[Vanzant]

I haven't done any research on how other Countries out-side the United States are doing this or other States within the United States so I thought I'd make a topic for you all to discuss in.

In Indiana, USA (where I live) effective July 1st all public places including eateries, bars, private clubs and any public entrance within 8 feet of clearance will be smoke free.

According to some laws smoking will also be banned on public streets and sidewalks. You can get pulled over and given a ticket for caught smoking with underage individuals inside your vehicle in some counties/states. Some rent apartments can can smoke free.

My question, as far as your opinions on these kinds of laws. Is Anti-smoking getting way out of hand? Could we see the United States become against tobacco at a point where it's declared illegal to smoke within the next 10 years?

[Chunkyman]

Smoking bans are total bullsh*t. It should be up to the owner of the bar/restaurant/whatever to decide if he wants to allow people to smoke on his property or not.

[Ryan]

We've got similar laws regarding smoking here in Nova Scotia. With the exception of your house, you're not allowed to smoke in any building. You can smoke in bars, but there are designated smoking areas/rooms. Outside, no smoking is allowed within 4 meters of any building. While you can smoke in your own vehicle, it becomes illegal if persons under the age of 19 are present.

Additionally, several towns, including my hometown have passed by-laws in recent years that make smoking illegal absolutely everywhere (including your own vehicle) with the exception of your own home.

I'm in favour of the laws personally. I don't smoke. If I'm out and about, I don't want to be stuck near some annoying guy who's puffing smoke my way. If people want to smoke, make them do it in a place where it's no disturbing everyone else.

This post has been edited by Ryan on Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 03:16

[blitz]

Nah, I doubt tobacco will ever be illegal.

Personally, no, I don't think smoking laws are getting out of hand. Perhaps it's even within reason. I'm pretty sure most non-smokers dislike being around smokers, as well as smokers dislike being around non-smokers.

Since the majority of the population is a non-smoker, if a smoker wishes to smoke, then he or she should do it elsewhere, where their habits do not interfere with the non-smokers whereabouts.

This is just an assumption, though. We all know smoking's bad for you, think about secondhand smoke it's causing to others. I can't force others, but if you're a smoker all I can ask you is to be considerate about your habits.

Oh, and by the way, I'm totally cool with the smoking in certain bars and stuff. That's up to the owner.

[sonnyBlack]

My parents smoked a lot when I was a kid, so I always had to breathe that crap in. So I can't say I'm not in favor of these laws.

[EscoLehGo]

I'm not sure what the smoking laws are in my state and I don't regularly run into a situation where I'm breathing in second hand smoke against my will so I can't say I really care. A lot of guys "dip" where I'm from, which is sticking a pouch of tabaccer in your gums and spitting out the excess juices because swallowing it could make you sick. I'd rather they ban that nasty sh*t over smoking, it's f*cking disgusting, they carry around mountain dew bottles filled with dip spit when they're inside a building. A kid last semester in my college senior level stats 2 class was doing this sh*t in front of me one day and it just disturbed me so much, I thought I had seen the last of it in high school, but no it carries on even to higher education with these redneck f*cks.

[UNRATED69]

As far as I know, North Dakota has banned smoking in all businesses except bars and restaurants with a separate smoking area.

Personally, I am completely against smoking anywhere. It not only harms you, but more often that not will harm someone else in the process, and possibly without their consent. But I realize this will never happen in the US, so I think that it would be a lot more reasonable to just ban it anywhere outside of your home. As long as it's not hurting anyone else, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to smoke (though there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn't at all).

I highly doubt that the US will ever take an anti-tobacco stance, or ban it outright. There's too much money to be made to just do away with it.

[Icarus]

QUOTE (Ryan @ Tuesday, Jun 19 2012, 21:09)

We've got similar laws regarding smoking here in Nova Scotia. With the exception of your house, you're not allowed to smoke in any building. You can smoke in bars, but there are designated smoking areas/rooms. Outside, no smoking is allowed within 4 5 meters of any building. While you can smoke in your own vehicle, it becomes illegal if persons under the age of 19 18 are present.

Corrected for Alberta.

