Smoking in Public Places?

[elmo]

Well, I'm not chuffed about that. Why should we have to kill our lungs because someone else chooses to? And sometimes it's not a question of asking them to move away because in a club it's kinda hard for all the smokers to move away from the non-smokers. At Bus Stops I have no problem with saying "Excuse me, can you blow that smoke somewhere else?", but in a club or a bar it's not that easy. And then there's the people who don't care where they blow their smoke, and if you ask them they'll give you a funny look and just carry on with what they're doing.

You know they have smoking and non-smoking staffrooms in schools over here. I don't see why they can't do that kinda thing everywhere - except for non-staffers instead. I don't know... maybe I'm just looking for the easy answer. 😉

 

[SlayersDestiny]

I dont agree that smoking should be banned from all public places, although I do understand the non-smokers point of view. I dont have a problem extinguishing my smoke before entering a mall or restaurant but as if it means not being able to smoke in public then I do have a problem with it. Yes, second hand smoke is detrimental to others and smokers take the risk with each cigarette that we light. But to play Devil's Advocate... I dont choose to smell alcohol on someone that has been drinking, yet it is considered acceptable for alcohol to be in public places. This is a debate that can continue indefinitely. I agree that there should be defined smoking areas for public establishments and I dont have a problem abidding by the rules. Total banning would be detrimental.

 

[elmo]

Yes, I see now why total banning would be a bad idea. I understand that people should have the right to smoke outwith their own home. I love how these debates always make me see the other side of things. I'm definately gonna stick to the smoking area idea though. I feel it would be the only way to keep everyone happy. 😉

 

[Buffy Summers]

I dont agree that smoking should be banned from all public places, although I do understand the non-smokers point of view. I dont have a problem extinguishing my smoke before entering a mall or restaurant but as if it means not being able to smoke in public then I do have a problem with it. Yes, second hand smoke is detrimental to others and smokers take the risk with each cigarette that we light. But to play Devil's Advocate... I dont choose to smell alcohol on someone that has been drinking, yet it is considered acceptable for alcohol to be in public places. This is a debate that can continue indefinitely. I agree that there should be defined smoking areas for public establishments and I dont have a problem abidding by the rules. Total banning would be detrimental.

Yes but you don't get liver disease by sitting next to an alcoholic. You can get lung cancer from sitting next to a smoker though.

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

Yes but you don't get liver disease by sitting next to an alcoholic. You can get lung cancer from sitting next to a smoker though.

Yes but they may barf on you 😀 Ok I know it's wrong...but I couldn't resist :jumping40

 

[SlayersDestiny]

Yes but you don't get liver disease by sitting next to an alcoholic. You can get lung cancer from sitting next to a smoker though.

You may not get liver disease but you can be killed by a drunk driver just as easily as getting lung cancer from other carcinogens (i.e. smog, chemicals, certain work environments). Sorry, but just have to argue the point. :whistle:

 

[ProphecyGirl]

You may not get liver disease but you can be killed by a drunk driver just as easily as getting lung cancer from other carcinogens (i.e. smog, chemicals, certain work environments). Sorry, but just have to argue the point. :whistle:

Won't let me add to rep. I'll write it down and try to catch you later. But I must definetly say "Very good point". Impressive. Very impressive. 😉

 

[Buffy Summers]

Except that that is not an even comparison. It may be true that you can be killed by a drunk driver, but jsut being around people drinking is not a public health issue, while being around smokers is. You have to compare apples to apples.

 

[Beer_Nut]

Okay, I've been offline for a while so I have to give my 2 cents.

First let me say outright that I am a smoker. Here in Toronto there has been a big push to ban smoking in all public places. Now you can only have smoking in pubs with specially ventilated rooms. People are still complaining about this and it really frustartes me, if you don't smoke then you need not go into the smoking room. It is seperately ventilated so that no second-hand smoke reaches everyone else. If you are really that opposed to people smoking then do not go into the room. When this law was first passed many business owners asked for the choice to have smoking or non-smoking and I really don't see how this is a problem. If a specific bar has smoking and you don't like the smoke than don't go in there.

I understand that smoking is bad for my health and those around me. However it seems that some of these bleeding hearts who push for banning smoking everywhere are just looking for a cause to support. In the end it really should come down to choice, both for the smoker and the non-smoker.

 

[elmo]

I see what you're saying Beer Nut, I really do. Unfortunately, we don't have these seperately ventilated rooms of which you speak in our country. If we did then I would be happy at that and I would choose not to go into those rooms. As it stands, all the pubs in the UK are smoke-friendly pubs (which means that people can smoke if they choose to). I like going to the pub, I must say cos I like to socialise and have a drink at the same time. So not going to the pub really isn't an option for me. I'm not an alcoholic but it's the way we students choose to socialise. I wish they would have seperate rooms for people to go and have a smoke if they want. I understand that means that a good deal of my friends would be going in there from time to time but I don't lecture anyone on whether they should smoke or not. I just like having the choice about whether or not I breathe in that smoke. Does that make sense? I understand that some people are just fighting for the sake of fighting but I'm really just concerned for my health and wellbeing. Call me selfish if you like but at least I'm honest about it (something I've learned to do lately - be honest!). If we had these seperate rooms then I would definately be a happy bunny. 😉

 

[Beer_Nut]

I get what you are saying, with the pubs all being smoker friendly. In which case I agree with you. Where I am it's just a little different, but people aren't satisfied, so I'm a little frustrated. I do understand what you're saying though Elmo.

