The Rolling Stones

Sun 27 Aug 2006

The city council has confirmed it is investigating reports that Richards smoked throughout the gig at Hampden Park on Friday, which was attended by 50,000 fans. Picture: Getty

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1. jc / 12:56am 27 Aug 2006

somehow I don't think he'll mind paying the £50 fine.

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2. Bruce Roberts, Hiding In A Cave. With A Spider. / 1:02am 27 Aug 2006

The scale (of the inquiry is immense). Enquiries will span the globe.

Is this REALLY news?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/5290010.stm

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006390613,00.html (only kidding!)

The threat from terrorism is real, it is here, it is deadly and it is enduring.

So far, from the computers alone, we have removed some 6,000 gigabytes of data.

These are difficult times for all communities, but I can assure you that the police service will not flinch from its duty to protect the public.

However, the investigation is far from complete.

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3. Mustaffa Phuff, Bhagfag / 1:06am 27 Aug 2006

My favourite Bookmark:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5272330.stm

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4. Players, Please. / 1:15am 27 Aug 2006

Lawrence of Arabia and six Beduin tribesmen are riding on their camels across the "Empty Quarter" of Saudi Arabia. All of a sudden, Lawrence hears,

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..... 10" repeated over and over.

At first he gives it no mind, but after a while, it really starts to annoy him. He stops the camel train, tells the Arabs to line up in front of him, and says, "OK! Who's counting repeatedly from one to ten?"

The Arabs all shrug their heads and say, "It's not I, Effendi! And I don't hear any counting!"

Lawrence then says, "Well, it has to be one of you! We're the only people within about 100 km of here, and it's not me! If this keeps up, I'm going to shoot you one by one until it stops, understand?"

So they mount up and proceed. A little while later, Lawrence hears again,

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..... 10" repeated over and over.

He stops the train again, and says, "OK, that's it! One of you is still counting!" So he takes out his pistol, and shoots the Arab on the left. Away they go again, one man short.

A little while later, Lawrence hears,

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..... 10" repeated over and over.

He then shoots a second Arab. This goes on and on until he has finally shot the last Arab and is all alone. Just he and his camel. So they proceed along, and suddenly he hears,

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..... 10" repeated over and over.

He stops his camel, dismounts, and says to the beast, "Holy shit! A talking camel! I could make a fortune with you! But I can't stand the counting!" So he takes out his pistol and shoots the camel right between the eyes!

He packs what he can carry, and sets out on foot. After a while, he stops for a break, pulls out his smokes, and lights up. Then, suddenly he hears,

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..... 10" repeated over and over.

He jumps to his feet, and cries out, "What in the name of God is going on! I'm the only person alive anywhere near here! How could this be!"

Suddenly, a gust of wind picks the cigarette pack from his hand, and blows it across the sand. Lawrence gives chase, and finally catches it. He picks it up, and starts to examine it, when he suddenly notices printed on the pack,

"It's the tobacco that counts!"

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5. Players, Please. / 1:17am 27 Aug 2006

P.S. Smoking can seriously damage your Wealth.

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6. Madame Guillotine, Land of the Trolls / 1:33am 27 Aug 2006

Hands up, 2-5 were my work.

Scotland is going down the pan and rapidly.

If The Scotsman wants credibility (and a paying readership) it needs to say what it thinks and means instead of pandering to the mindless eejits who can't believe their good luck that the diabolical electoral system won their undeserving butts a seat in the Pretend Parliament Of Doom.

Wee Jock and Suntan Tam went to uni together. Never read that in The Scotsman. What a surprise!

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7. Madame Guillotine, Land of the Trolls / 1:39am 27 Aug 2006

Go on.

Delete that!

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8. Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes, Polepes Rbelpic of Scatolnd / 2:03am 27 Aug 2006

I find it alarming you are not permitted to smoke, but can light farts.

