Smoking Bans

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I do not use any tobacco products, but I strongly advocate your right to use them in establishments where the owner of the property allows you to. Unlike the general public, I realize that second hand smoke is not nearly as dangerous as the general public has assumed it to be at the prodding of mass media.

So my relative is alive and well then?

What did this relative die from? Lung cancer or heart attack?

Cancer. In 1993.

Lung cancer?

It was a Cancer of the Lung. He died around the time that Roy Castle did.

[MarkDel]

My view: If the government wishes to ban smoking in government buildings(such as government owned museums and workplaces) that is fine with me, those buildings belong to the government. A restaraunt belongs to the person who owns it, much as your house belongs to you. If government can ban a restaraunt from allowing smoking in it, what stops them from banning smoking in my house? Don't give me the idea that a restaraunt is public and my house is private - a restaraunt can reject potential customers if it wishes to do so, just as I can reject people who want in my house. If I hold a party at my house, should the government require that I ban smoking there?

And no, I don't smoke, I don't like the smell of smoke, and I think it's a dirty habit.

John,

I completely agree with this analysis. People are too quick to give up their rights...today it's smoking, but the next thing you know they'll be banning fast food or alcohol because those things are also "bad for you" and cause a drain on the health care system. And I don't smoke either.

[JohnFKennedy]

What would you all say to a system where businesses were given some sort of financial incentive to ban smoking but not required too. Maybe some sort of tax break. Also a requirement for all establishments where smoking is allowed to clearly display this at the entrance?

[TheWildCard]

What would you all say to a system where businesses were given some sort of financial incentive to ban smoking but not required too. Maybe some sort of tax break. Also a requirement for all establishments where smoking is allowed to clearly display this at the entrance?

Hmmmm... Interesting idea actuallly I wouldn't at all mind testing it for a year or so in a state and seeing how effective it is.

Also heres another idea... Why doesn't the smoking industry just switch over to nicotine inhalers and sell cartidge refills?

[??????????]

What would you all say to a system where businesses were given some sort of financial incentive to ban smoking but not required too. Maybe some sort of tax break. Also a requirement for all establishments where smoking is allowed to clearly display this at the entrance?

Hmmmm... Interesting idea actuallly I wouldn't at all mind testing it for a year or so in a state and seeing how effective it is.

Also heres another idea... Why doesn't the smoking industry just switch over to nicotine inhalers and sell cartidge refills?

If they ever banned RedMan or Copenhagen I would shoot myself. lol jk of course.

[ilikeverin]

Door #1, please

I'd like to applaude Wildcard for his stance on smoking bans.

[JohnFKennedy]

Door #1, please

I'd like to applaude John Ford for his stance on smoking bans.

Ford? Are you sure you don't mean WildCard. Ford hasn't posted here.

[ilikeverin]

Door #1, please

I'd like to applaude John Ford for his stance on smoking bans.

Ford? Are you sure you don't mean WildCard. Ford hasn't posted here.

Errr, right, just saw the avatar, no harm done, I'm sure John Ford has a lovely stance too.

[Nym90]

Necessary for public health.

[opebo]

Its obviously a violation of private property rights.. and for a particularly silly 'reason'.  

[© tweed]

It should be up to the restaurant/bar owner.

[Platypus]

I do not use any tobacco products, but I strongly advocate your right to use them in establishments where the owner of the property allows you to. Unlike the general public, I realize that second hand smoke is not nearly as dangerous as the general public has assumed it to be at the prodding of mass media.

So my relative is alive and well then?

Yes its dangerous, but its not nearly AS dangerous. You are very unlikely to get lung cancer from passive smoke, but its cerainly very possible if you smoke that you'll die of cancer.

Personally, I don't mind people smoking in bars, clubs, etc; although I prefer that areas that are especially for eating, loike restaurants and cafes, ought to be smokefree. banning soking on beaches is just ridiculuous, btw.

Overall, I voted that it should be allowed, but we can all recognisethat in some places its no5t appropriate-like firewors factories. Snaps to whoever gets the reference.

