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  • Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

    And on a different note...the State Legislature today voted to ban almost all indoor cigarette smoking, and the Governor (a former smoker) is planning to sign the bill into law. The law is scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 16.

    The State of Washington passed a similar bill last year, and of course the barkeeps were the ones who were the most vocal about the ban because our law says there can't be smoking within 25 feet (in Hawai'i it's only 20 feet) of the front door or any window, and historically, alcohol and cigarettes have always been associated with each other. We've had a no smoking law in effect for public buildings and restaurants for a couple of years; last year they added bars to the list of places banning smokers. The only exception to the smoking ban is the Indian casinos (nonIndian casinos must enforce the nosmoking ban, too)

    So far, much to the dismay of the people who were against the bill, there hasn't been a massive closure of bars around town, although one bar did decide to break the law and now has to pay all kinds of fines.

    I like that nonsmokers can now go into a bar and not walk out of it with their clothes reeking with the smell of stale cigarettes.

    Miulang
    Last edited by Miulang; May 3, 2006, 06:53 PM.
    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

  • #2
    Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

    Arg, logical and common sense says that this is a good law. The costs associated with smoking (first and second-hand) when calculated add up to much more than the actual cost of a pack of butts.... That being said, I like smoking... a lot.... and I think that the non-smokers need to tone down the rhetoric about how my second hand smoke is killing them. Unfortunately we live in a world where your average commute to work nets you all sorts of carcinogens just from breathing. I don't see non-smokers purposely coughing loudly when a car drives by. If people don't like 'grits then maybe you should make them illegal and go after the tobacco companies instead. Sometimes it feels like being in a zoo for dinosaurs when I'm smoking. Standing around in the smoking section I can almost hear the prerecorded museum tape saying, "In this exhibit you can see the primitive smokers in their natural habitat. Watch as Bobo takes a sip from his Jack and Coke. To preserve authenticity we have made sure his cocktail is watered down and doesn't have enough ice...." Get honest already and attack the purveyors of the addiction, not the addicts.

    Jewlipino

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    • #3
      Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

      Originally posted by Jewlipino
      Arg, logical and common sense says that this is a good law. The costs associated with smoking (first and second-hand) when calculated add up to much more than the actual cost of a pack of butts.... Jewlipino
      According to the American Lung Association of Hawaii, there is a cost of $10.13 per pack in direct health care expenses and lost worker productivity.

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      • #4
        Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

        Rhode Island started enforcing the no smoking ban in public places in March 2005. One thing I've noticed since the smoking ban went into effect is the amount of discarded cigarette butts that amass outside the doorways of bars now. Patrons of bars who want to smoke, now go outside of the bars, stand around, make silly comments (which I've heard too many times) about marathon runners who happen to be running by as they smoke their butts, and then when they are through, "dispose" of the butts onto the sidewalk, the street, etc....anywhere but the recepticals the bar owners usually provide for them so that may properly dispose of them.

        There is one waterfront bar I frequently run by...and it almost always has someone standing out in front of it smoking...that must have hundreds, if not thousands of cigarette butts, laying outside of the building. The damned things end up everywhere, including Narragansett Bay (a direct arm of the Atlantic Ocean), which is right across the street from this bar. Now mind you, this is just one bar; the same scenario is happening at pratically every other bar in the state...bar patron smokes cigarette outside of tavern, bar patron disposes butt onto the street or sidewalk.

        This is one of the negatives I see with the ban. At least when smokers smoked inside a bar, usually their butts would end up in an ash tray. Now, I'm guessing 95% of the butts are ending up on the streets. This is one of things I loathe about some smokers..I just hate idiot smokers who dispose of their butts where ever they feel like it...I simply want to ring the neck of the smokers I see disposing cigarette butts outside of their car windows...hoo boy...that really irritates me when I see that happen!

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        • #5
          Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

          Banning Ciggys would be about as effective as banning Meth, Heroin, or Alcohol has been.
          FutureNewsNetwork.com
          Energy answers are already here.

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          • #6
            Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

            There's no talk of "banning" cigarettes here in RI ( I doubt Hawaii is considering a complete ban as well)...RI has become too dependant on their taxes; the local drug stores, groceries, and conv. stores would never give up that cash cow of sales revenue without a fight. The only thing the bill enacted here does is restrict where they are publicly smoked.

            Personally, the bill doesn't affect me one iota. I'm not a smoker, I don't frequent bars or restaurants, nor am I employed in a work environment where smoking restrictions are in place. Smokers, you can light up at will when visiting my fields..just make sure your butts are disposed of properly.

            I do agree with you, Tim, that a "ban", where smokers would be unable to legally purchase cigarettes, like "ice" or heroin, would not prevent those who are hell-bent on satisfying their nicotine addiction; many hard core smokers, with no desire to be forced into quitting smoking, (by virtue of a ban), would find a way to get their nicotine fix, even if that means ultimately resorting to the procurment of tobacco illicitly.

