Revolt in style - again
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 
Following the success of our Revolt In Style dinner at The Savoy last summer, Forest is once again joining forces with Boisdale to highlight opposition to the smoking ban.
Proposed events include a large reception (Revolt In Style II) and a small (but perfectly formed) Cigar Terrace Party on (where else?) the cigar terrace at Boisdale. The latter will be co-hosted by the new Campaign for Separate Smoking Rooms (patron, Boisdale MD Ranald Macdonald!).
Ranald is currently in California (his business empire now stretches to Moscow, Washington and beyond) but I caught up with him last night and (wearing his CSSR hat) he gave me the following quote:
“We don’t wish to reverse the smoking ban but we do want sensible revisions that would enable businesses such as Boisdale to offer customers what they want. The smoking ban is unnecessarily draconian. We support restrictions but we know there is a demand for well-ventilated smoking rooms and, together with Forest and the CSSR, we will continue to press our case.”
Details of all events and initiatives will be published on the new Forest website - coming soon.
Reader Comments (15)
Count me in Simon.
Well actually we DO wish to reverse the smoking ban, otherwise the closures will increase tremendously, which probably wouldn't cause Ranald Macdonald to lose much sleep!
Special 'set aside rooms' pander to the lies about ETS, and if you compromise because of these lies, then you are seen to be accepting them as truth.
As long as the passive smoking myth continues exemptions will not be made, and even if they were what about the pubs and clubs without separate rooms? They'll go to the dogs just the same. The wealthy clubs would prosper and many others would go under. I didn't think this fight was about that.
I agree with you Zitori. It always angers me when I hear smokers saying that they want smoking back in pubs, but they wouldn't dream of smoking in a restaurant. Why?
As you, Zitori, quite rightly say, we all know that passive smoking is a myth, so why should we pander and compromise because of these lies?
We either accept that ETS is harmful or we don't. I personally do not, and I know that most agree with me on this.
There seems to be an awful lot of selfishness being promoted regarding this. It seems that smokers who mostly patronise pubs, don't give a hoot about other places. What about people like me, and there are plenty? I love smoking after I have had a meal, it is a part of my evening out, but like everyone else, now I can't do this.
But the "pub" contingent in general, seem happy to pass this side of the ban over, as long as they can smoke in their local pub.
It is the same with politics, I have heard and read, time after time, smokers saying they would vote for "any" party who would overturn the ban. I see this as being totally selfish and completely silly. Are these people honestly saying that they would vote for a new Nazi party if it were formed, just because it promised to overturn the ban? It certainly seems like they are.
We all owe it to our children and their children to do what is best for their future, and believe me there are many things much more important than the smoking ban.
I want it amended, so that we have a choice, smoking premises and non smoking premises, but I am not prepared to sell my soul in order to get it.
I am up for it too. I have become a bit of a regular at the city branch in Bishopsgate, and it really is great service and food.
Quote,
We support restrictions but we know there is a demand for well-ventilated smoking rooms and, together with Forest and the CSSR, we will continue to press our case.”
I've got to say that this kind of flip-flopping attitude is why we are in the mess we are now.
You wouldn't hear this kind of thing from ASH, or any of the pro ban groups.
I'm sorry to say that with this sort of statement, FOREST prove themselves to be a part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
What will be the next press release, "We know smoking is bad, but..."
For Gods sake grow a pair please!
I, like Peter, would like to see smoking back in restaurants and cafes and, rather than separate smoking and non smoking premises I'd like smoking sections in restaurants with effective air technology, including air curtains. I want integration and not segregation.
I'd also like to think that the bashes that FOREST organises are a precurser of mass civil action.
Simon mentioned some time ago about a possible demonstration on 1st July but I've heard nothing since. Have there been any further developments, Simon?
Please forgive me Simon for not exactly sticking to the thread, but with just one day to go to the Mayoral election, I thought everyone should see this.
Good old Boris, the smoker's friend, God bless him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02KwDMM1STI&feature=related
Yes, good for Boris for having smoking bans on aircraft feature on his room 101 list but it doesn't alter the fact, Peter, that he did his recent U-turn within 24 hours. Whatever his personal feelings about smoking bans he ain't being allowed to express them when representing the Conservative Party.
Joyce, just wait until Boris is Mayor (and he will be) and then watch what he does. Even David Cameron, when interviewed on tv the other night, said, Boris is his own man, and we respect that.
I would have a great deal of respect for Boris if he implemented a cunning plan that he had up his sleeve.
I believe Boris is the best man for the job - sorry for being off-topic, but I watched him on Question Time last Thursday evening and believed he was unfairly treated. I have seen the Youtube video and I, for one,believe he could have something up his sleeve. On topic, it would be better to bring back smoking in some places because some cafes etc. are struggling very much due to this draconian legislation.
