally Posted by Zack Attack

This is true. My vulcan logic seems to be rubbing off on you! You'll be a pro-MMGW in no time!

I think we will have to agree to disagree mate

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by runner05

who cares about global warming, by the time it has any major effect we will be all dead anyway

I agree that is the major influence with most peoples thinking.
As for the original post, it's much worse than just patio heaters. When people give up smoking or smoke less because its just too expensive or too socially unacceptable they:

have more money to spend on exotic long haul holidays

need other ways to relax on a day to day basis which are nearly always more polluting than a cigarette (eg going for a drive)

they also live noticeably longer, which massively increases their lifetime carbon footprint

They also:

pay less tax, which means HMG tax other things like petrol even more highly

live longer so worsen an already bad pension crisis

are more able to survive disease so are a drain on stretched health resources

are more likely to suffer from 'expensive' diseases like cancer and heart problems without actually succumbing to the disease quickly

and I could go on but you get the picture. So yes, the smoking ban will cause global warming and I invite anyone to come up with a way that global warming might be reduced by a smoking ban!

One gauntlet, thrown down!