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9. melanie, california / 3:44am 27 Aug 2006

oh, Sed #8, the things that one doth ponder so late at night!!! ;)

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10. MJ, India / 5:27am 27 Aug 2006

I so agree with Mr Rafferty, once again, our small minded, personal freedom squashing, Scotland is making us look like a laughing stock to the rest of the world.
How on earth can smoking on a stage endanger anyone elses health?
Jack has got this SO wrong (once again). The smoking ban has been taken too far and too literally. Pubs are losing revenue (let alone atmosphere) and people are losing their jobs.
I'm all for segregation of smokers but an outright ban?
And as for not smoking in company vehicles when you're alone???
No wonder our Scottish population is on the decline and before you say no, it's not because all of us smokers are popping our clogs, it's because we're leaving to more sensible countries where freedom of choice still reigns. And we willnae be coming back!

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11. __-Steve-__ / 6:40am 27 Aug 2006

Shock, horror!!! , smoking at a rock concert, whatever next. I bet they stayed up til after 10 o clock too !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone should tell their mums.

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12. MS, Edinburgh / 7:49am 27 Aug 2006

I notice nothing was said when George Melly smoked through both halves of his set at the Jazz Festival ................................

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13. MS, Edinburgh / 7:50am 27 Aug 2006

The trouble of the wee pretendy parli is that it has delusions of adequacy. Imagine the mess they'll make if they have even more powers ...........................................

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14. MS, Edinburgh / 7:52am 27 Aug 2006

What's the similarity between Wee Jock and Suntan Tam ?

If you talk to them, they may appear to smile but their eyes rarely, if ever, do. At least that's my experience.

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15. Mike, Carrigaline / 8:41am 27 Aug 2006

So Keef smokes on stage in an open venue? Weedgie cooncil to investigate? Bet Keef's quaking, eh?

Seriously though, the ASH people must be loving all this. Small victories for small minds!

Rescind this stupid law now!!!!

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16. Peter, Tasmania / 9:19am 27 Aug 2006

Smoking is a dirty filthy habit and I am glad to see that the Glasgow council agrees that smoking can pollute the atmosphere. However if they agree to this type of pollution, can I sue them for the lorry exhausts going down my road. Or the occassional non toxic fumes from the local chemical works. The list is endless. However I have designed a yellow robe and a small bell. You wear the robe and ring the bell. Just chant "unclean, unclean" it will keep everyone happy.

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17. Willie Woodbine, Park Drive / 9:29am 27 Aug 2006

No 10 is typical of those who oppose the smoking ban. He spouts forth drivel about pubs losing money but it’s funny how only last week pub managers were saying takings were up!
http://www.dmhall.co.uk/news_item.asp?id=185

Our population is dropping! Again rubbish.
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/popproj...

For far too long smokers got away with filling the air with poisons. The ban is the best thing that happened to Scottish pubs perhaps if you came back from India you’d notice how much an improvement it is!

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18. Vincent / 9:36am 27 Aug 2006

Although I am a non smoker and therefore support the ban on smoking in public places, I do find it ridiculous to waste public funds on an accusation of smoking on stage as part of the performance, which cannot harm the general public.
At the moment there is a play at the King's theatre in which actors bring flaming torches on stage and these belch black smoke 1000 times more foul than a Churchillian cigar, yet nobody will complain (I would hope) about this. If we really want to be perfectionist about the smoking ban then it ought to be extended to the areas immediately ouside the entrances of all public buidings because at the moment we non smokers have to walk through a cloud of foul smoke from those pathetic creatures who can't even do a day's work wihout having to gather in herds, in the rain, to puff their lives away. However the law is an ass and public money shall be wasted on trivialities (11th Commandment)

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19. sandy, marlow / 9:49am 27 Aug 2006

the small mind enforcers are alive and resident in my Scotland, what a shame.
Perhaps one day the Nation will rise again

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20. Rick (lifetime non-smoker), EmbraToon / 9:59am 27 Aug 2006

Being a lifetime non smoker, I've not really bothered too much about the detail of the legislation (or much other rubbish coming from Holyrood). But does the stage at Hampden REALLY constitute an Enclosed Public Place, even though it might have been a 'Workplace' ? Is the Ban there not actually part of the post-Bradford Fire hysteria, which even banned smoking (on jobsworth health and safety grounds) from all-concrete, modern stadia? Does the overall enjoyment of the 60-odd thousand fans count for nothing? Will this mean that major acts will score the Best Small-Minded Country in the World from their Concert Itinerary? And does some grey suited, whey faced, pox-doctor's clerk from The City of Weegies Kooncil not have anything better to do at public expense? £50, eh - that'll have The Stones quaking!!

