Smoking Bans

[HollynLA]

There are several new smoking bans set to start on January 1st. Louisiana will no longer allow smoking sections in any eating establishment. Smoking bans are coming like the plague as long as the anti tobacco group can. There is one town in Cali that you can't even smoke outside in town any longer. I personally think it's getting completely out of hand and if we don't stop this from happening, that same craziness will start happening with our food. Whoops, that's already started too hasn't it. Banning trans fat? Yep.

Also, let me say that I'm not a smoker any longer, I've been quit for a couple months, so that doesn't have anything to do with it. I just get angry hearing about these groups that are slowly passing laws to control what I can and cannot do (legally). Next, we'll have someone planning our menus each day and making sure we don't do anything "risky" or else we could be prosecuted.

[TexasStooge]

My hometown is also setting smoking restrictions in public restaurants, bingo parlors, and near City-owned facilities.
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Irving council approves smoking restrictions

Stricter limits at entrances, restaurants to take effect Jan. 1

By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas – You can still smoke in public places in Irving, but it won't be as easy.

The Irving City Council voted Thursday night to make several changes to the city's smoking ordinance. Council members say the revisions will strengthen what's on the books and do a better job of protecting public health.

There isn't enough support on the council for a smoking ban, which had been proposed by the city's health board. The council received that proposal in 2003, but the matter stalled until this summer, when council members said they'd resume long-dormant deliberations.

More can be read here.
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I hope some residents in Irving make a New Year's resolution to quit smoking.

[Pburgh]

How wrong is this??
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06270/725285-336.stm

We're allowed to smoke if we gamble!!!!!!

[P.K.]

There is a ban here from July and it is about time too! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6196910.stm Obviously they aren't going to ban the death sticks due to the tax they get off them although some of it must have to pay for the treatment of smoking related illnesses later on.......

[CajunMama]

You can smoke in establishments as long as 51% of the revenue is not from food. You also cannot smoke in your own car if there is a child 10 years or younger in it. You cannot smoke in a company vehicle. You cannot smoke inside any business (except for bars). You must stand 25' away from a business' main entrance if you want to smoke.

I don't mind some of these laws but jeezum, our rights with our personal property are slowly being whittled away. If you own a business and you are the only one driving a company car....why can't that person smoke in the vehicle? You own your own business and you own the building...why can't you decide if you want to smoke in it or let others smoke in it.

[Lindaloo]

They are infringing upon smokers rights. Smokers know they cause cancer. It is not just cigarettes that causes it either. There has not been any definite proof that second hand smoke affects somebody. These laws will not make someone quit smoking.

[P.K.]

Smokers infringe on my rights for a clean atmosphere. I'm happy that sporting events are also starting to ban it. I go to a football match to watch football and not to not be able to breathe!

[CajunMama]

If you want a clean atmosphere you better ban automobiles, planes, buses, burning of crop fields that send insecticides into the air, etc. I don't know of any sports arena here that allows smoking inside of the stadium.

I have always been a courteous smoker. I don't even smoke inside my house. I don't smoke in other peoples homes (unless they do and they tell me it's ok but i still feel guilty). I smoke in my car and i use my ashtray so that i don't litter. If i'm in a group of people i'll walk away from the group to smoke and make sure the smoke doesn't go towards them.

[Pburgh]

Mama, you and I smoke exactly the same cept I smoke in my house. I live alone so I'm the only one I'm harming!!!

[Yarrah]

I can understand people want to ban smoking (I don't like to breathe in all that smoke either), but people are also free to do with their lives what they want, even if the chance of dying from it is very high. I'm fine with a smoking ban in public buildings, but to ban smoking in restaurants/cafe's or any other place is just strange. Governments here and in the US should stop all this useless banning of 'unhealthy' products and start to educate people about the risks instead.

Also, if smoking is banned in certain places because it might endanger other people's health, driving a car should also be banned, because the exhausts are also very unhealthy and can cause numerous diseases. Maybe they should even ban cheap perfumes, because they can be pretty nauseating too

[gtalum]

I like the effects of smoking bans, but I don't like the method. Government has no business telling people what they can and cannot do on private property.

[Pburgh]

In the case of Pennsylvania, it really urks me that they say it's ok to smoke in the gambling casinos. Now how is that more healthy than smoking in a restaurant!!!!lol Gotta love our Pennsylvania government. $$$$$$$$$$$$money talks

I see a decrease in the gambling population due to lung cancer and predict that there will be a shortage of blackjack players in the year 2020!!!!! Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive just ridiculous!!!!

[Opal storm]

I don't mind all the smoking bans,personally I think it's rude to smoke inside restaurants and other public buildings.Not only does it smell bad but it can really irritate people who have asthma .

[Derek Ortt]

Linda,

There have been studies, to the best of my knowledge, that smoking can cause illness in children (especially if they have athsma).

I see no problem banning smoking around children (such as in a car with children). However, this no smoking in a bar or other places intended for CONSENTING ADULTS is going way too far. I wonder if that is unconstitutional

[P.K.]

I've never known clothes to smell of petrol fumes. Most stadiums over here do allow smoking but as I say that is changing quickly.

[HollynLA]

One main problem is that the "junk science" studies that the anti smoking groups are spouting is pure garbage but the public believes it. If smoking bans are about clean air, then we all need to really learn what's in the air we're breathing, because Joe Schmoe smoking a cigarette on a park bench isn't hurting anyone. However, the lines of traffic at the corner red light and the smog sitting over the city is what's really dangerous. Everyone knows that smoking causes an increase in lung cancer risks, that's no secret, but these days, they will blame a hangnail on smoking. Does anyone remember watching "Demolition Man". If it's unhealthy for you, then it's illegal. That's what our world is coming to. It won't be about personal choice, it will be what the gov't allows you to eat, drink, inhale, etc.

[Pburgh]

Holly, Holly, Holly - my champion!!!!!!!! Love ya

[Regit]

Smoking bans are sort of silly. It should be left to the individual restaurants. Though any family restaurant that doesn't ban smoking is nuts. Smoking bans in restaurants show very nice profit returns for those businesses.

But the laws in this country regarding tobacco, drugs, and alcohol are ridiculous anyway. Why there is a push to outlaw tobacco, but not a push to outlaw alcohol is beyond me.

[tomboudreau]

This country already tried to outlaw alcohol and we saw where that goes us. No where. The repealed that law. With the way its going now, they are going to get to the point where people will be bootlegging tobacco and they will end up repealing it to. Might not get that far in some of our lifetimes, but it could happen.

[therock1811]

Ohio did it earlier this month. I'm not surprised. Ohio's ban was the worst of them...they have NO guidelines, NO punishments, no nothing! You can't really enforce something if you have no idea what the law means!