Finally!!!!!

[Pyro]

I want to congratulate the powers that be in my state for finally agreeing on a smoking ban in public places (just about all of them).

 

Michigan is now the 38th state to ban smoking.

[donnamaybe]

Good! Wisconsin is joining in July of 2010 which means that all the people in the Twin Ports whining about all the bar/lounge business from the smokers going to Superior will no longer hold water.

 

It is SOOOO nice to be able to go out and shoot some pool, go dancing, do karaoke, etc. with friends WITHOUT that "second hand smoke hangover" headache and brutal cough I used to have until noon the next day.

[threebyfate]

'Grats Pyro! It's so nice to have air to breathe.

 

Next step for you guys, is a three-metre buffer zone around entrances, windows that can be opened and air intakes for buildings. This way, you don't get a face-full of smoke, every time you walk in or out of building.

[Pyro]

'Grats Pyro! It's so nice to have air to breathe.

 

Next step for you guys, is a three-metre buffer zone around entrances, windows that can be opened and air intakes for buildings. This way, you don't get a face-full of smoke, every time you walk in or out of building.

 

I have to wish myself luck for that.

 

People who oppose are already speaking out about the ban and this has been a battle here for a long time, so it will be a while I'm sure before any other laws relating to the smoking ban will be considered.

 

Baby steps I am ok with.

[threebyfate]

I have to wish myself luck for that.

 

People who oppose are already speaking out about the ban and this has been a battle here for a long time, so it will be a while I'm sure before any other laws relating to the smoking ban will be considered.

 

Baby steps I am ok with.

We also did it in steps, each step a little tougher. The first step was bitterly fought over but no one can deny that second-hand smoke can kill, so the advocates "for" smoking, lost.

 

I'm not a rabid non-smoker. Smoking doesn't bother me, as long as it's outside. I will admit that it's really nice to enter and exit buildings now, without a face full of smoke.

[Pyro]

We also did it in steps, each step a little tougher. The first step was bitterly fought over but no one can deny that second-hand smoke can kill, so the advocates "for" smoking, lost.

 

I'm not a rabid non-smoker. Smoking doesn't bother me, as long as it's outside. I will admit that it's really nice to enter and exit buildings now, without a face full of smoke.

 

They will still be able to smoke in the casionos, so its not a total loss for them, but fortunate for me I don't gamble.

 

Same here. I don't like smelling like smoke after a night out of playing darts, shooting pool, eating a nice meal, singing karaoke, and shooting the s*it with friends over a couple of drinks.

[northstar1]

I remember when we went through it in phases.

 

First, it was 'illegal' to smoke in clubs, but owners got around it by removing ashtrays and matches, but still turned a blind eye to smokers

 

Then you could smoke in bars, but not restaurants that served minors. If they were classified as a "Tavern" they could smoke, if it was a "Restaurant", you couldn't.

 

Then, bars began building 'smoking' rooms. Commonly called fishbowls, since most were little more than glassed in cubby holes thatsmokers would crowd inside and puff away.

 

Now, pretty much in my city, full on bans, and you can only smoke outsie a bar, if there is not a covering above you. So, the patio has to be open for you to smoke on it.

[northstar1]

It can't be far away that you will banned from smoking in 'common' buildings like condos and apartments.

[norajane]

It can't be far away that you will banned from smoking in 'common' buildings like condos and apartments.

 

There are already non-smoking apartment buildings and landlords who won't rent to smokers. And condo by-laws sometimes have smoking bans for decks and patios.

 

Why not just make cigarettes illegal and be done with it? Then you can arrest smokers and have them fill up our jail cells like pot smokers.

[laRubiaBonita]

Why not just make cigarettes illegal and be done with it? Then you can arrest smokers and have them fill up our jail cells like pot smokers.

 

why not just outlaw alcohol again... and why they are at it may as well outlaw junk food- bye bye McDonalds... and they may as well outlaw eating meat too...

[threebyfate]

I don't know about other jurisdictions but here, the ban on smoking is solely applicable in common areas, within condos and apartments. People can smoke inside their homes.

 

Of course private owners who rent out to tenants, have the ability to designate their rentals as non-smoking.

[northstar1]

I don't know about other jurisdictions but here, the ban on smoking is solely applicable in common areas, within condos and apartments. People can smoke inside their homes.

 

Of course private owners who rent out to tenants, have the ability to designate their rentals as non-smoking.

 

 

I am torn on the idea of that much civil control if it gets to the point where people cannot smoke in their own homes.

[donnamaybe]

It's easy to see who the smokers are in this thread!

 

Eating meat doesn't hurt someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand heart disease."

 

Eating junk food doesn't hurt someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand fat."