>I've got to say that this kind of flip-flopping attitude is why we are in the mess we are now. You wouldn't hear this kind of thing from ASH, or any of the pro ban groups.
I was going to make this point a few hours ago, Tony, but the computer started acting funny.
Perhaps the main reason for ASH's success is in their sheer bloody-mindedness. They never give any indication of being interested in compromise, ever. Even the text on their website sounds like a fascist sitting on a cloud. They present "complete conviction" so perhaps their ideas are seen as "complete solutions" - no uncertainty.
Or perhaps the "totalness" of their position intimidates people - including MPs - so they gain prestige precisely by being fascistic. They are not helpers, but warriors.
In fact, come to think of it, I have a vague memory of reading somewhere on the ASH site that they attribute their success to their lack of willingness to compromise.
Either way, their tactics will certainly be emulated by lobby groups of all kinds. Right now I have a sense that lobby groups all over Britain must be staggered by ASH's success, and will be analysing and dissecting everything that led up to the Smoking Ban being passed - holding it up as a golden demonstration of what can be achieved with "the latest techniques".
Perhaps it's ignorant of me, but I believe ASH represent the first example of "professional lobbying" - and there will be many more.
It's the equivalent of what we saw in the 90s with politics. The rise of the career politician; somebody who has never worked outside politics, whose only goal is to get into politics, and has studied the past masters to learn how to "play the game" professionally. The truth doesn't matter to them and they are only interested in power. Well, in the 2000s, we now have lobby groups who exist purely to meddle, no matter what the consequences, and have read up on the past masters and developed strategies and frameworks to further their cause. They know how to lie, they know when to shout people down, they know how to twist statistics, they know how to work the media, they know how to win with no evidence, and they know how to get away with all of these things. These groups deal in vast sums of money - spending it on PR firms and conferences, and being paid it in equally vast quantities by corporations and the very governments they "lobby".
Has lobbying ever been this accomplished? If it isn't a specific career path yet, I'm sure it soon will be - with university degree courses set out for the aspiring young psychopath of tomorrow.
Worse still, these people exist in a pathological state of self-continuance, for if their "goal" were ever reached, they would cease to have a purpose in life. Which rather exposes the farce at the heart of ASH: they don't want to end smoking, they just want something into which they can channel their hatred of, I believe, life.
I'm not saying they're all psychopaths at birth. Perhaps it's a case of "fake it till you make it". But their tactics, and the very idea of being a single-issue fanatic, strike me as psychopathic.
Few things scare me more than the idea of finding myself INSIDE the offices of ASH in Edinburgh. Surrounded by the people who had spent years lying and campaigning diligently to reduce my freedom? People who actually go to work every day (8 hours, 5 days a week) to continue the task of "denormalising" me and destroying my social life? People who regard my isolation as a triumph? People who are pleased when, on a cold day, they see smokers of all ages standing outside a pub shivering? How can I regard such people as anything other than psychopathic? Their cause is not a valiant one, nor is it honourable or helpful, and nor are they brave to pursue it, and the success of their cause brings neither happiness nor prosperity to anyone... yet they work 40 hours a week on this one cause, and break every rule of intelligent discourse to further it.
If they're not psychos, they're doing a damned good imitation.
Of course, to get back on track, there is one crucial difference between a career politician and a career lobbyist. The latter believes the rubbish they peddle, because it defines them. Whereas one is merely a liar, the other is, yes I'm pretty sure of it, a f***ing nutcase.
And of course, they are partly financed by our taxes.
It's a wonderful life.
And that is a wonderful article, Col Dee.
Enter politics yourself and show how it should be done.
Thankyou, Margot. I've felt for some time that the irrationality (psychopathy) of ASH needed to be addressed. I've always had an underlying sense that, quite bluntly, they're actually not very nice people.
Just for the record, of course I don't think they're all clinically insane. But THEY BEHAVE AS IF THEY WERE.
I mean, the fact that on the day the smoking ban came in, ASH's website barely celebrated it but instead vowed that this wasn't the end and that they had to keep fighting, I think demonstrates the mentality we're dealing with.
Think about it. They have decimated industries, destroyed 1000s of people's social lives and ended centuries of tradition, and they say the fight isn't over yet. Nothing will ever be enough for them. They are the Terminators of modern politics. They destroy debate and shrivel life wherever they can.
Yet, this seems to be "where it's at" in modern politics. After all, why bother joining a party when you can join a lobby group? More perks, more money, power with anonymity, less hatred from the public, and you only have to deal with one single issue. But which issue will it be? That's the only dilemma!
Incidentally, the new article on the Free Society site speaks of "highly professional lobbying", which is nicely timed!
I couldnt careless about ASH not wanting me to smoke who are they to tell me what to do. I dont ask them to smoke or purchase my fags so they can all get stuffed. As long as they are sold i shall buy them. I would rather have a short happy life then a long miserable one under this government. They are a load of saddo's that want to get a life.