I know the city of Edmonton has been thinking about banning smoking outside near playgrounds and other places where youth tend to hang out, but I don't think that's come about yet.

Personally, at least in establishments, I agree with the laws regarding smoking. The link between second-hand smoke and cancer (and other detrimental health effects) has been established and if you want to poison your lungs, that's fine - it's your body; however, I don't want to have mine poisoned indirectly from second-hand smoke.

I don't believe it should go to the extent where you can't smoke outside anymore (as long as you're away from a fresh air intake or entrance, then I don't really see the problem), because that seems like it's taking it way too far.

The government will never ban tobacco. They collect enough taxes from that entity that it's worth keeping.

This post has been edited by Icarus on Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 03:57

[fatal1ty619]

Here in Ohio, we have had the same type of smoking ban in place for the last few years or so. On the street, it is fine, though. Underage smokers are basically ignored, too. Underage smoking is so prevalent in my city, cops don't even care, unless they think it is weed. Most public places don't allow it, and those that do, require those to smoke outside. I am in favor of it, because I absolutely hate cigarettes. Pretty much everyone in my family smokes, and I am sick of it. I alway know that I am affected greatly, and the public ban is really helpful.

[Jeeebuuus]

The important thing is that we have the government mandating our personal habits. Since smoking is harmful for you and second hand smoke is possibly to others in certain conditions it should be outlawed. Come to think of it drinking and driving is deadly as well and responsible for 100,000 deaths in the U.S. every year so alcohol should be banned as well. I've also heard that heart disease cause a few fatalities too so our ability to partake in the slow suicide of fast food needs to be curbed. I mean anyone of us could hit by a bus tomorrow so maybe we should just stay indoors. Its safe in here. I think.

[fatal1ty619]

QUOTE (Jeeebuuus @ Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 04:00)

The important thing is that we have the government mandating our personal habits. Since smoking is harmful for you and second hand smoke is possibly to others in certain conditions it should be outlawed. Come to think of it drinking and driving is deadly as well and responsible for 100,000 deaths in the U.S. every year so alcohol should be banned as well. I've also heard that heart disease cause a few fatalities too so our ability to partake in the slow suicide of fast food needs to be curbed. I mean anyone of us could hit by a bus tomorrow so maybe we should just stay indoors. Its safe in here. I think.

I sense a bit of sarcasm here

[spaceeinstein]

QUOTE (Chunkyman @ Tuesday, Jun 19 2012, 22:06)

Smoking bans are total bullsh*t. It should be up to the owner of the bar/restaurant/whatever to decide if he wants to allow people to smoke on his property or not.

Change "to smoke" to "of color". I don't give into the ideology that people are free to put whatever they want in their body. People aren't closed systems. Smoking affects people, especially in public places, and negatively impacts public health. You can tout your ideology that government should be hands free but that doesn't make you right especially when it contrasts modern scientific understandings.

This post has been edited by spaceeinstein on Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 04:16

[Chunkyman]

QUOTE (spaceeinstein @ Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 04:13)

Change "to smoke" to "of color". I don't give into the ideology that people are free to put whatever they want in their body. People aren't closed systems. Smoking affects people, especially in public places, and negatively impacts public health. You can tout your ideology that government should be hands free but that doesn't make you right especially when it contrasts modern scientific understandings.

If you don't like being around smokers, don't stand next to them. No one puts a gun to your head and makes you stand next to a smoker in public, nor do business owners force you to be patrons at smoking establishments.

I hate the smell of cigarettes with a passion, and they are poisonous. You know how I solve this problem? I don't go near them.

This post has been edited by Chunkyman on Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 04:32

[IM_YOUR_GOD]

Smoking tobacco ban in public places is way over due. I know people who drink then freights the hell out of cigarettes in bars and clubs. My aunt and uncle smoked in my time of staying with them. I always avoided their room but I'm sure the smoke traveled in the house but i doubt of made it to my room. When it was time to move we removed the painting's from the walls and notice a distinct shade difference. I also notice people who smoke weed wrap in tobacco are more likely to develop addictions compared to those who smoke papers or out of a vaporizer. I can't even take the smell of cigarettes anymore.