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21. __-Steve-__ / 10:11am 27 Aug 2006

I see the selfish whining anti-smokers are still not happy. They have all the rights in other peoples property to have smells of there choice and they're still moaning about having to walk past smokers out in the open air. Perhaps you would like a new law where smokers have to cross the street when they see you coming.

"Rock star caught smoking a cigarette"; .... ut-oh... guess the anti's will have to wash their clothes again now.

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22. william, borders / 10:13am 27 Aug 2006

Pathetic politicians,at the Snow Patrol concert at Meadowbank smoking was allowed on the pitch but not in the stand where the kids were,it's called COMMONSENCE,good for Edinburgh,if Keith wants to smoke "live with it"

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23. Dave, Fife / 10:32am 27 Aug 2006

#19

Interesting links but the first one, at least is contradicted by

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=663&id=124405...

and

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=663&id=124155...

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24. Robert, Swindon / 10:50am 27 Aug 2006

Sadly Scotland is becoming more of a joke by the day. It is a sad reality that Scotland could be heading for full independence. Corruption is endemic as much in the Scottish Executive as it is in the UK Government. New Labour which promised so much to 'ordinary' people has been responsible for more removal of rights than any Government in history. They have also in a short time become more corrupt. The smoking ban has lined the pockets of many of the so called 'experts', and the lies and cheating go on. The links posted re no impact of trade by an Estate agents is not proof it is marketing to keep values high for those who are selling up. Back www.freedom2choose.co.uk we will win our Judicial Review. Democracy is vital to Freedom. Don't give it away without a fight.

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25. Iain, Inverness / 10:58am 27 Aug 2006

What a patronising comment from ASH
"We realise also though, that Keith Richards did hurt his head recently and might not have been fully compus mentis."

When has anyone from ASH ever been fully compus mentis?

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26. rab, glasgow / 11:09am 27 Aug 2006

Well done keef,Are the tiny minds that run the coonsil going to hunt him down for this alleged very serious incident.Scotland is fast becoming a joke country under mCONnell,s weak leadership and small minded ban this ban that attitude .The counsil are in charge of enforcing this stupid law so
why then do we have to pay for a SCOTTISH TOBACCO CONTROL DIVISION,what do they do exactly,the girl in charge,andy kerrs pal bye the way,recieves £66.000.00 per year ,for doing what,especialy as they dont have any control over tobacco,only the smoking of it.JOB,S FOR THE GIRLS,me thinks.cant blame them for sexual discrimination.Still a waste of money though,but we have come to expect this as the norm from the muppets at folyrood.

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27. John, London / 11:15am 27 Aug 2006

This just goes to show what a joke the smoking ban in Scotland is. If Keef is fined, will the Stones (or any other band) ever play in Scotland again?

And we've got all this to look forward to south of the border next year!

Long live the nanny state!

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28. __-Steve-__ / 11:15am 27 Aug 2006

Ian (25)

And new labour funds the Anti Smoking Hate group !!

Half the crowd probably had pockets full of spliff's and enough pills to kill off the dinosaurs yet Keith is daft for having a benson ???

I wonder how they would discribe Robbie when he emerges full of Charlie, three foot off the ground.

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29. David / 11:26am 27 Aug 2006

While I support the smoking ban 100% I do think this is daft...you're not telling me the crowd at Hampden was affected by this smoke? How big is that stadium? Let's apply some sense here...plus, given Hampden is roof-less, isn't the centre where hte stage is exempt from the ban?!

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30. Steven / 11:36am 27 Aug 2006

If bus shelters count as enclosed spaces Hampden should as well.

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31. John, London / 11:49am 27 Aug 2006

ASH is also funded by the drug companies - the same people that manufacture Zyban and nicotine patches, etc.

