Smoking ban

noisy_penguin

I wasn't a huge fan of the wording of Seattle's smoking ban - you can't smoke within 25 feet of the entrance to a building, which put the smokers in the middle of the street. It's not really enforced, but it's ridiculous. Of course, as a non-smoker, I'm pleased to reap the benefits of the laws in Seattle and here in CA. Every time I go somewhere where you can smoke indoors it makes me feel gross.

the_mulva

santa fe has a pretty strict smoking ban. My few friends that smoked whom I visited with literally had to find an empty field to smoke in. I laughed. I thought it was funny.

audreyhorne

Sometimes I really miss smoking.  But I'll be thrilled if this passes (my understanding is the same, Christin - this will make the City ban go into effect).  There are some barish places where I love to eat, but hate stinking just for a burger.

FallinAgain

I wasn't a huge fan of the wording of Seattle's smoking ban - you can't smoke within 25 feet of the entrance to a building, which put the smokers in the middle of the street. The problem though is that if you just ban smoking inside, the result is a large cloud of toxic smoke that everyone has to pass through to get in and out.

noisy_penguin

I think that some distance from a doorway is reasonable - 10 feet maybe? But 25 feet on a city street means there is absolutely no where to go because you can't be within 25 feet of the doorway of any business.

GroomzMcFinehiney

I don't have a problem with government stepping in with things like this and seat belts.  Walking through a cloud of toxic smoke is still better than having dinner in a cloud of it.

Karaelyn

**Lurk in***Fallin:  what do you think about the argument that workers at a bar have a right to be in a safe environment?  The exposure of that much second-hand smoke working an entire shift must be most detrimental to the bartenders.  I've heard the argument that service industry providers should find other employment if they don't like smoke.  But certainly factory workers working in industries regulated by OSHA aren't told to seek other employment if the employer chooses to place their workers at risk.  **Lurk out***

wingedbride

I wish they would work mor on banning smoking at public parks, beaches, etc.This weekend it was impossible for me to enjoy the festival. Smoking makes me want to vomit now. I had to wear a bandana around my face. And my H and I quit smoking so that my pregnancy would be smoke free for a reason.

AngieP900

Winged, I didn't know you ever smoked.The language in our ban went statewide and included beaches as well. Although I rarely see it enforced on the beach, unless it's very crowded.

FallinAgain

Hi lurker! In my perfect scenario, non-smoking by choice establishment would be available for non-smoking servers to work.  If smoking by choice places have issues hiring people, that might encourage them to go smoke free. I guess where I land is if we really think that smoking is dangerous enough that it needs to be banned in restaurants and festivals and regulated by OSHA, we need to stepup and flat out ban it.  We won't do that, of course, because it would be really detrimental to the economy.

heatherkj

The smoking ban went into effect in NY State in 2003 or 2004. I was a senior in college and it was so weird to go from having all of the bars smoke-filled one night, to having them smoke-free the next. As a non-smoker, it was awesome.Restaurant and bar owners put up a huge stink about it at first, and many claimed lost revenue, but I would argue that 5-6 years later, everyone has adjusted and is doing fine.I love it. As some others have said... when I travel to other states and there are people smoking in bars/restaurants/airports/etc. it's a shock to my system. I am virtually NEVER exposed to cigarette smoke now, and therefore am extra sensitive to it now.

Karaelyn

I agree a flat-out ban is necessary.  The state in which I used to livehas a very powerful tavern league. I believe a smoking ban finally passed, albeit buried in some other bill, after multiple attempts.  The state I live in now has a state-wide ban, and it is wonderful. Initially some bars suffered when certain cities had a smoking ban, but their suburbs did not.  Now that it is statewide, I don't see a problem.  I think a statewide ban for states considering a ban would curb this effect.  I wonder if there have been any studies on the effect on business a year or two later, once the uproar dies down.

Knottie_22382080

Fallin I am with you, 110% and I hate smoke.

AngieP900

By saying flat out ban, do you mean in public or in general?  

FallinAgain

If we think it is truly a danger, I'd say ban it period, but at least, ban it everywhere that is not a private residence.

Karaelyn

Is that directed to me Angie?  I think it is!   Where I live the ban is in restuarants and bars.  As far as my OSHA/working conditions argument goes, I guess "my" ban would extend to any area where workers would be forced to work long hours with constant exposure to second-hand smoke. That might include other areas if they fit this description. I'm not sure as I would be in favor of a flat-out ban anywhere public.  As much as I don't like smoking, there are certain things you expose yourself to when go out in public.  Minimal contact with smoke might be one of those things.

Karaelyn

**when you go out in public***

AngieP900

No, Karaelyn (sp?), I was asking Fallin. Bringing work conditions into the mix makes it even more complex. My old profession came with exposure risks, etc, it is kind of par for the course. Remanding smoking to private quarters would be ok, but I find a problem with a legal ban of something that is deemed an unhealthy habit. That would open the door to taking away freedom of choice. It is unhealthy, sure. But so is not getting enough sleep, or being obese. I think it's a slipperty slope.

audreyhorne

PS - It passed!  Whoo hoo County!