Something occured to me. First off, I'm not a smoker, and I usually don't care about so-called "smoker's rights". I don't care if a restaraunt lacks a smoking section. But I don't understand how the smoking bans (I think in Delaware and New York) are legal. I would think that if I owned MY business, I get to decide whether or not people smoke in there.

Can somebody clear this up for me?

XXL

 

Lot's of reason's, but basically boils down to this: When people can't show self restraint or respect for the right's of other's, social law's are enacted to curtail their behavior.

 

That doesn't make any sense though - for instance, the other night I was at a restaraunt where they had a DJ. He was playing crappy music that was very loud. Does that mean they should've told the DJ to pack and leave because XXL showed up? A majority of the patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves (they couldn't help it; they were drunk and trendy), so if it *really* bothered me, it would be up to me to leave.

Everything goes both ways. I still think it's a little creepy that something like that is being regulated. Seperate smoking sections is fine by me, but I think it should be up to the proprietor to decide whether or not smoking is going to be allowed in his or her establishement.

As far as the rights of others goes, what if a majority of my clientele are smokers, and I WANT them to come to my bar. Isn't banning smoking in my bar, against my wishes, infringing on my rights?

Also, I think the second hand smoke argument is crap. I think buses and dump trucks, running every day, are collectively more of a danger to my health than some jerk smoking a cigarette outside of the mall. just my $.02

XXL

 

It does irk me quite a bit, actually. I smoke. I like to have a cigarette after my meal, in appropriate company (not around my girlfriend- she hates it), if the restaurant has a smoking section. But I have been known to leave a place if they don't have a smoking section. It was bad enough sitting through a two hour movie without getting up, but now to not be able to enjoy one while waiting for my dinner, that's just wrong. No more smoking in the bowling alley, none at the bar? That is what should be a crime.

 

not a smoker here.... I have to say that ever since Anchorage passed the no smoking law that eating out is much more enjoyable for the majority of people (those who do not smoke). Do I agree with it...? No! I think that businesses should be allowed to decide if smoking is allowed or not. Not only did they ban smoking from restaurants but also from bowling alleys. I swear that 3/4 of the people that bowl on a regular basis smoke!

 

I smoke but I'll go out to dinner and not smoke until we leave depending on who we go out with. But I've also walked out of many restaurants because they didn't offer me the choice.

Florida's joining the no smoking in restaurants act and I think it's supposed to be in full effect by the end of June. What this does is ensure that we'll cut way back from going out to eat from at least to 2x per week to maybe once a month. That's my choice.

I have several friends that work in the restaurant business, some waitresses, some owners. They're hating this new law. Smokers & drinkers have a tendency to spend more and tip well.

Oh well, guess I'll just pocket all that money I'll be saving by staying home or ordering take-out.

Edited to add:
I wouldn't have near the problem with the ban if they would limit it to the larger chain restaurants. Let the little "Mom & Pop" places make their own choice. That way if they want smokers, we'll come, if they don't, we won't. Non-smokers would have the same choice.

And yes, I do put my money where my mouth is. I joined in the campaign to kill the smoking ban law here in Fla. We lost of course, but I can't say I didn't try.

 

You think the ban in resturants is bad, the city of Spokane WA wants to ban smoking in the city parks!!!!!!! Naturally, they say it is "bad for the children" along with a few other lame reasons

 

There is a city in Arizona, Mesa I think, that has banned smoking in public. I have also heard that California is trying to ban smoking in your own house if you have children. I am a smoker, unfortunately, I dont mind much that some places dont have smoking ares or sections. My only gripe is that the Government is the one regulating it. I know that te majority of the people dont smoke, so they dont care about this issue, but what are they gonna say when they ban something that they do use. The Government has become too involved in our lives. Look at Helmet and Seatbelt Laws not to mention smoking and drug laws.

 

Last year in Montgomery County, MD, they tried to enact a law that if an objectional odor came from your abode, a neighbor could turn you in, and you could be fined $500!. It was aimed at smokers, but somehow sanity prevailed and it wasn't enacted.

Can you imagine being fined because maybe someone's cooking odors offended their neighbor? Have you smelled some of the cooking from foreigners? It's their normal cooking, but can be offensive to those not used to it.

I refuse to eat in MD resturants that don't allow smoking. I go over to VA where smokers are more welcome.

 

But once again, what about the dangers of the buses, garbage trucks, cars, etc.

Has anybody else noticed the plumes of black smoke that these trucks and buses spit out at every stop light? You can't tell me that getting a whiff of a cig at a city park is more dangerous than these vehicles!!

XXL

 

...The city in Arizona is actually Tempe (college town)...Theyve been trying to revitilize the downtown business district the past few years...attracting restaurants, nightclubs etc etc.

Not long ago the city council enacted a public smoking ban in these estblishments...business has nose dived accordingly. Smokers can literary walk across the street to cross city limits into Mesa and smoke to their hearts content...
Some nightclubs are even considering close up shop due to lack of business...