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32. Rick (still a lifetime non-smoker), EmbraToon / 11:52am 27 Aug 2006

Steven #30 - apparently, so I've read, if a bus shelter's got 2 sides, even though it's got a lid, it's not 'enclosed'. If it's got 3 or 4, it IS and there's NAE FAGS! Wonder how long it took some other grey suited, whey faced, pox-doctor's clerk from the Scotch Bureaucracy of Counting Beans and Sorting Paperclips to work that one out? The really big joke is, if you go down to The Peepels Kremlin at Victoria Quay, in Leith, the Smoker's Shelters (suspiciously like Bus Shelters) have got 3 sides - Jings, Crivvens Mr McConnell- Dissidents at Hampden - whitiver will we dae ??

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33. Gordon, The People's Republic of Stirling / 11:56am 27 Aug 2006

This is pathetic. An official consultation regarding the coming ban in England was recently launched. One part of it quite clearly states that where a performer is required to smoke as part of a character's role, the stage will not constitute a non-smoking area for the duration of the role.
So why are we seeing an outbreak of common sense in England, as opposed to the usual quasi-Communist crap in Scotland?

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34. David, A Scot in Cambridgeshire / 12:14pm 27 Aug 2006

Keith smoking a fag is bad enough but what is more important is that he was arrogantly and provocatively sticking two fingers up at Scottish Authority - more or less telling them to F*** Off.
Fine him and send him packing.

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35. Paul Voltaire, Bathgate / 12:19pm 27 Aug 2006

All this talk of smoking is gonna make me start puffing again :(

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36. Comment Removed

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37. May / 1:04pm 27 Aug 2006

Hands up all the Numpties who voted for a Scottish Parliament anyway! Only got yourselves to blame!

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38. jim, nijmegen/holland / 1:09pm 27 Aug 2006

tut tut whats it all about makes no sence

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39. walter / 1:24pm 27 Aug 2006

Ah the smoking ban and its supporters, they continually go on about the ban being right you should not be able to smoke in enclosed places and people should not have to suffer second hand smoke in their work place and how they support the ban 100%.
1. How many are partitioning their MPs to save the workers who have to go to work were people are smoking why are they not insisting that residential care home workers and prison officers should be protected from passive smoking.
2. Why are they not insisting that smoking is made illegal and that the production, transportation, selling and buying of tobacco produces is also made illegal.
The answer to both is simple the anti smoking brigade are all hypocrites.
They don't care about smoking in the work place or they would insist all workers were protected but they are not.
2. They want to inflict as much misery on smokers as they can but they don't want them to stop or to make it illegal totally as that would mean their taxes going through the roof to replace the billions lost in revenue for the treasury and local councils.
There's also the fact that 100 of 1000 if not millions would be made unemployed by loosing their lively hood.

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40. jocky, Edinburgh / 1:26pm 27 Aug 2006

I agree with the law & regulations etc but some of these not so clever laws are really bringing Scotland & UK down. What do all the 50,000 fans want? No live performances or smoking a cigarette n stage at an out door event. Investigate this is a waste of taxpayers money & is just keeping simple council people employed. To the Scotsman publications, get firm with your reporters and lets get some important news and better witting. I suggest you set up a new area in your paper for trivia & gossip.

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41. angus / 1:40pm 27 Aug 2006

What exactly is the nature of the relationship between Kerr and the wuman at the Scottish Tobacco Control Division? I ask in all innocence.

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42. SM, Canada / 1:40pm 27 Aug 2006

So-o-o-o the poster boy for pouring noxious substances into the human body lights up a cig onstage in Scotland. Slow news day, Scotland?

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43. SM, Canada / 1:45pm 27 Aug 2006

Rick 32: can't wait for an excuse to use the epithet "grey suited, whey faced, pox-doctor's clerk" on someone. AND "the [insert locale] Bureaucracy of Counting Beans and Sorting Paperclips".

Sending you a cyber single malt for that one, Rick.

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44. angus / 1:55pm 27 Aug 2006

Is no one going to answer the question at 41? and if not why not?

