Smoking bans

[Dogg]

I live in a resort community. smoking ban on the food establishments and bars here(150+ eateries and over 100 bars) has cost them a fortune....the regulars and locals have patios to sit on and socialize and smoke. but it cannot be within 15 feet of any door opening.
 My personal take on it is this.....I dont give a rats ass about how a non smoker feels about me and smoking. sorry. truth hurts, but I am not insensitive to the non smokers plight. I refuse to eat in a smoking section, always have because the food just tastes better. I light up outside as Ive done all my life. I go to a bar, have a few beers, then Im smoking. if a non smoker walks in sits next to me and bitches about my smoke then, he can either get outa that stool and cross the bar to a less smokey area or I can help him.
 Reasons I say what I say...EVERY person has a choice. IF a place allows smoking and you are a chronic complainer and candy ass about 2nd hand smoke, dont visit that place. go somewhere else. It is your choice to inhale 2nd hand smoke. Nobody gave you a migraine or a tumor or a frckin hangnail because you inhaled their exhaust. grow up and carry your man marbles by yourselves. I smoke, I like smoking and I will probably smoke until it kills me, which is fine by me because Ill die enjoying my life...I ride, I eat alot of beef and I smoke. so friggin what. But the few that know me know that I am not ignorant abou tmy smoking and do my best to be courtieous around sensitive people. 
  I just think that there are too many crybabies and not enough smokers to stand up for our rights. whether as business owners of patrons. It all boils down to personal responsibility. be responsible for yourself and quit blaming others for your problems.

  Back in the 60's and 70's, there was no real knowledge of the damage 2nd hand smoke could cause. so, it was just bad timing on the parts of a few who got stuck in that era of ignorance. not all smokers are the same tho. I dont smoke in my house(I hate the smell) but I smoke in my garage.....its mine so, you can stand outside and watch if it bothers you.

[vanagon40]

I don't think it has anything to do with smokers or non smokers, It has to do with Insurance companies and lobbyists. Ins companies spend billions on health care for long term smokers and they want to cut their losses.

I hear this often but I have NEVER seen any facts or figures to back this up.

[Moonshot_1]

I don't think it has anything to do with smokers or non smokers, It has to do with Insurance companies and lobbyists. Ins companies spend billions on health care for long term smokers and they want to cut their losses.

While there may be some truth to the idea, I can't really see it. Ins. Companies can and do have higher rates for smokers. I know. I used to be one. Ins. Companies can jack the rates on smokers to make up for whatever they feel they lose in paying out extra in long term care.

Problem I got with the smoking bans are that they are not generally consistant. In Iowa, we got a smoking ban that exempts Casinos. This don't make no sense at all.  A business should have a choice to allow smoking on their premises. Allowing a business a tax break to prohibit smoking on their premises would be the way to go.
So now we go from smoking to fast food to toy guns.  How much power should the governent have?           
The proposed toy gun ban in Hawaii is hillarious if it wern't true. If a kid goes to McDonalds and uses a straw as gun barrel of an imaginary gun is McDonalds in violation of the law? The straw becomes a toy gun.

sure would like to see the government scaled back.

[Bobbo]

Here’s an example of the abuses of the smoking ban:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_52cc53b2-ab3a-5b89-be54-0928b6e4bafa.html

MAC is one of the oldest and most respected private clubs in St. Louis.  They are threatened with fines and closure because of the stipulation in the smoking ban that a private club can’t have employees if they want to be exempt.

What’s next?  Declaring your home as a “private club” and fining or evicting you because you have a housecleaner or gardener?  That’s the main problem with these bans…  They are usually so convoluted, ambiguous, and unevenly applied that they will have unintended consequences.

[fudgie]

Well said dogg! 

[Chrisj CMA]

If our government wants to have a positive effect on us (society)  Instead of banning things...IT NEVER WORKS...they should encourage incentives for doing the right things......Bans and Taxes are negative......incentives are positive and work much better

Safe driver discounts
non smoking health/life insurance policies
discounts on health insurance for being a healthy weight

(Not taxing items they dont like.......thats un American)

That way if we choose to smoke we pay.......but its still a choice.....

If a private business owner wants to allow smoking they should be able to.......

government buildings are the governments' to make the call

Bottom line...It never works when you try to legislate morality, good judgement, health, or personal choices.....just never works

[solo1]

As a former smoker (quit in 1973) I stay out of places that have smoking. Bars, the American Legion (I belong) etc,
My wife died of COPD complications from smoking. 
Two friends died in the last three years from small cell lung cancer.

I really don't give a rat's ass whether you smoke or not, I'm not on a crusade. I don't believe that government should tell you where you can smoke.

However, there is one place that I can't stay out of, that is unless barbers make housecalls. As a result I don't go to the best barber I know, i go to a barber that has a no smoking. shop.  My former barber must have a lot of smokers or else he's dumber than a box of rocks if his business isn't bringing in the haircuts.

[Bobbo]

However, there is one place that I can't stay out of, that is unless barbers make housecalls. As a result I don't go to the best barber I know, i go to a barber that has a no smoking. shop. 

What would happen to the non-smoking by choice barber if smoking were banned in all barber shops?

[solo1]

However, there is one place that I can't stay out of, that is unless barbers make housecalls. As a result I don't go to the best barber I know, i go to a barber that has a no smoking. shop. 

What would happen to the non-smoking by choice barber if smoking were banned in all barber shops?

My barber removed all the ash trays.  There are no 'No smoking'  signs.  No one seems to smoke.

To answer your question, I guess that he'd have to be a better barber,  depends on how many bald headed smokers there are, crap, i don't know and don't much care.  It works for me.

[WylieGibbs]

If you research it, business goes up once the ban is in effect. People who won't tolerate smoke come out in numbers.

WG

[Bobbo]

If you research it, business goes up once the ban is in effect. People who won't tolerate smoke come out in numbers.

WG

You are suggesting that all business owners that allow smoking are idiots.

[Brad]

If you research it, business goes up once the ban is in effect. People who won't tolerate smoke come out in numbers.

WG

Not around here.  We have had many bars that catered to smokers close or have to give up their food service to keep the smokers.  Also since the casinos are exempt they now have an unfair advantage over the bars.  Granted some of these were dingy places, and the only reason people went into them was because they allowed smoking.  Smoking was their business model.  Even the cigar bars had to give up food service or give up the cigars.  It's a cigar bar for heavens sake!!