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            • #7
              Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

              If smoking is so horrifically dangerous and terrible, just make cigarettes illegal. Nationwide. Period.

              Oh, but then all the tax money everyone so dearly depends on would disappear...

              These smoking bans are so idiotic...

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              • #8
                Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                Originally posted by dick
                If smoking is so horrifically dangerous and terrible, just make cigarettes illegal. Nationwide. Period.
                Oh, but then all the tax money everyone so dearly depends on would disappear...
                These smoking bans are so idiotic...
                Buy all the smokes you want - smoke 'em at home, smoke 'em in your car, smoke 'em on the beach...hey, even smoke 'em in certain bars or restaurants that decide smoking is okay in their facility. But not where I have to breathe it and don't have a choice, like in an office, elevator or bus.

                The key is "don't have a choice." If a particular bar or restaurant decides they want a clientele that smokes, then I know the risk if I choose to go there, because I know some other place will decide to be smoke-free, and I could go there if it bothered me.

                Although a non-smoker myself, I had mixed feelings about Seattle's recently-enacted ban on smoke in all public spaces (including bars, restaurants and the like.) I felt that many of these businesses should have been allowed to decide for themselves as to whether or not to allow smoking. I may not want to be exposed to cigarette smoke, but I can take steps to avoid it without making paraiahs out of all those who do smoke.

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                • #9
                  Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                  If smoking is so horrifically dangerous and terrible, just make cigarettes illegal. Nationwide. Period.

                  Making Ciggys illegal would be just as successful as Alcohol Prohibition was in the 20's. Or as successful as other drug prohibitions have been in the modern era. If you think the War on Drugs is a success, then you're crazy as a shithouse rat.

                  Making drugs illegal DOES NOT address the problem at all.

                  It just increases the impetus for crime. Sheeesh !!
                  FutureNewsNetwork.com
                  Energy answers are already here.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                    Originally posted by Leo Lakio
                    Although a non-smoker myself, I had mixed feelings about Seattle's recently-enacted ban on smoke in all public spaces (including bars, restaurants and the like.) I felt that many of these businesses should have been allowed to decide for themselves as to whether or not to allow smoking. I may not want to be exposed to cigarette smoke, but I can take steps to avoid it without making paraiahs out of all those who do smoke.
                    People who feel compelled to smoke indoors in a business in Washington can still do so by travelling to one of the many Indian casinos in the area. Because they are located on ceded land, the State of Washington can't do anything about smoking cigarettes in the casinos or selling fireworks that would be illegal anywhere else in the State. Smoky casinos are one of the reasons why I don't like going to Vegas very much. There used to be one casino that was completely smoke free (was near Circus Circus) but I doubt it's still in existence.

                    Miulang
                    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

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                    • #11
                      Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                      Originally posted by Leo Lakio
                      The key is "don't have a choice." If a particular bar or restaurant decides they want a clientele that smokes, then I know the risk if I choose to go there, because I know some other place will decide to be smoke-free, and I could go there if it bothered me.
                      And that's just it... there's no choice. Business owners are being told that they CAN'T decide for themselves whether or not they want to be a "smoker-friendly" establishment.

                      I agree with Dick... too many people want it both ways. They don't want to deal with the effects of smoking and cigarette smokers on society, but they want to tax the hell out of it and take advantage of the money raised.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                        The solution to smoking and second hand smoke is to simply put the lit end in the mouth. That way all the crap goes into the smoker and the less toxic exhaust gets cleaned thru the filter and then out into the air.

                        And to keep smoke out of my face...don't exhale...it's actually very simple.
                        Life is what you make of it...so please read the instructions carefully.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                          I always like to rip out a big, stinky fart whenever I'm around a smoker. The louder the better. And when they say something, I just say "I'm trying to freshen the air a bit."

                          Same is true when a freshly REEKING smoker gets into an elevator with me. Guarantee that's a great time to let out some ass-gas. Won Bok Kim Chee (hot) with aku poke is the secret. Kalua Pork & Cabbage is a close second.

                          I would pick up a gun to defend YOUR right to smoke a cigarette. Just don't do it around me, unless you love the scent of "Sweet April Roses".
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                          Energy answers are already here.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                            Originally posted by timkona

                            Same is true when a freshly REEKING smoker gets into an elevator with me. Guarantee that's a great time to let out some ass-gas.
                            So, are any poor, innocent bystanders considered to be collateral damage?

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                            • #15
                              Re: Legislature votes to ban indoor smoking

                              No. One-on-One impact is much better. Collateral Damage....roflmfao..... bwahahahahaah... hack,,,hack...cough....cough...choke.
                              FutureNewsNetwork.com
                              Energy answers are already here.

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