Hockney - pompous old boor

David Hockney was on Radio 4's Today Programme this morning,  arguing with Labour MP Julie Morgan about the proposal to ban smoking in pubs.

I have mixed feelings about the proposal.  I don't like sitting next to people who are smoking and who clearly don't give a shit that they are breathing their vile pollution all over me.  That said,  my natural aversion to banning things stops me from supporting a total restriction.

If Hockney was trying to win over waverers like me he totally failed.  Listen to the discussion  (it was at 7:43).  Hockney presented no coherent arguments.  He sounded as if he was drunk, constantly  interrupting Morgan and whining,  "What about me,"  like a petulant child. Julie Morgan kept her cool.  Some of her arguments sounded reasonable but most of them were drowned out by Hockney's pompous ranting. 

Hockney did himself and his cause no favours this morning.  He came over as a thoroughly selfish and objectionable old boor.  Just the sort who would blow smoke over you from the next table.

Comments

["Alice"]

He came over as a thoroughly selfish and objectionable old boor. Just the sort who would blow smoke over you from the next table.
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Or the sort that would put a total ban on smoking...period.

[JuliaM]

Every time I listen to a reasoned argument for the ban on smoking (not idiots like Hockney, obviously, I mean those who argue from a 'health of bar staff' perspective, which can be persuasive) I can't help but think of those other proponents of the ban. The ones like Hockney who think that because they don't smoke, no-one else should.

Then I'm against it!

[GZ Expat]

If there is such a demand for non-smoking pubs...why doesn't someone just open a pub and ban smoking inside? If there are such pubs...what is their business like, compared to smoking pubs? Let the market decide.

[JuliaM]

D'oh! Just realised that in my comment above it now reads like Hockney is the one wanting a ban, because I removed some text & posted without re-reading it to see if it changed the focus. Truly, the preview button IS your friend!

I think the market deciding is a good idea - doesn't it already do that, in the form of smoking & non-smoking areas? I know the argument is that the smoke drifts, but surely with better extraction, this could be resolved?

[Neil C. Reinhardt]

The bars and cafes in California are doing just great with OUT all that smoke.

It is fantastic to be able to go out and be able to not have to go outside to clear your lungs. To not have that stink
in your hair and clothes.

The Bottom Line is that ONLY SELFISH people wish to force others to have to breath that crap and smell the stink of them.

[Stevo in HCM]

I spend a load of time in Singapore and a total ban on smoking in public places has been in force for quite some time, this includes believe it or not taxi queues outside hotels which are deemed as public places.
Everyone appears to live happily with the ban so why not just introduce a ban in the UK and have done with it.