 

[Lee]

Yeah it should be banned in public places!

People wanna intoxicate their lungs, then go ahead, but why should non-smokers be intoxicated?

 

[elmo]

I get what you are saying, with the pubs all being smoker friendly. In which case I agree with you. Where I am it's just a little different, but people aren't satisfied, so I'm a little frustrated. I do understand what you're saying though Elmo.

I can see why that would annoy you. I guess if I was say eating an orange, and orange eating became confined to seperate rooms in public. Then all these people started coming in that room and complaining about the smell of oranges I'd be like "Hey, you non-orange-eaters have your own room! Stop coming in here and disturbing my orange eating!" Does that cut it?

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

Lol good example...Made me think of the Sex and the City episode where Carrie eats oranges in bed...

 

[Jenny]

I understand that smoking is bad for my health and those around me. However it seems that some of these bleeding hearts who push for banning smoking everywhere are just looking for a cause to support. In the end it really should come down to choice, both for the smoker and the non-smoker.

LOL spoken like a true Canadian. Has someone been listening to Lowel Green? 😉

I agree. Here's my big problem with it. The government decides to ban smoking in ALL public places in Ottawa. Then why not make cigarettes illegal. I'll tell you why. Because those arses enjoy collecting the HUGE taxes off of the sales of cigarettes. Seriously, we pay 15% on a pack of smokes. The Federal gov't would go broke if they made smoking illegal.

I remember when the law started to be passed...they made it "no smoking in any public place where children are allowed."

So one restaurant just outside of Ottawa put up a sign, NO CHILDREN ALLOWED so they could allow their patrons to smoke. It SHOULD be the owner's perogative whether or not to allow smoking.

When I go out, I tend to sit on a patio. Why? Because we can smoke out there, for now. And when someone makes some rude comment, or a sarcastic cough...well get up and freaking MOVE then if it's bothering you. I chose NOT to sit inside so I could smoke. So the non-smoker can choose to NOT sit outside and be bothered with it.

In most cases, if someone asks me, I will move away or put out a cigarette. The patio is pretty much the only exception to this. And I NEVER go around children to smoke. And if there is a young child on a patio, I'll go to the other end. But in general, I'm perfectly within my right to smoke outside on the patio.

I guess ALOT of this is stemming from the fact that for 10 months of the year, the weather here is pretty freaking AWFUL, as in it can get up to minus 40 degrees C. And I go outside to smoke. Whether out at a bar, when I have visitors over at my house, whatever.

To even think of banning smoking from outdoor areas is ludacris and frankly, damn stupid. If they do that, they MUST make smoking illegal, and STOP reaping the benefits of the hefty taxes they impose on cigarettes. No accountability I SWEAR.

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

Totally agree with you there Jenny!! They make so much money from cigarettes that they'll never fully ban them.

In NJ they're about $6 a pack, and can run up to $10 a pack in the city from some places.

My cousin lives in Virginia and we put orders for Cartons in with her before she comes up as a Carton of Marlboro Lights is only $25.

 

[Buffy Summers]

As elmo said I am not going to not go to the pub just because people are smoking there, and it's a little ridiculous to suggest that. And I don't think anyone (or very few at least) would actually not go someplace just because people were smoking there. Which is why they "need" (I am not saying they shoudl do this everywhere, jsut saying that "need" as in the reason for it) a law in order to protect the public health. But frankly it's more of an issue for the people who work in these establishments and are exposed to it 8 or more hours a day. And speaking for my friends who work in pubs - most of them don't have other options. They need to work and they need those jobs.

Jenny, I'm not suggesting banning smoking outdoors. You sound very responsible with your smoking 🙂 But for every arsehole non-smoker who would fake cough at you there is a smoker who holds their cigarrette five feet from their body in my face and turns their head to blow their smoke again in my face so they miss blowing it into the face of the friend they are there with. (Smokers: Please please please hear my cry, don't do that lol.)

I do recognize your right to smoke, but I can't help but see bans in the big cities at least as a good thing for people' all around health.

Little story: walking home yesterday, I was walking behind a mother and her 11 or 12 year old daughter. The mom is smoking, and the daughter has a drinking straw in her mouth and she's holding it like a cigarette.

 

[Lee]

But for every arsehole non-smoker who would fake cough at you there is a smoker who holds their cigarrette five feet from their body in my face and turns their head to blow their smoke again in my face so they miss blowing it into the face of the friend they are there with.

Oh! I hate that! So...I tell them where to go...

But, I completely agree with everything you said, Buffy...

 

[eponinethen]

Little story: walking home yesterday, I was walking behind a mother and her 11 or 12 year old daughter. The mom is smoking, and the daughter has a drinking straw in her mouth and she's holding it like a cigarette.

Well.. That's just one of the ways in which this world is doomed..
Seriously I hate that.. Of course they do like that, I probably did when I was little and my parents used to smoke.. Depressing..