Smoking bans....... your thoughts????

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
According to the CDC: Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer, more than 46,000 die of heart disease.

According to the NHTSA: In 2008 there were 37,261 total vehicle accident fatalities. Approximately 14,000 of those deaths were alcohol related.

 

[kla37]

Even when I did smoke, I never smoked inside anywhere. Cars, houses, apartments, dorms, restaurants, etc. I even sat in the non smoking sections. I think it's a good thing to ban it inside places. Has anyone ever been to the Space Center in Fla? We went on the historical tour and they took us in the control centers for the first rocket launches. They were really small, and every work station had a built in ashtray, and everyone in those little buildings would be nervous and smoking like crazy, the guide told us. Can't imagine it!

 

[yotetrapper]

Quote:
Then, again, the issues you mentioned are not in any way solved by prohibiting PUBLIC smoking, but would call for a complete ban. Which I can never see happening.

We are in 2 totally different countries but her its almost banned here totally...
we cant smoke in public places.. (the government is working on bans for beaches and parks) total ban on smoking in your car if you have children in your car. no smoking within 10 feet of the entrance to a public place... so like the mall, there is no smoking at all allowed on hospital property, work places are to be 100% smoke free and if an employer sets up a smoking area for the smokers it cant be enclosed it can have a roof but walls must be below a certain level (I think lower then 4 feet dont quote me on that though) for a while when the ban when into place coffee shops and restaurants made enclosed rooms with separate ventilation... government nixed that idea.

Consumption of alcohol is the same here in Ontario... not in public... even on the beach (not that anyone listens to that one though..LOL)

We have a lot of the same bans here. Bars started making heated patios, and in the summer there will be one or 2 people in the bar, and 40 on the patio, lol. Before the ban went into affect, a bar opened in burlington IA, and really played up the fact that they were Burlington's only non-smoking bar. They didn't stay open a month, lol. Here though, in my area, the laws really aren't enforced. Over half of the bars still allow smoking, they just did away with ash trays and replaced them with beer cans. IL has a distance from doorway thing, but I've never heard of anyone getting hassled about it. I have heard of a few bars getting fined when a customer files a complaint, though. And I've known a lot of "suspected" complainers to be banned from bars for made up reasons.

Sonoran Silkies, I absolutely can see happening what you suggested. I just don't see them outlawing the sale of cigarettes due to the huge tax revenue they generate for states.

Potterwatch, any info from the CDC on how they determined those deaths were "primarily" from secondhand smoke? I would figure the heart disease and lung cancer deaths to be primarily from FIRST hand smoke.

I guess my whole complaint here, is how the government has the constitutional right to tell bars they cannot allow smoking in their own private property. In places such as hospital, schools, courthouses, etc, (TRUE public places) I understand, but bars are private businesses which people have the right to choose whether or not to go to. And since smoking is not an illegal activity, I see no constitutional legality in banning the activity in privately owned establishments.

 

[Karrie13]

Smoking has been banned here in MN since 08 I believe and I love it. It is nice being able to take my family out to restaurants and not worry about a nearby smoker. On the rare occasions that I get to go out, it is nice going to a bar and not smelling like a cigarette factory when I get home.

I support this 100%. If smokers want to kill themselves so be it, there is no need for them to kill innocent bystanders like other customers, servers, or bartenders too.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
I haven't yet read through the other 10 pages of this thread but this resonates with me. I am a former smoker, quit over 17 years ago, and don't like to be exposed to other people's smoke, it smells so bad to me now. BUT I don't understand how the gov't can prohibit a legal activity in a private business. In a free market I think that individuals have the right to set the standards for their own businesses as long as they're not engaging in illegal activity. And let the market decide if there's enough of a need for that. Potential customers and employees would know from the onset what type of hazards they'd be exposing themselves to if they would patronize or work in that environment, and could freely make that choice for themselves. They don't need the government to protect them from making an unwise choice.

 

[rancher hicks]

Needless to say I didn't read all the postings. Just to many.

I respect a persons right to smoke. In a galaxy far, far, away. Seriously ? yes please far away from me.

At this time I've been battling a cold, allergies whatever for three weeks. My mother was a smoker all her life. From what I understand children of parents who smoke are more prone to respiratory disease than those whose parents don't smoke.

I have been sentenced to suffer for the rest of my life due to her smoking. I am tired of allergies and colds and pnuemonia and brochitis and all that junk. I have tissues everywhere in the house and usually a wad of them in my pocket.

She was born at a time before all these research tests and data we have today. I have family that has died from smoking and it goes without saying how that feels.


PLEASE IF YOU LOVE YOUR FAMILY STOP! IF YOU REFUSE TO STOP THEN PLEASE GO FAR AWAY FROM THEM WHEN YOU DO SMOKE. Standing outside on the deck is not far enough away. Your smoke lingers in the air.


If you quit it might give you more years with those you love and who love you.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE HEALTH OF OTHERS YES IT SHOULD BE BANNED.

 

[PineappleMama]

An aside to my previous post... public places are a different kettle of fish. Hospitals, schools, libraries, parks, etc it makes sense completely for the government to be allowed to control the rules in those places because they own them. Whether it's just due to second hand smoke reasons or fire risk or litter risk rules in those places I can totally respect because they are owned by all of us.

But when a person owns something, be that a home or business, then they should be allowed to say what goes on in there. Whether that's a zealot who bans all alcohol from crossing the threshold, or an alcoholic that parties all night... what a person allows in their own building should be their choice. If you don't like what goes on a particular person's house or business then you don't have to go there. Take your business elsewhere... to one who caters to your demands. No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to go to this or that restaurant or this or that person's house. If there is enough demand for a smoke free environment then savvy businessmen will cater to it... see a need, fill a need (to quote Bigweld). Same way that vegetarian, vegan, organic, etc restaurants have popped up due to consumer demand. I hate that the government is taking power away from consumers... aka voters... I mean REALLY... having a bunch of nukes isn't enough?!

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Smoking in Resturants has been banned in Maine for several years. a few years ago they banned smoking in bars as well. Pretty much the only place you can smoke in Maine now, is in your car or your home/property. And even in your car, you are not allowed to on certain companies properties (I think that is a bit extreme in my opinion).

 

[PineappleMama]

Hmmm... what if you could apply for a permit to allow smoking the same way you have to get a permit to allow alcohol??

The government would still get to stick their nose where it doesn't belong... and I'm sure tag on extensive fines, err fees, for the permit... the business owner would still have the choice, but with Non being the default... and as always consumers could choose this or that business based on their preferences...

Rather it be 100% the owner's choice, but I could go along with something like that.

 

[desertdarlene]

They're talking about banning smoking on some of our beaches not because of a secondhand smoke issue, but a trash issue. I guess the majority of trash they pick up is cigarette and cigar butts.

BTW: When I was in Utah, back when they were the only state to ban smoking in restaurants, I spoke to restaurant workers about how the ban affected their businesses. All of them said that business went up a lot when they banned smoking and the workers were much happier working there.