 

If someone has a drink - or even gets PLASTERED for that matter - as long as they aren't driving drunk (which, by the way IS against the law) they aren't hurting someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand drunk."

 

:lmao:

[donnamaybe]

I am torn on the idea of that much civil control if it gets to the point where people cannot smoke in their own homes.

 

What I would like to see is a ban on the ignorant people I see riding in their cars with their innocent CHILDREN strapped in the back, smoking like chimneys with all the windows rolled up. Makes me wanna pull 'em over and smack the living crap out of 'em.

[threebyfate]

I am torn on the idea of that much civil control if it gets to the point where people cannot smoke in their own homes.

I have no probs with the common areas ban but when it comes to their own homes, it's their business.

[northstar1]

It's easy to see who the smokers are in this thread!

 

Eating meat doesn't hurt someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand heart disease."

 

Eating junk food doesn't hurt someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand fat."

 

If someone has a drink - or even gets PLASTERED for that matter - as long as they aren't driving drunk (which, by the way IS against the law) they aren't hurting someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand drunk."

 

:lmao:

 

Directly no. Indirectly, if Joe Schmoo diets on Little Debbie cakes and Doctor Pepper all day and develops diabetes, foot ulcers, and heart disease, it has an impact on healthcare costs to everyone else.

[donnamaybe]

Directly no. Indirectly, if Joe Schmoo diets on Little Debbie cakes and Doctor Pepper all day and develops diabetes, foot ulcers, and heart disease, it has an impact on healthcare costs to everyone else.

 

I agree, but that's another thread COMPLETELY!

 

Smoking around others has a VERY direct affect.

[laRubiaBonita]

Eating junk food doesn't hurt someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand fat."

it can lead to heart disease and kill the person

If someone has a drink - or even gets PLASTERED for that matter - as long as they aren't driving drunk (which, by the way IS against the law) they aren't hurting someone else. There's no such thing as "second hand drunk.":

drinking alcohol can lead to liver disease

 

 

i am not talking second hand.... i mean first hand.

[donnamaybe]

it can lead to heart disease and kill the person

 

drinking alcohol can lead to liver disease

 

 

i am not talking second hand.... i mean first hand.

 

Smoking bans are to protect the NON-smokers from the smokers.

 

If a person wants to smoke and kill themselves, just like the McDonald's diner with their Big Macs, they are more than welcome to do so. However, I don't want to breathe their smoke just as much as I wouldn't want the McDonald's diner to sit on me and shove a Bic Mac down my throat.

 

No one is telilng a smoker they aren't allowed to smoke. We just don't want to have to share their habit with them.

[streetlamp]

Check out this link re: the great state of Illinois.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-smoking-bars-25-nov25,0,5531427.story

 

For real?

[Pyro]

Smoking bans are to protect the NON-smokers from the smokers.

 

In the long run too I feel that it will increase business. You may not see results right away, but at least the surveys here say that there are a nice size population of non smokers who stayed awy from bars because of the smoking, so now that the smoking is banned..........

[laRubiaBonita]

No one is telilng a smoker they aren't allowed to smoke. We just don't want to have to share their habit with them.

 

i know- i personally LIKE the smoking ban... i hate smelling like smoke after having gone out to a bar, etc...

AND i think that places like apartments should be able to keep smokers from renting (although i am not sure if that is allowable- i guess it is)

 

i just do not think the powers that be should be allowed to ban cigarettes outright because of the associated health risks.

[Pyro]

i know- i personally LIKE the smoking ban... i hate smelling like smoke after having gone out to a bar, etc...

AND i think that places like apartments should be able to keep smokers from renting (although i am not sure if that is allowable- i guess it is)

 

i just do not think the powers that be should be allowed to ban cigarettes outright because of the associated health risks.

 

The people have spoken....well at least here.

 

They say only about 18-20% of this states population are smokers, so majority does rule in this situation.

[laRubiaBonita]

The people have spoken....well at least here.

 

They say only about 18-20% of this states population are smokers, so majority does rule in this situation.

 

i think people mostly get upset because they feel their "quality of life" (cough*snort*cough) is being dictated.... well the flip side is that the majority of NON smokers quality of living is being addressed.

 

change is hard- and in this case change is Good!

[melodymatters]

My problem is with the civil liberties of the business owners.

 

When the ban went into effect in upstate NY, most of us agreed that restaurants, entertainment venues ect, should be non-smoking. But the number of blue collar, shot and a beer pubs that closed down was enormous !

 

 

What would the big deal be if we gave the rights back to the people and assumed they could make their own grown up choices ?

 

All owners of smoking establishments would be required to post a large sign saying that it was such, and then let the market decide ? The non - smokers could go to non smoking places, the smokers would congregate where they could smoke, and free will would still prevail !