Smoking Bans

[Freak93]

Personally, I feel in establishments like bars smoking should be allowed. However, in places where people are showing some concern for their health, I feel smoking should be banned.

[detroitbasketball]

"Yes" or "no" are both too extreme. In this case, I agree with Freak.

[Keeper]

A widespread "no smoking in public property" would be ridiculous, but if a governing body votes to ban smoking in a public location, then certainly I would respect it. Smoking is victimless in comparison to drug and alcohol use, so I don't really have any problem with it. Everyone smoking in this day and age is making a choice where all the evidence is on the table, there doesn't really need to be outside intervention.

[JacktheRipper]

Smoking bans in a privately owned business are a joke. The establishment should be able to decide to allow it or not. Bars and such should certainly allow it. Most bars I go to have a patio, so if I want a smoke, I take my drink outside and puff away. So they get around it.

It's illegal here to smoke inside any resturant, bar, or any buidling where the public go. Takes away from the freedom of the owner to choose how he wants his property run and I don't like that.

[JackTheRipper]

I personally don't care what these people want to do to themselves, just have the common courtesy to not puff right next to me.

[detroitbasketball]

Jun 14, 2008 1:20:45 GMT -5 JackTheRipper said:

I personally don't care what these people want to do to themselves, just have the common courtesy to not puff right next to me.

This.

I have asthma, so people who smoke in my presence cause me to have...issues.

[cooljayhu]

I'm sorry to say this but people that smoke generally piss me off. Alot (not all but alot) of the seem oblivious to the fact that you're the one that is infringing on my right to breath clean air. The last thing I want to do is go into a bar or club and breath in smoke. But, alot of smokers play the victim card that they're the ones suffering by having to go outside. Well, if you weren't breathing smoke into the air giving me cancer then yes you can make the argument that it is unfair for smoking to be banned. If you want to smoke inside then just don't exhale cause I don't want to breath in your second hand smoke.

And another thing why is that smokers deem it alright to toss their butts on the ground. Seriously its friggin ridiculous. Just walk the two steps over to the ashtray and put it in their. Or if your in your car put it in your ashtray then throw it out when you have a chance. If I see one more person toss a butt out of theire window when driving I am going to lose my f'n mind.

[dkgojackets]

It should be banned in all public places but not privately owned businesses.

[JacktheRipper]

Jun 14, 2008 3:56:13 GMT -5 cooljayhu said:

I'm sorry to say this but people that smoke generally piss me off. Alot (not all but alot) of the seem oblivious to the fact that you're the one that is infringing on my right to breath clean air. The last thing I want to do is go into a bar or club and breath in smoke. But, alot of smokers play the victim card that they're the ones suffering by having to go outside. Well, if you weren't breathing smoke into the air giving me cancer then yes you can make the argument that it is unfair for smoking to be banned. If you want to smoke inside then just don't exhale cause I don't want to breath in your second hand smoke.

And another thing why is that smokers deem it alright to toss their butts on the ground. Seriously its friggin ridiculous. Just walk the two steps over to the ashtray and put it in their. Or if your in your car put it in your ashtray then throw it out when you have a chance. If I see one more person toss a butt out of theire window when driving I am going to lose my f'n mind.

Realize I'm a really light smoker, so I may not be the norm. I have no problem going outside at a bar and really would only smoke around someone who is ok with it. I know that, hell if I'm not smoking, I don't want someone sitting next to me doing it. Then again, you're talking to a guy who's gotten to the point that he only smokes when I drink. Use to be heavier, but the whole health thing is really starting to bother me. I was always though, considerate of who I did it around and tried to find a proper place to trash my butt. Seems like common courtesy.

Yeah though, I think bars should be able to allow smoking though. If you don't like it, go to another bar. Any business owner should have to choice to allow whatever legal activities in their place of business. It's another case of, if you don't like smoking, don't go to that place of business. If too many people don't come, they'll ban it to get business.

[Freak93]

You go to a bar to pollute your body anyway, you don't have much room to complain about cigarettes. Nobody is handcuffing you to the bar. Like bama said, go elsewhere. The bar is more than a place to just have a drink. You have to understand that other things are going to occur there. I feel it is unfair to cater to the drinker/non-smoker in a place like a bar.

[cooljayhu]

You guys say it's unfair for you not to do a legal activity in a privately-owned establishment but honestly it's unfair for the people who don't want to breath in smoke. You say if you don't like go to another bar but thats a bunch a BS, if you want to smoke go outside. I shouldn't have to change who I am and where I go just because you feel the need to pollute you body (and mine with second hand smoke) by smoking. And the bar isn't just a place to pollute your body it's a place to socialize, meet new people, hang out with friends, and I don't want to get cancer while I'm trying to do that.

