No smoking policy introduced at Highbury

[jonam]

New no smoking policy for Highbury

As from Saturday’s match at Highbury against Wolves, a new no-smoking policy will come into effect at the stadium.

The terms of the new policy are:

• Smoking is banned during the game. If you want to smoke whilst the match is taking place you can only do so in public areas and concourses.

• Should someone around you not be adhering to this procedure, please bring it to a steward’s attention either at half-time or at the end of the match.

• Smoking will not be permitted in any restaurant areas including the South Stand, Executive Suite and Bondholders’ restaurant.

• It is also worth noting at this juncture that this policy will be extended to Emirates Stadium where there will also be a no pipes/no cigars policy as well as Club Level being a strictly no smoking area. It is our intention to continually monitor and review this policy in line with social trends and government legislation.
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Source: arsenal.com (http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=252343&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=New+no+smoking+policy+for+Highbury&navlid=&sublid=&Title=New+no+smoking+policy+for+Highbury)


I don't smoke, just to make that clear, but I still don't understand what this "no smoking policy" is all about. In restaurants...no prob, in bars.....imho silly, in a stadium.......what the hell....?!?

[michaec]

We're not allowed to stand either, but......

[Cannon]

Seems cool to me. The only downside of my trip to Highbury was the face full of smoke every second for the CL match. We were in the next to last row on the lower level North so its not like the smoke was going to float away. Played havoc with my asthma and I almost had to leave when the guy down a row lit something that smelled like dried camel dung and blew clouds of thick smoke. Nonsmoking in stadiums is pretty common in the US and my county is all non-smoking. Is it really that hard to hold off on smoking until halftime or after the game?

[Dave_M]

THe joke of it is, they are banning smoking in the OUTSIDE parts, where the smoke can disperce freely, and yet still allowing it in the concourses, where it cant, and where there are no ash trays.

Bit backwards if you ask me, but then Arsenal always has been a bit retarded when it comes to policy.

Red membership costs more than silver membership - for example. I mean DUH!

[Coach_McGuirk]

Another reason I am glad I made the tobacco choice I did.

To the fine folks at the US Smokeless Tobacco Co., I offer a hearty "huzzah!!"

Now I have to figure out how to smuggle ten cans of it into England next year.

[Rick B]

Another reason I am glad I made the tobacco choice I did.

To the fine folks at the US Smokeless Tobacco Co., I offer a hearty "huzzah!!"

Now I have to figure out how to smuggle ten cans of it into England next year.


Thats easy, come in wearing all black and shouting "asylum, asylum", You'll get a taxi to a fully paid hotel and benifits for the rest of your life!! They certainly won't check you for anything, after all, all claims are genuine and should be given money, housing and benifits without hinderance........ :rolleyes:















For those that are offended by this little joke - I'm really sorry, but learn to take life easy, relax and work out something more important than having a go at a non PC joke!!

[gothamite]

I agree that allowing it on the concourses seems silly, unless they have some way of disbursing it.

But the ban "outside" makes sense to me. One would think that the smoke in seating areas would disperse without bothering the people around the smoker, but it doesn't. The guy who had season tickets in front of mine at Yankee Stadium a couple years ago smoked, and the smoke would always blow back toward us.

If baseball fans can last 3+ hours without a smoke, football fans can go without for 90 minutes.

I think this is a good idea, myself.

[jonam]

I agree that allowing it on the concourses seems silly, unless they have some way of disbursing it.

But the ban "outside" makes sense to me. One would think that the smoke in seating areas would disperse without bothering the people around the smoker, but it doesn't. The guy who had season tickets in front of mine at Yankee Stadium a couple years ago smoked, and the smoke would always blow back toward us.

If baseball fans can last 3+ hours without a smoke, football fans can go without for 90 minutes.

I think this is a good idea, myself.



Maybe it just a different kind of culture, or better say habits. For you guys in the USA this policy is just normal, over here in Europe (and especially in Germany) it isn't. Though almighty European Union is planning to strenghten non-smoker rights.

It's the same with drinking alcohol in public in most of the states in the USA. Nobody here would understand such things.

[DBecks]

As an American, the notion of smoking in the stands in completely foreign to me, but when I made my trip to London a year ago and saw the 5-1 drubbing of Boro, I kind of thought it was unusual, but it didn't bother me too much. (I'm not a smoker, but I do feel bad at times for the castigation most smokers endure on a daily basis).

The notion of no alcohol in the stands stood out at me WAAAAY more of an inconvenience for a spectator.

But, I am an American who likes to booze, so I'm a little biased.