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45. Iain, Stornoway / 1:57pm 27 Aug 2006

Why should Keith Richards and other rich stars like him get off with it? Is he above the law? Some of the anti-ban comments here are pathetic.
The parliament is what it is but it has got the full ban just right - much better than the ineffectual half-measures in some countries. It will take some years for the benefits to become clear.
Whingeing central belt idiots showing the world what neds they are - duh.

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46. Hugh, Chennai / 1:59pm 27 Aug 2006

Just as well he didn't cross himself as well.

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47. __-Steve-__ / 2:11pm 27 Aug 2006

Ian (35)

People like Kieth Richard rebel against the virtuous and their ideology, because if they didn't we would now all live in a world with no alcohol or music and a night out would consist of an evening tea party complete with cucumber sandwiches on brown bread.

How many years do you estimate the ban of a legal activity in someone else's pub will take to show a health benefit? Will it be longer than the 60 years we've been waiting for cancer and heart disease to stop rising since the start of the decline in smoking?

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48. angus / 2:19pm 27 Aug 2006

Iain 45

What, dont the sheep like the smell of smoke on your breath?

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49. David / 2:30pm 27 Aug 2006

ehm I thought the ban was about tobacco - do we really think Keithy was on tobacco?

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50. rab, glasgow / 2:36pm 27 Aug 2006

may 37/ It was an ignorant,arrogant, inconsiderate,undemocratic,incompetant,bullying and down right useless lib/lab scottish executive that are flooding scotland with nanny state bans.Not the scottish parliments fault,but the asses who supposedly run scotland.We will just have to vote against them at the next election.GET THESE IDIOT,S OUT.DONT VOTE LABOUR.

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51. William Guy, England / 2:50pm 27 Aug 2006

I come from Scottish ancestry, but consider myself an Englishman. If I were Scottish, I think I would be embarrassed by the Keith Richard's smoking story.

Hampden Park is NOT an enclosed workplace and therefore should not be considered part of the smoking ban. I wondered if ASH Scotland can give me the chances of anyone remotely contracting lung cancer from Keith Richard's cigarette - the chances are literally ABSOLUTE ZERO.

Keep puffing away Keith and sod the lot of them at the Scottish Parliament.

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52. __-Steve-__ / 3:03pm 27 Aug 2006

Well said William,

In fact you would have to be sat in a room 3 feet by 3 feet with no windows or doors and 220 000 smokers smoking before any of the chemicals in tobacco smoke went above recognised safe levels, you would however die from a lack of oxygen pretty quickly, so I think everyone will be ok sitting with keith in hampden park.

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53. Maureen, Edinburgh / 3:04pm 27 Aug 2006

We was there. An absolutely BRILLIANT show. So what if Keef had a fag! The whole stadium was full of smoke from the jets of flame and fireworks. Can you not have fun anymore, or will they try to ban that too?

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54. Kirk, new york / 3:04pm 27 Aug 2006

As a four-pack-a-day smoker living in NY, smoking is prohibited everywhere indoors here and I have survived the non-smokiefascists. I can't smoke in any bar or restaurant or anywhere except in my home really, and my house stinks horribly and people always comment on how I smell. I really do understand this and have given in to the majority who don't smoke. They are totally militant here in the US about smoking and cigs cost upwards of $6 a pack, but I realize it's a habit from another time and I am an fast becoming outdated, but I still smoke - alone. And I stink.

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55. je, glasgow / 3:16pm 27 Aug 2006

Yeah ....... I was really affected by his cigarette in the middle of Hampden in the open air with 50000 other people. There has to be some common sense brought to bear in all of this. I was also at the Mel Smith play Allegiance and it was absurd that he was not allowed to light up his cigar which was integral to the play. I am a non smoker and applaud the ban on smoking in public places but please don't let us have a 'bureaucracy run mad' country.

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56. helen / 3:39pm 27 Aug 2006

Oh naughty naughty keef. What a heinous crime, it doesn't bear thinking about, goodness. Nanny (aka the Govt) should smack his leggies and send him to bed without his tea.

They are humourless automata who'd do well to self-destruct asap.

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57. maestra, scotland / 3:45pm 27 Aug 2006

It's the principle of the thing, and it's the law - why should he get away with it, just cos he's Keith Richards? As a performer, I show some respect for the laws or rules of the venue that is hosting me.