To be honest I would not be opposed at all to an outright ban on smoking completely, just for the sake of saving millions in health care costs cause by people who pollute their bodies' with the garbage that is in cigarettes. Either that or stop treating chronic smokers who shockingly () develop cancer, respiratory ailments and cardiovascular complications.

[Loki]

Making cigarettes illegal would be just as useful as every other illegal substance.

[JacktheRipper]

Jun 14, 2008 19:11:15 GMT -5 cooljayhu said:

You guys say it's unfair for you not to do a legal activity in a privately-owned establishment but honestly it's unfair for the people who don't want to breath in smoke. You say if you don't like go to another bar but thats a bunch a BS, if you want to smoke go outside. I shouldn't have to change who I am and where I go just because you feel the need to pollute you body (and mine with second hand smoke) by smoking. And the bar isn't just a place to pollute your body it's a place to socialize, meet new people, hang out with friends, and I don't want to get cancer while I'm trying to do that.

To be honest I would not be opposed at all to an outright ban on smoking completely, just for the sake of saving millions in health care costs cause by people who pollute their bodies' with the garbage that is in cigarettes. Either that or stop treating chronic smokers who shockingly () develop cancer, respiratory ailments and cardiovascular complications.

No, I said it should be the owner's choice to allow smoking or not in his/her place of business. Just like you have the choice to go there or not. I'm fine with it the way it is now. I have no problem, if I want a cigarette, to go outside and smoke it. I just don't like the government passing a law that forces businesses to do this. I'd rather see the owner decide what legal activity goes on in his/her place of business.

Oh and banning cigarettes is as dumb as keeping weed illegal. For one thing, I don't buy into all the damage that second hand smoke can supposedly do. Before you jump all over that, I agree it's harmful, but I just can't believe you're going to get cancer if you're exposed to it like once a week. Yeah though, we live in a free society, and should be able to pollute our bodies as much as we want. Freedom is awesome like that.

[Freak93]

What makes you so much better that we should cater to you and not the smoker? Also, if you want to bring up the private establishment aspect, then a government ban shouldn't even be in the conversation. It should be up to private owners, who then would probably let them [smokers] go as is. While in a bar, you are already polluting your body so what more is second hand smoke? The argument that you don't want cancer is fine, just not when you are contributing to the failure of your own liver. Perhaps you should take your beer elsewhere. Alcohol can also cause problems for others in the environment. I would much rather deal with second hand smoke then some belligerent person.

Also, an entire smoking ban would not be cool. If we do that, alcohol needs to go as well. However, a ban on either of those items would be wrong. People will pay for both items even when there are taxes on them. So at least we find a way to make some money off of the habit. Either way we are saving money in health care costs. Maybe alcohol does not directly equal the cost of cigarettes, but I am sure it catches up. Think about the drunk drivers who get into accidents or just the drunk who goes home and beats on his wife. I would rather pay for the health costs of a cigarette then pay for someone who was beaten by somebody who can't control their alcohol consumption.

[Loki]

What's to go to bars for anyway? Fat, trailer trash women for a good lay? I don't do that crap anymore but quite frankly, I preferred my drinking at someone's house with a few friends or what not.

[Freak93]

I agree. With PA throwing down a ban, you hear people complaining about smokers in bars. If you are so great that you can't put up with smoke, you shouldn't be at a bar. You should be at some Art League meeting.

[JacktheRipper]

Jun 14, 2008 20:58:18 GMT -5 Loki said:

What's to go to bars for anyway? Fat, trailer trash women for a good lay? I don't do that crap anymore but quite frankly, I preferred my drinking at someone's house with a few friends or what not.

I don't know what kind of bars you go to, but the ones I frequent are generally pretty classy. The kind of place to you go and want to get to know the people there. Met a good number of great people at these places. Hell, I'd rather go to a bar and chill with friends and meet new people than just drink with friends.

[Freak93]

You live down south. You are exempt from our trash. We share a border with Jersey.

[JacktheRipper]

Jun 14, 2008 21:20:24 GMT -5 Freak93 said:

You live down south. You are exempt from our trash. We share a border with Jersey.

*confused look*

I'm guessing you've never visted the great states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

It's all about the establishment. There are bars I don't go to, because of the people that generally go there. Matters a lot more than the location. I mean, most of the bars I go to, are in a small town in Mississippi. Even the rich people are rednecks.

[cooljayhu]

Jun 14, 2008 20:44:23 GMT -5 Freak93 said:

What makes you so much better that we should cater to you and not the smoker?

because you made the choice to smoke, I can't make a decision to not breath.

although I do agree with you on the alchohol thing people that drink and drive seriously piss me the f off, especially rich people who drink and drive (athletes, celebs) seriously you're a millionaire I think you can afford a taxi or a driver.