And in light of the drunken fan/player brawls/melees in basketball and baseball in American sports recently, maybe we should consider the same. . . but hopefully it's after I'm dead.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Thats easy, come in wearing all black and shouting "asylum, asylum", You'll get a taxi to a fully paid hotel and benifits for the rest of your life!! They certainly won't check you for anything, after all, all claims are genuine and should be given money, housing and benifits without hinderance........ :rolleyes:

Good idea, Rick, but what in God's name will I tell them I am seeking asylum from? A President I voted for? Stricter immigration laws that I support? I'm as screwed there as you would be here. The middle-class white male is the most put upon person in Western society...








Again, like Rick, it's a joke, people! Lighten up!

[fox point fury]

It makes perfect sense. The board is only trying to help fans handle the increase in ticket prices by helping them kick their other very expensive addiction!

[Rick B]

Good idea, Rick, but what in God's name will I tell them I am seeking asylum from? A President I voted for? Stricter immigration laws that I support? I'm as screwed there as you would be here. The middle-class white male is the most put upon person in Western society...
Again, like Rick, it's a joke, people! Lighten up!


You could always do the absolutly unthinkable.... you could LIE!!!! And say that you are a persecuted Iraqi, who needs to escape the horrific regime there. Not that i'm saying that some asylum seekers lie. Or that some of our Customs officrs have no idea of the situation in any country and will let any Tom, Dick and Brad in..... ;)

But enough of our politicised ramblings!! :D

[Dave_M]

It makes perfect sense. The board is only trying to help fans handle the increase in ticket prices by helping them kick their other very expensive addiction!

You cynic. Of course I agree...Id rep you if I could :D

[gothamite]

As an American, the notion of smoking in the stands in completely foreign to me, but when I made my trip to London a year ago and saw the 5-1 drubbing of Boro, I kind of thought it was unusual, but it didn't bother me too much. (I'm not a smoker, but I do feel bad at times for the castigation most smokers endure on a daily basis).

As an American, it's not very foreign to me. Up until a couple years ago, one could smoke cigarettes at any sporting event (don't know about domed stadiums).

It's only been in the past five to ten years or so that smoking has been banned in seating bowls. We got used to it, just as Londoners will get used to it.

Hey, if the Irish can ban smoking in pubs, anything's possible. :D

The notion of no alcohol in the stands stood out at me WAAAAY more of an inconvenience for a spectator.

But, I am an American who likes to booze, so I'm a little biased.

Me, too. I can't imagine not having a beer at the Yankees' game.

But some people do get out of hand. I personally have had one person thrown out of the Stadium for getting drunk and hassling passersby. But as someone who attends 35+ games a season, I can tell you that such incidents are few and far between.

[leepyswetr]

Me, too. I can't imagine not having a beer at the Yankees' game.
I can, as when I visited Yankee Stadium I bought a ticket on the street for the bleachers, which turned out to be alcohol-free. :mad:

[El Guero Naco]

I can, as when I visited Yankee Stadium I bought a ticket on the street for the bleachers, which turned out to be alcohol-free. :mad:

Yeah, I went to the AFC Championship a few years ago in Jacksonville and paid $100 for my ticket and ended up in the "Family Zone" which meant no beer and no profanity.

[Coach_McGuirk]

You could always do the absolutly unthinkable.... you could LIE!!!! And say that you are a persecuted Iraqi, who needs to escape the horrific regime there. Not that i'm saying that some asylum seekers lie. Or that some of our Customs officrs have no idea of the situation in any country and will let any Tom, Dick and Brad in..... ;)

But enough of our politicised ramblings!! :D
"My name is Brad, and I seek asylum in your country as the evil and oppressive regime in the USA will no longer let me drink beer on my front lawn in only my underwear."

[Rick B]

"My name is Brad, and I seek asylum in your country as the evil and oppressive regime in the USA will no longer let me drink beer on my front lawn in only my underwear."


Ok, ok I thought you just wanted asylum, not to be made an MP, get a Knighthood and a retirement home in Cape Town... :D :p

[surfcam]

Yeah, I went to the AFC Championship a few years ago in Jacksonville and paid $100 for my ticket and ended up in the "Family Zone" which meant no beer and no profanity.

I used to have season tickets to the Dolphins and we were right next to the Family Zone. Let me just say that an aisle doesn't stop the craziness from filtering over!

We also used to get seats in that section for away fans!

[Coach_McGuirk]

Ok, ok I thought you just wanted asylum, not to be made an MP, get a Knighthood and a retirement home in Cape Town... :D :p
Which way to the welfare office???