My take on it is its my business I should be able to run it the way I see fit...what happen to "we reserve the right to refuse service".
They even fined and arrested the owner of a specilities restaurant that served middle eastern style cuisine and had as its attraction flavored tobacco's smoked in hookah's...
pathetic if ya ask me...another example of our rights being slowly eroded away for our own good.

 

Back up in the city near the town I grew up in, the law was that there was no smoking in a public building where minors were allowed without proper ventalation. This meant that any restraunts that wanted a smoking section, had to seal off (walls and door) the smoking section and run them on a separate ventalation system.

Bars and clubs (were minors were not allowed) allowed smoking.

I don't smoke, but several of my friends do. If we go somewhere where smoking is not allowed, they just go outside to have a smoke.

I personally don't mind if there is smoking allowed, as long as those that are smoking respect those that are not. This meaning, if there are non smokers in the group, just go off to the side and have the smoke instead of standing in the middle of the group.

 

Do I think the bans are justified? I don't know. As a past smoker, I see their rights. They should be able to light up when they want. As a non-smoker, I think I have the right to breath clean air now and I can't do that in a confined public place that allows smoking.

An establishment allowing smoking does not deter me. If they don't have a seat far enough away, I will wait, or leave. Around here, the funny thing is that the "smoking" section is usually less than half full in restaurants. And there is a line of people waiting for non-smoking seating.

BTW, Albuquerque just passed smoking ordinance in restaurants that entails the enlcosure of the smoking areas and a separate air handling system. We'll see what it does to the businesses.

Also, it is not a right to ruin someone elses air.

 

The most unpleasant part of my work is helping people deal with illness and death. By far the greatest cause of illness and death is the inhalation of smoke, either personally or by being in a room full of it. I care not one bit for the rights of the smoker - life has proved to me that the claims of the medical profession are accurate. Smoking causes serious illness, and eventually death. That there are some who claim it does not effect them is irrelevant; their smoke effects others. It will eventually be law everywhere and I for one can only eagerly await that decision.

Those of you who smoke, how often do you cough? how often is you throat sore, or your chest uncomfortable? By comparison, I never cough, rarely have a sore throat, and never have chest pains, but my parishioners who smoke cough all the time, particulary in the morning, they have foul breath causing throat disorders, and often have pains in the chest, from the hacking cough that accompanies their addiction. The vast majority of smokers have ill health, and end up with lung or throat disease that hasten their deaths. It is morally delinquent of any government that knows this to be true, to continue to tolerate tobacco because of the taxes it generates.

In actual fact, the medical cost of smoking is 4 times that of the tax generated, which does not go to the hospital, but to the government.

Another miserable fact: If you smoke, you have 8 times more chance of hospitalization than someone who does not. Smoking damages tissue, and poisons the body, the medical consequences of that are often denied by victims, but never by the people who have to deal with the problem. So, Role On, Time - get us to the age when smoking in public places is illegal, because non-smokers are dying whilst the addiction of a few is tolerated by society.

I know there will be persons who disagree with me, most of them will be smokers and there will be a few non smokers who have not researched the facts - or deny their validity. That is the right of any to disagree, but remember, please, that an action of a person that endangers the well being of another is immoral, and therefore sinful. Modern thinking condemns such discussion, but is it worth ignoring.

Theo

 

Individual rights vs. the right of the majority.

That's what it comes down to really.

Is your right to smoke greater than my right not to breathe air contaminated by your smoke.

Personally, I HATE SMOKING, I hate coming home and wreaking of smoke. I hate cigarette butts everywhere. I hate the price I pay to provide healthcare for smokers. I hate the fact it has cost me the life of one of my favourite uncles and is threatening the lives of my other loved ones that smoke.

But, it's your right to smoke I guess, if you want to kill yourself, go ahead, I won't stop you until it effects me.

As for smoking in public places I see it this way. If it's a public place where people have no choice but to be for example, libraries, govt. buildings, my office tower, etc... Smoking should be banned, plain and simple. The proven health risks invoved to the majority (non-smokers) outweigh the rights of the minority, plain and simple. It's extreme but I see it this way, your right to shoot me is not stonger than my right to not get shot.

Restaurants and bars are another story though. In that case I believe the owner of the establishment should have the right to choose. However, there should be a solid line in the sand, either there is smoking allowed or not, no "smoking sections". I think we all know that those are a joke. I think the government mandating how you run your establishment is wrong, I don't think setting up strict smoking policies is.

For example, if you choose to allow smoking, that's fine, but no minors and the establishment is 100% smoking section. If you choose non-smoking, then it must be 100% non-smoking.

The public will quickly vote with it's wallet on the smoking vs. non-smoking establishments.

BigmattXXL, it's pretty hard to draw automotive pollution into this argument, it's apples and oranges. Smoking is a choice, a luxury if you will, that is not at all required for you to function in your daily life. That truck or bus is operating to provide you with goods and services that you require.

Waxy