Some of these posts - what a lot of whingers! Grow up!

(nowt wrong with cucumber on brown bread...)

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58. angus / 4:01pm 27 Aug 2006

Ay but what political party, if in power will review the ban?

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59. Toly / 4:19pm 27 Aug 2006

This is very serious! Get the names of them 50,000
People and get them to hospital for lung x-rays. Cost is no issue. Hurry, time is of the essence. Have we lost any yet?

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60. Carol, TN / 4:23pm 27 Aug 2006

Perhaps what they should do is to get a medical history for everyone in the concert hall, find the one person who has never been subjected to second hand smoke before and then place that person in a bubble for the next sixty years, carefully insuring that they are not subjected to such horrors again. If, by some chance, they develop cancer from Keith Richards smoking in a large arena at a minimum of 10 feet away, then something should be done. Obviously part of his estate could be given to cover the cost of medical expenses or something.

Of course finding a single person in the whole of Europe, let alone Scotland, who hasn't been subjected to second hand smoke may be quite difficult, so let's be sure to punish a man who's made no bones about smoking on stage for over 50 years.

I'm fairly certain that if you attend a Stones concert, you are quite aware that Richards smokes and therefore YOU should be responsible for whether you attend the concert or not.

As for the concert hall banning it in total - not very aware of their performers, are they?

I don't smoke. I never will, but I'm not an idiot either. There are certain places I go and can't complain if there is smoke - rock concerts, pubs, bars. The top three.

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61. Gordon, The People's Republic of Stirling / 4:27pm 27 Aug 2006

Here's a thought; the end of festival fireworks are due. Shouldn't they be banned, due the increased risk of passive inhalation of all that smoke from tons of gunpodwer?!
I had to laugh at the poster from Stornonway talking about "central belt whingers"; what about the "western Isles Taliban" that won't allow ferry services on the Sabbath?

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62. Gordon, The People's Republic of Stirling / 4:28pm 27 Aug 2006

*cough* That was, of course, "powder" and "Stornoway".
A quick chorus of "Smoke gets in your eyes", anyone?

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63. living in fear / 4:49pm 27 Aug 2006

Every body who complains about there social liberties being invaded all because scotland wants to be a healthier place, great good work

There has been smoking ban in place in employent/company/government building for years.

Did anyone complain YES only those who believed there is a rule for one and not for another.

I quite smoking during that time I worked in offices, could/would not have done it otherwise.

How about injecting ones self in public places No to harse, dont like needles, or maybe it is not fashionable yet.

I personallly stopped going to pubs&clubs long ago because of the stink of fags/smoke, everywhere and peoples breath, Pffff enough said.

I got over the "we should", " I need one" syndrome

ytr it remeber your £ goes further and no English parliment can tax you if you dont

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64. Stig the X-man, Vanersborg, Sweden / 5:18pm 27 Aug 2006

Oh, what a Terrible crime. Of course the full force of The Law must be brought against him ASAP.
Political Correctness says so. I can't possibly Believe that Keith could function on the scene without a fag in his mouth! Give HIM a nicotine patch or chewing gum? Just try!
There must surely be some way to solve this.
Pollution licence, prepaid fines or summat........
Silly season's not over, it seems...

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65. Comment Removed

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66. Stig the X-man, Vanersborg, Sweden / 5:26pm 27 Aug 2006

Shush, Maureen; don't give them any tip about what
to do next. Please!

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67. Larry, Edinburgh / 5:35pm 27 Aug 2006

Stop moaning about smoking if you have a car your polluting the atmosphere we all breath. Who's paying for the inquiry. Us. Did you fly on holliday this year, if so I could smoke a thousand cigs and still do less damage to the planet.

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68. DannyL, Nort Wales / 5:39pm 27 Aug 2006

Dear Tony,

Now we are getting to it. Although old enough to have been a Deep Purple fan I'm not and wasn't, but I'd hate to see 'Smoke on the Water' banned.

Now we know the 'Scottish Experiment' is a fundamentalist plot to relegate people of a certain age with equivalent mental capacity to yours or greater to the 'persona non grata' list. Look, (as you would say with Malcom Muggeridge-style body gestures) if Mao Tse-Tung couldn't eliminate the cult of personality, what makes you think you can.

