no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 07:36 AM CDT

hey guys!
i just wanted to start an interesting discussion about smokers versus non-smokers.
in Austria it is now a big big topic that everyone talks about.
it's about banning smokers from public building like restaurants and bars. they now have to decide whether they want to be a smokers-bar or not. this keeps customers only visiting the smoker-bars- and -restaurants.
bars and restaurants larger than 50 square meters (i think) are able to separate their premises. but it is far too expensive for most owners to afford this.
i don't know how the situation is in the u.s. but i think there are lots of discussions about smoking going on there, too.

i'll keep my opinion away now (but i can say that i'm a non-smoker), just to not influence the whole discussion at the beginning, but i'm getting back later to see what you think and which arguments you have about this topic.

hope you join in soon ;D

cheers, Luke

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 08:33 AM CDT

it's left up to the individual states and communities here. where I live, there is no smoking in buildings, bars or restaurants, and you can't smoke within 20 feet of a building entrance. they are debating banning it in apartment buildings as the smoke travels through air ducts into other apartments.

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 08:49 AM CDT

It's a control issue in these parts. It's mainly controlled in the metropolitan areas of Texas. I used to smoke but never liked smoking indoors anyway. I once was given the task to convert some smoking rooms to conference rooms. It was amazing the amount of tar and nicotine - whatever- was dripping from the fluorescent light reflectors and all other surfaces. It made quite an impact on me, but alas, I was addicted and kept smoking. My father died of heart failure and stroke, a complication of smoking. I finally stopped. My sister died of lung cancer due to smoking. I still like a good cigar and will smoke a couple of cigarettes from time to time. But I am no longer addicted to it. The laws concerning banning smoking in public places had nothing to do with that. I wrote a song about it... well, sort of... Smoking or Non.http://www.macjams.com/song/59837

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 09:01 AM CDT

Personally I think it's a blessing and lifesaver, for all the hard working musicians out there that have had to breathe in those toxic fumes from the second hand smoke. It's also good for the wonderful bar staff I've encountered over the years. Everyone will be healthier for it. There's always a patch for the addicted ones.

Stats prove your going to gain more patrons, who have avoided the smoke-filled bars and restaurants in the past.

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 09:09 AM CDT

Washington state has had a ban on smoking in all indoor public places and work places since 2005. At that time we were the 5th state to enact such a law, so it is not only at the level of municipalities, at least in some parts of the country. We also have the "25 feet from the doorway" rule. I started smoking in college and finally managed to quit 10 years later. The research on the health consequences of second hand smoke is enough to make your toes curl, and since it's painfully clear that one person's smoking can affect the health of others, I have absolutely no problem with such restrictions.

As it turned out, patrons did not stop coming to restaurants and bars as feared by some business owners. In fact the opposite happened, and patronage generally increased everywhere. The result was very good for businesses of all kinds.

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 10:35 AM CDT

It's been banned in work places for nearly 2 years in the UK. That means anywhere that people work i.e. bars, offices, shops, clubs, work vehicles etc.

Although I do smoke now and again I wasn't sorry initially to see it banned from restaurants and bars but my local pub has just shut down with the owners blaming a combination of the recession and the smoking ban. I resent being told what I can and can't do but at the same time I'm also aware that many people find smoking disgusting and hate to be around people who smoke. I would have preferred rooms set aside for smoking that members of staff could refuse to go in but it's a blanket ban which I think is wrong.

There is talk now of banning people from smoking in their cars. What next, banning people from smoking in their homes?

For a different take on smoking have a look at this http://www.joejackson.com/smoking.php

Cheers

Dick

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 11:11 AM CDT

Here in So Cal people are no longer able to be responsible for themselves, so the government now takes care of that for us. We can not smoke anywhere in public (that includes many beaches and parks). Also, because we are not able to hold a phone and talk while we drive (remember we don't know anymore how to be responsible), I've no doubt smoking, eating, and perhaps to follow, talking to passengers may soon be considered unsafe and therefore banned and illegal while driving. Let's not stop there. Why not consider banning alcohol again, especially in public places, like bars and pubs, for example. We the people have clearly demonstrated time and time again that we can not handle that reponsibility either. Besides, bars and pubs are unconstitutional as they discriminate against our precious children because of their age. I am surprised there have been no lawsuits...

How about this - let's not be able to leave our homes without a pass from the government giving us permission - only after they have reviewed our request and deemed it socially acceptable and safe to every man, woman, child and animal who we may encounter in our journey, of course.

Man, where did that all come from - I must be in a mood this morning! For the record, I do not smoke.

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 11:22 AM CDT

Quote by: Sigmund Here in So Cal people are no longer able to be responsible for themselves, so the government now takes care of that for us. We can not smoke anywhere in public (that includes many beaches and parks). Also, because we are not able to hold a phone and talk while we drive (remember we don't know anymore how to be responsible), I've no doubt smoking, eating, and perhaps to follow, talking to passengers may soon be considered unsafe and therefore banned and illegal while driving. Let's not stop there. Why not consider banning alcohol again, especially in public places, like bars and pubs, for example. We the people have clearly demonstrated time and time again that we can not handle that reponsibility either. Besides, bars and pubs are unconstitutional as they discriminate against our precious children because of their age. I am surprised there have been no lawsuits... How about this - let's not be able to leave our homes without a pass from the government giving us permission - only after they have reviewed our request and deemed it socially acceptable and safe to every man, woman, child and animal who we may encounter in our journey, of course. Man, where did that all come from - I must be in a mood this morning! For the record, I do not smoke.

wow!

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 12:58 PM CDT

Smoking is very bad for one.

Over-exposure to sunlight is very bad for one, as well.

There are some other things that are very bad for people as well.

For example; a government that attempts to hide behind a faux veil of "Democracy" while yet positioning itself as a socialist state. That's what you really need to be careful about. You should be smart enough not to smoke or bask in the sunlight too long.

Re:no-smoking?
Friday, April 09 2010 @ 01:08 PM CDT

Quote by: magnatone Quote by: Sigmund Here in So Cal people are no longer able to be responsible for themselves, so the government now takes care of that for us. We can not smoke anywhere in public (that includes many beaches and parks). Also, because we are not able to hold a phone and talk while we drive (remember we don't know anymore how to be responsible), I've no doubt smoking, eating, and perhaps to follow, talking to passengers may soon be considered unsafe and therefore banned and illegal while driving. Let's not stop there. Why not consider banning alcohol again, especially in public places, like bars and pubs, for example. We the people have clearly demonstrated time and time again that we can not handle that reponsibility either. Besides, bars and pubs are unconstitutional as they discriminate against our precious children because of their age. I am surprised there have been no lawsuits... How about this - let's not be able to leave our homes without a pass from the government giving us permission - only after they have reviewed our request and deemed it socially acceptable and safe to every man, woman, child and animal who we may encounter in our journey, of course. Man, where did that all come from - I must be in a mood this morning! For the record, I do not smoke. wow!

ditto on the WOW!