Bans, the end of a livlyhood

[Tullaryx]

You're correct Bub in that there's no such thing as a Federal smoking ban. At the moment only a specific number of states and, to a larger degree, cities and counties have voted in and enacted a form of smoking ban in public places and businesses. I remember when California voted in and enacted a smoking ban in restaurants and bars in 1998. I'd say it was a major inconvenience for alot of smokers and businesses. But both adapted to the new regulations and businesses continued on.

As a cigar aficionado I was really inconvenienced in where I could smoke when out on the town with friends. Some enterprising people decided to open up cigar bars and lounges where membership was required to join and the only employees on-site were the owners and managers. We could smoke to our hearts content. What really screwed over the businesses wasn't the ban on smoking in public places and places of business but a few years later when the tax on tobacco went up by a large margin. The tax became so high that to buy a pack of cigarettes means paying 5 dollars or more for a pack. Cigars I used to be able to buy for 5-10 per stick went up to 8/9-20 per stick. Now that would slow down business and smoking more than any ban ever could.
_________________

[Bub]

[Tullaryx]

Yeah, California was the first state to vote in and create such a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The ban on smoking in public places, especially local and state government buildings didn't happen until a year or so later. I know some counties and cities in California has banned people from congregating outside their building to smoke since it constituted smoking in a public place. But despite all those different types of bans smokers still find a way to feed their habits day in and day out. I don't really care for or against the bans since my tobacco habit was expensive to begin with before all the tobacco tax increases.

Whenever I lit up a cigar in the past it was like lighting up a whole pack of cigarettes in terms of cost. Now its even worst with most cigars really selling for high prices. The only thing I'm glad about was that the fad of smoking cigars created by all the dot-commers who got rch quickly has died away and now prices have stabilized since only real fans of cigars are buying them.

If I wanted to light a cigar up I'd do it at home while having a nice drink and watching a movie or reading a book. If I was out with friends, there's enough places that allow smoking within its premises that I don't worry about breaking any smoking ordnances.
_________________

[Bub]

[Rune hunter]

Personally I look at bans from an economic point of view. The bans may decrease income in the short run(becouse of less smokers) but it is highly plausable that business will pick up becouse people who dont smoke would go to these kinds of bars. Also there is the issue of "Health cost". The bar owners may be lossing money but think of the benifit for people who don't smoke. People who dont smoke(but are force to inhale second hand smoke while in bars) will possibly save on medical bills. The bar owners loss is the non-smoking patrons gain(which might be considerably higher on a dollar for dollar basis).

Governments have a right to ban and sometimes control the way business operate. If they didn't there might be terrible consequences to pay. Besides who do you think will have to foot the medical bill of these smokers after twenty years of smoking? Thus it is in the governments best interest to ween people off from smoking.

A cynic would probable say the reason governments have high taxes on tabacco products is to earn more money. This may be true however the reason for this would be to offset the cost of smoking. Another good reason for this would be to dissuade people from smoking and PREVENT non-smokers from starting the habit.

[Yvl]

[Ninjar]

I'm not going to lie, I am a nonsmoker and I don't really mind smoking that much. Given that people aren't blowing smoke down my throat, I can ignore it quite easily.

Having said that, the ban will not deter people from starting to smoke. The age that people usually start smoking is at a rather young one, before they are old enough to realize what a terrible and foolish mistake that they are making. That means that the ban of smoking in restaurants and pubs would hardly apply to them. A lot of them are smoking in secret and trying to hide it from their parents. That or their parents don't care.

Then again, I live in Kentucky and tobacco products are dirt cheap here when compared to other places.

[Rune hunter]

[Nimble Jack]

I consider education to be the best way to dissuade people from smoking. I was lucky enough to have gone through a D.A.R.E. program that was instituted in my state and has since been dissolved. I can't remember what D.A.R.E. stood for but for a week in elementary school they came and educated us about the negative side-effects of smoking. In retrospect I consider it to be one of the top five things they taught me K-5. This has effected me much more than the cost of smoking raising or lowering becuase I know that even though smoking might hurt me economically, it will always hurt me physically.


Yvl, I'm just trying to remember, what were Jefferson's views about this. I can half-way remember but it just isn't coming to me. Weren't they similar to what youself and Rune hunter are talking about?
_________________
"Not everything is possible, but there are an infinite number of possibilities."

[Athene Airheart]

Washington now has the ban... not only that, but you can't smoke within 25 feet of the entrance to any public building. Now, that wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that the law says that entrances to any restaurant or bar are also public buildings, which means you could get ticketed for walking down the street if you happen to smoke.

I don't smoke and wouldn't, and I generally think smoking is a bad idea, but I get more than a little irritated when my government decides what is right for me without consulting me first. I know how the democratic process is supposed to work... but lately, it doesn't. This is just one small part of a larger problem.

No, I'm not gonna get into a long political rant here, though I'd kinda like to--just thought I'd give some recent info about another of the US states.
_________________

[Bub]

[Athene Airheart]

[Morbid Angel]

California's had it for awhile... but all that means is whenever you want to go into a restaurant (or into the outside patio-area of a club, for instance) you'll be walking through the "smoke line" where people seem to be smoking all the time (at least whenever I show up).

Patio-areas are cool... especially when you just wanna chill... and remember, just because someone is smoking doesn't mean you have to stand near them... I don't really see the point of banning it completely from buildings... I mean, people will still smoke if it really "turns their crank", if you know what I mean.
_________________

Nikea- "Want to see my super duper special moves?"
Me- "No, shut up and dance, bitch."

[Yvl]