And don't tell me you never stuck a ciggie on the end of your third sting. For all you know we may have photographic evidence.

Talk about growing old disgracefully. Arise Sir Keef.

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69. Donnie / 6:24pm 27 Aug 2006

Good for Keith all this todo about a bit of ciggie smoke and why do anti smokers think they have the right to tell a publican what should and shouldnt happen in his pub, how would you like someone telling you what to do in your house. Get rid of the lib/lab MPs vote em out they get more like Nazis everyday. There is no risk from passive smoke no credible report has every proved it. In the words of Joseph Goebels "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" thats ASH's philosophy as well.

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70. Stephen, Wales / 6:34pm 27 Aug 2006

We in Wales have all this pallaver visiting our delightful shores sometime next year. Think I'll move to somewhere with more freedom - Iran anyone!

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71. J A, Scottish Borders / 6:41pm 27 Aug 2006

A cafe that I go to often have provided a smoking area outside at the back and still the non-smokers who comes out to the smoking area for a drink complained about the smoke getting at them ...There is a non-smoking area for them to use outside at the front....

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72. melanie, california / 6:49pm 27 Aug 2006

so true Donnie#69.... "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it"

Hi J A #71, I think there always will be those who will find something to complain about!

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73. Anna, Cambridgeshire / 8:23pm 27 Aug 2006

Ouch - I bet that'll really hurt Keith Richard's pocket being fined £50 ...... how will he manage to pay it? Oh, I know, if he can't quite manage to pay that extortionate sum of money, maybe, one of his millionaire mates will give him a loan!!

Is everyone absolutely sure that it was tobacco he had in his ciggie!! Is this story a joke?

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74. rab, glasgow / 9:16pm 27 Aug 2006

The song, On top of old smokey,is next to be banned .or re named to,on top of old dont smokey.

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75. Anna, Cambridgeshire / 9:22pm 27 Aug 2006

Rab,

How much would Deep Purple get fined if they were to reform and perform 'Smoke on the Water' at Hampden?

Or would that song be banned from the playlist?

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76. claire / 9:23pm 27 Aug 2006

How long will it be before someone gets sent to prison for non payment of a fixed penalty for, GASP!!!! SMOKING A CIGARETTE OUTSIDE! Its easy to see how Hitler formed his gestapo and religeous cults brainwash people by the thousand! Have Glasgow city council really not got anything better to do than launch a bloody investigation about Keith Richards have a cig on stage. Did the person who was at the back and seen keith with a "white thing in his mouth that smoke was coming from" have a telescope? He must have had a bloody good pair of glasses on to see a cig from that distance! Its not exactly top secret information that keith richards smokes is it!!!! why did this whining git buy a bloody ticket for the stones in the first place!!! If all this hype was true should keith not be dead by now as a result of smoking??? Im so wound up I need a cigarette!

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77. Jimmy, Canada / 9:33pm 27 Aug 2006

What else would youexpect from these ugly animals.Beking the rules just shows their ignorance, which goes perfectly with their ugliness

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78. Jimmy, Canada / 9:36pm 27 Aug 2006

What else would you expect from these ugly animals.Breaking the rules just shows their ignorance, which goes perfectly with their ugliness.How did they ever become a success

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79. DannyL, North Wales / 9:44pm 27 Aug 2006

Good to hear from you Jimmy. I though you were extinct.

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80. Wee Jimmy Krankie, Drumchapel / 10:11pm 27 Aug 2006

A stopped growing at the age of seven, thanks tae ma 40 a day habit.

But, paradoxically, it gave me a braw career - playing a wee schoolboy for the last 39 years. A've met aw the stars - Val Doonigan, Bob Monkhoose, Hughie Green, Jess Yates etc. So a dinny ken how smoking can be bad fur ye.

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81. Lynn, Madison, Wisconsin, USA / 10:48pm 27 Aug 2006

For Bruce Roberts, hiding in a cave, with a spider (#2): What kind of spider?