[raggage]

Who in their right mind is dumb enough to smoke anyway. Kill yourself, and others, plus it's good money you could be spending on better things like getting G W Bush out of office once and for all.

[John Dibble]

My View Part Two: Nobody can force you to go to a restaraunt that allows smoking. I can think of very few situations where you would be required to go. Now I'd like to also point out your power as a consumer: You can affect restaraunt smoking policies. If you got together with a group like yourself(doesn't want smoking in a restaraunt), pick out a popular restaraunt that allows smoking, have your group sign a petition stating that you will boycott said restaraunt until it is made non-smoking, and send it to that restaraunt. If the owner feels that he is losing more business than he will keep by allowing smoking, then he will probably cave-in to your demands(there's two types of smoking customers - one that won't care and just go outside to smoke, and one that won't come back, so your group must outnumber the second group to make it worth it. Go instead to a nearby restaraunt that is non-smoking if possible. Seeing that he has lost customers, and that the non-smoking restaraunt has gained business, he is even more likely to cave, as are other restaruants(they want your business). Of course, there will also be a couple of restaraunts who will capitalize on the now 'wandering' smoking customers, but this can't be helped - the smokers will be an untapped market after all, and someone will tap it, but it will be concentrated in stead of spread out. In short, you as the consumer should group with other consumers to gain market power, and without government intervention you can influence producer decisions. Capitalism at work.

[JohnFKennedy]

My father had a coffee shop in a shopping mall, and on their breaks, the workers from the casinos accross the seat would come over, buy something to eat, sit, and smoke. Then the mall banned smoking... and my dad lost a good 25% of his customers, which he never recovered.

Sounds to me like another case of liberals hating business owners.

Any proof it was "liberals hating business owners" who were responsible for this? It could just as easily have been a right winger.

[John Dibble]

My father had a coffee shop in a shopping mall, and on their breaks, the workers from the casinos accross the seat would come over, buy something to eat, sit, and smoke. Then the mall banned smoking... and my dad lost a good 25% of his customers, which he never recovered.

Sounds to me like another case of liberals hating business owners.

Any proof it was that "liberals hating business owners" were responsible for this. It could just as easily have been a right winger.

I have to agree - I know a few right wingers who support smoking bans. This issue goes beyond liberal and conservative(though you'll find few libertarians who support it). Conservatives seem more likely to be against it than liberals, though.

[MarkDel]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

[opebo]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

I couldn't agree more, though I'd add some other issues like prostitution and drugs to the list.

[MarkDel]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

I couldn't agree more, though I'd add some other issues like prostitution and drugs to the list.

I concur on both, especially the former.

[??????????]

Dibbles picture on the right hand side I agree with.

[ilikeverin]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

I couldn't agree more, though I'd add some other issues like prostitution and drugs to the list.

I concur on both, especially the former.

What's the male equivalent of a nymphomaniac, again?

[MarkDel]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

I couldn't agree more, though I'd add some other issues like prostitution and drugs to the list.

I concur on both, especially the former.

What's the male equivalent of a nymphomaniac, again?

A man...

[opebo]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

I couldn't agree more, though I'd add some other issues like prostitution and drugs to the list.

I concur on both, especially the former.

What's the male equivalent of a nymphomaniac, again?

A man...

Hah!  ROTFL

Truer words were never spoken.

[ilikeverin]

The ban on smoking is one of many, many issues (like porno, violence on TV and gambling) where you see an unholy alliance between the Far Left AND the Far Right. When these two groups can agree on an issue, you KNOW their conclusion is a threat to your freedom.

I couldn't agree more, though I'd add some other issues like prostitution and drugs to the list.

I concur on both, especially the former.

What's the male equivalent of a nymphomaniac, again?

A man...

Hah!  ROTFL

Truer words were never spoken.

Sometimes I think I would like to live as a hermit.

[MarkDel]

Ilikeverin,

I just realized something, did you say in an earlier post a few months ago that you were gay? If so, I'm sorry I'm suggesting you sleep with women when you get older.