[spaceeinstein]

QUOTE (Chunkyman @ Tuesday, Jun 19 2012, 23:27)

I hate the smell of cigarettes with a passion, and they are poisonous. You know how I solve this problem? I don't go near them.

I bet you have never experienced anything like where I had lived. Non-smokers are a rarity.

[Irviding]

QUOTE

The government will never ban tobacco. They collect enough taxes from that entity that it's worth keeping.

That reason, in my view, is garbage on the part of politicians who claim that. The government loses much more than it gains in paying for medical costs and the loss of life associated with tobacco.

[Icarus]

QUOTE (Irviding @ Tuesday, Jun 19 2012, 22:47)

QUOTE The government will never ban tobacco. They collect enough taxes from that entity that it's worth keeping. That reason, in my view, is garbage on the part of politicians who claim that. The government loses much more than it gains in paying for medical costs and the loss of life associated with tobacco.

Heh, I forgot to look at the costs associated with health care. I was looking at one side of the coin.

I tried looking up the numbers for Canada, since I figured because we tax the living hell out of tobacco, maybe we make up the cost. The numbers were from 1993 (so they're definitely dated), but the report said the revenue from tobacco taxes was $2.6 billion, while it was over $3 billion just for heath care costs (and another $8 billion in loss of productivity costs), so you have, just looking at health care costs, a $400 million deficit (or $8.4 billion when looking at the bigger picture).

It's obvious the mixture of economics and common sense isn't my forté.

[finn4life]

QUOTE (Chunkyman @ Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 15:27)

QUOTE (spaceeinstein @ Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 04:13) Change "to smoke" to "of color". I don't give into the ideology that people are free to put whatever they want in their body. People aren't closed systems. Smoking affects people, especially in public places, and negatively impacts public health. You can tout your ideology that government should be hands free but that doesn't make you right especially when it contrasts modern scientific understandings. If you don't like being around smokers, don't stand next to them. No one puts a gun to your head and makes you stand next to a smoker in public, nor do business owners force you to be patrons at smoking establishments. I hate the smell of cigarettes with a passion, and they are poisonous. You know how I solve this problem? I don't go near them.

The governments issue with smoking is not the smell , it is a very big health issue, the people that pay for those health costs is the government, they want to reduce smoking because it costs them loads of money yearly.
Using your example, driving is a large risk, hence loads of education, seatbelts and road rules.

This post has been edited by finn4life on Wednesday, Jun 20 2012, 09:34

[Xcommunicated]

QUOTE (Irviding @ Tuesday, Jun 19 2012, 23:47)

QUOTE The government will never ban tobacco. They collect enough taxes from that entity that it's worth keeping. That reason, in my view, is garbage on the part of politicians who claim that. The government loses much more than it gains in paying for medical costs and the loss of life associated with tobacco.

That's what I was getting ready to say. I haven't bothered to look up any solid numbers for the US, but I'd imagine the amount of money shelled out by insurance companies and medicare/medicaid to treat the long list of side effects and diseases caused by smoking is a spicy meatball. It's funny because, in a round about way, insurance is giving money to the tobacco industry while the middle man, Kevin f*cking Kewl, gets to look 'cool' while he literally sacrifices his own goddamn body to transfer the funds.


Anyways, the smoking ban has been in effect in my state for a while now. It's really having a negative impact on night clubs and bars more than anything. I used to have side jobs as a bouncer a couple years ago, but now I doubt I could find such work as easily. So yeah, as much as I hate smoking, I think clubs should be an exception. Anyone who goes out knows what to expect in such a social environment, so it's not like smoking is being forced upon them.

[Chukkles]

Here in the UK, it's any place of business were smoking is banned.
So if you drive a truck or van or use a company car it's classed as your workplace and are not allowed to smoke.

Laws about being a certain distance from a building is rediculous, yes some of these laws are OTT.
If there is a company who wishes you don't smoke just outside their entrance, fair enough, but to give each building a parameter were you cannot smoke is just tedious TBH.

When will you non smokers be happy? After you've forced us all underground with the rats???