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82. Maitland, Fuerteventura Canary Isles / 10:54pm 27 Aug 2006

As a Scottish ex-pat it appals me to hear about the narrowminded nannies now controlling Scotland - and the total kow towing of the masses to the politically correct brigade. I live in the Canaries, a smoking ban in pubs and restaurants was introduced on January 1st this year. On Jan 2nd No Smoking signs went up in all the pubs - now 8 months on - most of the pubs have signs up stating that they WILL allow smoking - the Police have publically stated that they will not enforce the ban. So if you're fed up with the namby pambies in the Numpty House - come out here where political correctness is properly observed ie totally ignored..

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83. wader / 10:57pm 27 Aug 2006

jimmy get a life you sound like an old mans arse

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84. Jeff / 11:23pm 27 Aug 2006

Kaith, is TUTANKHAMON he is allowed to down everything.

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85. Orpheus, on the Underground / 11:35pm 27 Aug 2006

Keef with an ordinary ciggie? He must be slowing down.

<definition> 'Ciggie': A white tube, with a fire at one end and a fool at the other.

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86. Sir Sidney Satherswaite, ... with his Garbage Collectors / 11:43pm 27 Aug 2006

Shi'ite!!! A £50 fine? That'll cost him about one second of his royalties.

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87. Professor Techn-Krapp, Pluto / 11:46pm 27 Aug 2006

(78) Jimmy - take a nap, guy - sounds as though you've been up since Korea. Then, find the 'off' switch.

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88. Micky Moose, Florida / 12:00am 28 Aug 2006

All this to-and-fro about preventing smoking ... if it ever catches on, that's my retirement porfolio down the toilet. Don't stop! I love to hear all that coughing, wheezing and gasping, and praying to the Lord for help when the air-supply finally runs out ...

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89. Mandy / 12:47am 28 Aug 2006

Well I wonder what next- I know whats next, I visit forces and USA smoking sites and I know whats next- so now we have it, it is not to do with passive smoking is it.
It is to do with demoralizing smokers end of.
There is a fight going on though- for the truth- Freedom to choose for anyone who does not want to see this as NEWS England and Wales need to wake up.
No more charity money from me, I thought it was going to research not Propoganda.
The local Hospice is where my money will go.
I will by order of myself smoke fivers if I have to so the Goverment do not get any of my inheritance tax either.

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90. rab, glasgow / 1:41am 28 Aug 2006

If you smoke fivers , you must be rich.

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91. Patricia, Florida USA / 4:35am 28 Aug 2006

Oh, this is past ridiculous! How SMALL minded this city council is! The arena is outside. The stage is raised. Smoke goes UP.

They will give methadone out for free, syringes for free. But you can't have a smoke.

I find this mindless.

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92. elizabeth, edinburgh / 11:34am 28 Aug 2006

Keith Richards lighting up was nothing compared to
the drunks at Glasgow venue. I was very surprised to see drink being sold at the venue and even out of 'cool-bags'. I would estimate that 75% of the people there were well over the limit. Throwing drink over the people around and in front is not what I would describe as 'on'. I had my jacket and bag splashed and the two people I was with were also covered in drink which had been thrown.

If we had been stopped by the police on the way
home we would have had a lot of explaining to do
as we stank of drink.

Whether Keith Richard smoked or nor was not the most important thing which should be
addressed.

Just think all those drunks had to get home - by car??

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93. sandy, USA / 12:29pm 28 Aug 2006

follow the money & see who is getting rich by this ban!!!!!!

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94. Franz Coughka, Paisley / 12:48pm 28 Aug 2006

In Glasgow, there must be some civic bye law that requires citizens to have their fag lit by the time their foot hits the ground when leaving a bus.

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95. Mario Antoinette / 2:20pm 27 Aug 2006

I had the misfortune to walk through the grassmarket last night. At least I could walk, I was surrounded by drunken prostitutes (at least thats what they look liked) and little chavy scum all belted up on pints of wkd and cheap liver destroying booze. Funny how all that is legal and you cant have a wee puff.

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96. Darth Plunger / 4:10pm 28 Aug 2006

Not in the Grassmarket, no. Try Broughton Street.

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