Hampstead's Royal Free goes Smoke-Free
By Simon__Lee | Friday, June 04, 2010, 10:14
Tuesday was a day I cursed technology. I was walking past Royal Free hospital and people dressed in giant cigarette suits were loitering outside. Unfortunately my phone battery was dead and so no photos could be taken. Luckily though, they have this lovely one on their website!
-
Royal Free Spread the Message...
The reason for their being there was obviously not to make some artistic statement (although I'm sure you could read one into it), but instead to promote Royal Free's no smoking policy. Obviously, like every public building in the UK, smoking is not allowed within the walls of Royal Free. But this policy extends to the entire of the Royal Free's grounds.
A nice idea some may say, seeing as this prevents colonies of smokers setting up camp at the front door and also, more importantly, prevents the grounds being used as a rubbish tip for smokers. Is it me or do smokers seem to think that it's ok to throw their fag-butts where-ever they please, yet these same people would be horrified by the prospect of littering the street with a crisp packet?
So personally I think it's a good idea. However, I'm sure there are endless smokers who frequent Royal Free; patients, employees, visitors, who will be pretty annoyed by this whole set-up. I'm not sure how far smokers will have to go to get their nicotine, but I bet they think it's way to far...
Comments
I congratulate Rob2010 for Godwin'ing this thread in the first post. Seriously- comparing the smoking ban to the Nazis? Does that not seem a little asinine to you?
By kirjava at 14:36 on 07/06/10
ReportAmen. I'm a smoker and although I thought it was a good idea banning smoking indoors, it was pretty unpleasant... I was in the Scala the other day where people were smoking in a stairwell. Not outdoors at all, and at first we were all quite excited about being able to smoke indoors, but after a couple of hours, the smoking 'area' became unbearable to be in and we had to flee outside. But forcing people off of the grounds of an area is pretty unfair. Would be really interested to see how far the patients and staff have to walk... Surely a smoking area within the grounds (that isn't outside the front entrance) would be a more acceptable compromise?
By Jesse_Custer at 11:51 on 05/06/10
ReportI hope you realise the connection between the dismal state of the pub scene in Hampstead (are they ANY real pubs left here - even the Holly Bush has become somewhat of a homage to the "I can't really bartend or socialise but they employ me anyway because I'm cheap mobile labour" ) and the stigmatization of smoking.
Next target - alcohol.
Next target - food.
Next target - oxygen.
Be very careful what you wish for. Because choice won't be one of them.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
(Niemoller)
By Rob2010 at 16:31 on 04/06/10
Report