Posts from — July 2007

I mentioned back in June about how the smoking ban would increase online bingo and now it seems that bingo halls really are struggling. A press realease just out states that 1 in 3 less people play in their local halls now. With a further 63% now switched to online bingo. Although the report also says that some clubs have benefited from the ban the overall outcome shows a drop in visits. The down turn is so serious that even Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, has been made to help the traditional bingo halls by lowering taxes.

My solution to this problem, albeit rather fantasy-like, is to have open-air bingo. The rave community were concerned that the public smoking ban will stop revellers dancing and enjoying a ciggie, but laws state that as long as the marquee is 50% open (ie 50% walled / 50% open) then the ban doesn’t take effect. So there we go bingo lovers encourage your local bingo to buy a marquee!

Story released here

Couldn’t resist writing about this “little” story when i saw it. Tankbooks has taken the initiative to create small novels which take on the appearance of cigarettes boxes. The detail is amazing and the story books/boxes even come in cellophane too!

Just as cigarettes come in many brands the books suit all tastes… from Hemingway to Kipling. It isn’t likely to tempt many smokers away from smoking infact in my opinion they’ll probably think ‘i need a fag now’. Nonetheless this is a fantastic idea and is without a doubt the healthiest cigarette packet you’re every likely to buy! Can’t wait for the vending machines!!

Read more here: http://www.springwise.com/media_publishing/light_up_a_short_story/

Chantix, the trade name of varenicline, has been said to have potential to be better than other drug treatments for alcoholism. Chantix is more commonly known as the new drug from Phizer which helps smokers kick the habit.

However it’s early days yet as the treatment has only been tested on rats. In what I think is quite funny experiment whereby rats are plied with alcohol for a few months and then given a dose of Chantix. The tests showed that the rats consumed less alcohol after just one dose. So we have a drug that can help you cut smoking and alcohol… this really should be renamed to something like Halo or maybe Halox. lol

This treatment has got scientists excited at present there is only 3 medications available to help reduce alcoholism.

It’s been a long time coming but it’s finally here. England is now smoke free. To celebrate we went down one of my local pubs. This is the one, which before, i couldn’t stand going to. I would always end up coughing and smell like an ashtray afterwards.

Funnily enough they’d decided to put on a karaoke tonight.. as an attempt to make sure the hardened smokers returned. Although i don’t think loyal smoking locals would stop going just because of a smoking ban. At the end of the day their main motive, apart from escapism, is to drink beer.

Walking in the pub was strange. It didn’t smell of smoke but there was still the same old musty smell that most oldish pubs retain. All the original smokers were in high spirit although there was a few jokes made. Most popular being “here… take £50 from my card so that i can light up”.

As we know a lot of faces both behind and in front of the bar it was good to hear the landlady’s opinion. She was saying that because of the lack of smoke it meant that people could smell each other more. Now in many cases this was fine… you smell other people’s aftershave and perfume… but it was people with, how shall i say, have a lower hygiene regime that was causing a little problem. This pub has a wide range of age groups although does have a large contingent of male 20-somethings. To combat this additional dose of B.O. in the air the landlady had added air freshener to the air conditioning system! I didn’t notice it personally and i’m sure this would be easily rectified by adding more window vents. Or maybe by putting deodorant vending machines in the men’s toilets!! Quick… i better patent that! lol

All in all i loved the new cleaner experience.  I just have to try and remove my smoke-induced stigma attached to the pub name whenever i here it! Here’s to the future, when i’ll be able to go to the pub with my ultra anti-smoking bro!