Smoking

[Hutch]

In England from July 1 it will be against the law to smoke in an enclosed building, including bars & restaurants.

What is the law in your State or County?

 

[DrRocket]

They've passed legislation doing essentially the same thing in this state, and the two bills are in conference committee working out the differences. The guv has stated he will sign that bill when it reaches his desk.

 

[Tom]

It's been that way here in the Peoples Republik of Kaliphornia for years. Being a smoker though, I'm ok with that (except the bars, THAT is bullshit) because if I was a non smoker, I wouldn't want to have to breathe someone elses smoke. I noticed on a vacation with my family last year to Disneyland that you can only smoke in three designated areas of the park, and while it seems inconvenient at first, in the long run, I think it was a great idea. Much better for the kids. And at the track that we race at, smoking is only allowed in one particular set of bleachers away from the front stretch covered bleachers, again, better for families. Bottom line is that we can still smoke, we just have to be a little more courteous to the non-smokers and I am ok with that.

 

[Mike]

I wish the goverment would stay out of my business. I would be non-smoking but it should be my choice not theirs.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

Is there any argument for smoking at all?

 

[.]

Not allowed in the bars or restaurants here
or on the local beach(Pismo Beach).

...which is fine by me.

 

[Mike]

But if you all remember when this no smoking deal started it was just going to be in public places. Now its speading to your own house and cars. They just continue to pick away at ALL of your freedoms.

 

[Ted]

Is there any argument for smoking at all?

That depends. Someone should analyze the cost of dying of lung cancer at 60 compared to the cost of dying at 80 from the most common other maladies. The numbers might give us an argument in favor of smoking.

I don't smoke and never have. But I think the business owner should be the one who decides if smoking is allowed in the establishment.

 

[Mike]

Thank you, Ted...............

 

[Nitrohaulic]

I do think a business should be able to put up a sign letting the public know which they choose to cater to. Let the market decide. Of course, we're already ON that slippery slope. I had to sign just to get the chopped (hamburger) steak with my eggs cooked medium in Waffle House last week. ( Just waiting to see the demand that this be moved to the politics room. What week of the month IS it? )

I still think it's very interesting that New Jersey banned it everywhere EXCEPT casinos. Couldn't be because of the volume of tax dollars they pull in from out of state? Why, I KNOW they wouldn't put money in front of the health of casino workers? I don't know how much more you need to know than that.

John, I do remember the English comedian on XM, think his name is Eddie Izzard or something. He was joking a long time ago about the day they try to pass that in England. He was imitating your politicians discussing in Parliament the banning of it in bars, that one would be yelling something like "Have you bloody noticed that it's perpetually *%#&#@!!!! RAINING outside?" LOL.

He also said that when he was over here, someone asked him what he does. He said he's an outdoorsman. They asked "What? Do you hunt? Camp? Hike?" He said "No, I'm a smoker."

 

[HEMI6point1]

I don't smoke but it's dumb to ban it in bars and clubs.

 

[Paul Berglund]

The Great State of Washington (which I live in) banned smoking in public buildings which included all bars a couple of years ago...most bar owners (the smart ones at least) promptly set up outdoor beer garden areas for the smokers to congregate in. I remember when this was being passed, the people that worked in the bars that didn't smoke were some of the loudest voices for the ban. This made me think just get a job in a different environment. I mean nobody makes anyone else sling drinks!
ah well I don't smoke and I don't hang out in bars much anymore, so it doesn't really affect me much!

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

That depends. Someone should analyze the cost of dying of lung cancer at 60 compared to the cost of dying at 80 from the most common other maladies. The numbers might give us an argument in favor of smoking.

Your requested analysis has already been done. Health Care numbers are staggering. Smokers and their related illnesses cost non smokers billions of dollar$ every year in hospitalization & health insurance not to mention the actual illness that are directly attributed to second-hand smoke which, for over a century you couldn't escape anywhere. Your argument is also flawed because dying of smoking related illness' costs the same if not more at an early age where the body has more capacity to fight the effects of the illness.

I simply asked if there were any pros to smoking? I'm older than dirt and I have never seen nor heard one valid argument in favor of it. Not being a smoker, I also will admit not being able to comprehend the grip of it's addiction.

 

[yoda]

I don't smoke but it's dumb to ban it in bars and clubs.

Unless you work in one for 5-8 hours a day and DON'T smoke...

 

[Mike]

Martin, you should know that before you take the job.

 

[BaldyLochs]

... Smoking WHAT? (People in Boulder are asking!)

 

[yoda]

Martin, you should know that before you take the job.

I do lights for bands, Mike. I work for artists that sing (or are pretty animated and athletic on stage). I've done it for almost 30 years. Most of the artists now have No Smoking in the Venue portions included in their contracts. I hope you didn't believe that the reason you couldn't smoke in your local concert hall had anything to do with fire safety.. They don't allow it because in some shows the Artists don't want it in the air, and the promoter could be held in Breech of Contract and the show could be cancelled.

Are you telling me that, to pander to the addiction of smokers, I should have to change my career?

With all the proof there is on the hazardous affects of second-hand smoke, is there any reason whatsoever that smoking indoors in public places should continue to exist?

Really- smoking is NOT a protected Right. I don't care if people smoke- outside.

 

[yoda]

BTW- the "smoke" you see in the air at concerts, for the most part (with the exception of pyro), isn't smoke at all- it's cracked particles of a mineral oil based fluid that works out of a small pump device similar to a diesel motor.

(I saw the question coming.. )

Gone are the days of arenas filled with "smoke" from the audience..

 

[Mike]

Martin, I wont argue any of your points but you had to know that going into the business. Kinda like buying a house near a dragstrip

 

[none]

I recently quit smoking, so the ban in Arizona (that goes into effect May 1st) won't have any effect on me. But it does pi$$ me off that the government can tell me what is and isn't allowed in my business.

Can anyone name another product that is:

Legal to manufacture
Legal to sell
Legal to buy
Legal to own
Legal to use

And Illegal to advertise
And illegal to use in a public building?

If I want to allow smoking in my bar and you don't like it, why wouldn't you just go to the non-smoking bar acress the street?

And as for the bartenders, if smoking bothers you- don't apply at the smoking bar.

After all, if nudity offends you- you wouldn't apply at the strip club, would you?

And one more thing. If you're going to talk about the cost of healthcare related to smoking, let's talk about the number of tax dollars that smokers voluntarily pay everyday so they can indulge in smoking. If I’m wrong please tell me, but I think tobacco is the highest taxed product on the planet. Here in AZ. more than half the cost of a pack is taxes. They just recently added a dollar a pack tax and they charge sales tax on that dollar. Is it just me or does that sound like a double dip?

Alan