Smoking Bans (London: how much, schools, calculating)

[linicx]

Government can legislate public behavior. They can tax it and they can police it. And they do in my state. No smoking is not allowed within 15 feet of any entrance to any public building, nor inside any public building.

[Cattknap]

Originally Posted by Davart

You can't legislate behavior.

Of course you can - behavior is legislated all the time - most of the laws on the books regulate behavior.

I am completely supportive of legislating behavior that infringes on the health and wellbeing of others.

[nokygirl]

I would also love to see a no-smoking ban enforced, especially in the schools. At the elementary school near my home, there is a huge ceramic pot ashtray at the entry to the school, and the teachers/employees of the school stand there and smoke before school, on breaks, and after school. The children and anyone else that has to enter that building walk through a cloud of smoke first. I also don't think it sets a good example to the children to see their teachers smoking. I don't care if the teachers smoke, but it should be moved to an area that is unobserved by the kids and the general public.

There are many restaurants that we frequent that don't have smoking at all anymore. We enjoy eating our dinner in smoke-free environment. I agree with the person who posted that the smoke always wafts over anyway. I quit smoking 20 years ago, and it makes me angry when I am out somewhere and breathe someone else's smoke. I always end up with a sore throat and sinus problems whenever I breathe it for too long. If I wanted to suck smoke into my body, I wouldn't have quit smoking.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Busybody

What is your problem? I am asking a legitimate question. If you did not smoke or had a health condition like allergies and asthma, you would want to know this. Smokers for the most part are extremely rude and they infringe on other people's rights by exposing them to their nasty habit.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by nokygirl

I would also love to see a no-smoking ban enforced, especially in the schools. At the elementary school near my home, there is a huge ceramic pot ashtray at the entry to the school, and the teachers/employees of the school stand there and smoke before school, on breaks, and after school. The children and anyone else that has to enter that building walk through a cloud of smoke first. I also don't think it sets a good example to the children to see their teachers smoking. I don't care if the teachers smoke, but it should be moved to an area that is unobserved by the kids and the general public.

There are many restaurants that we frequent that don't have smoking at all anymore. We enjoy eating our dinner in smoke-free environment. I agree with the person who posted that the smoke always wafts over anyway. I quit smoking 20 years ago, and it makes me angry when I am out somewhere and breathe someone else's smoke. I always end up with a sore throat and sinus problems whenever I breathe it for too long. If I wanted to suck smoke into my body, I wouldn't have quit smoking.

I totally agree. I just spent a miserable week having to breathe second hand smoke in a state building, no less. Today I can barely talk and I am coughing my head off. When I expressed that I was very sensitive to smoke, this person brought a cigarette into the office I was using, put an ashtray on the desk I was using and smoked it right by me.

[kentuckydad95]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

I totally agree. I just spent a miserable week having to breathe second hand smoke in a state building, no less. Today I can barely talk and I am coughing my head off. When I expressed that I was very sensitive to smoke, this person brought a cigarette into the office I was using, put an ashtray on the desk I was using and smoked it right by me.

What you should have done was get hold of a hypodermic needle, wrapped you belt around your upper arm and act like you are going to "shoot up". Make sure you do this when they are looking directly at you and then say, "Hey...you got your bad habits and I got mine." MAYBE it would help.

Alot of smokers (not all) have NO consideration for anyone around them. Hell, alot (not all) of them smoke around their kids. Smart...real smart.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

What you should have done was get hold of a hypodermic needle, wrapped you belt around your upper arm and act like you are going to "shoot up". Make sure you do this when they are looking directly at you and then say, "Hey...you got your bad habits and I got mine." MAYBE it would help.

Alot of smokers (not all) have NO consideration for anyone around them. Hell, alot (not all) of them smoke around their kids. Smart...real smart.

lol...I think she was trying to make a point and it worked. Since this was a state building that is smoke free and she is a state employee, I don't see how she gets away with filling the office with smoke daily (no one else smokes), but she does.

[English Liz]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

I totally agree. I just spent a miserable week having to breathe second hand smoke in a state building, no less. Today I can barely talk and I am coughing my head off. When I expressed that I was very sensitive to smoke, this person brought a cigarette into the office I was using, put an ashtray on the desk I was using and smoked it right by me.

Wow, that is so out of order. You guys need to employ the 'smoke police' ie the overwhelming majority of the general public to advise smokers on the law. It worked over here within a few months of the law being introduced in ALL public and work places. Very, very few disregard it these days, if they did they would have to endure public contempt. Nobody would even dare light up these days in offices, schools, hospitals etc. Even if there is a hint of smoke the 'smoking police' are on the case! I think even the smokers these days realise it's in the best health interests of everyone even if they are madly craving a ***!

[Spotted1]

Paintsville is smoke free, and I love it! Alot of Grayson restaurants are voluntarily going smoke free, too. I'd like to see Louisa put a smoking ban in place, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

[oleinnout]

Originally Posted by Spotted1

Paintsville is smoke free, and I love it! Alot of Grayson restaurants are voluntarily going smoke free, too. I'd like to see Louisa put a smoking ban in place, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

I'm in NJ, and we've been smoke free for several years. It's wonderful walking into bars and restaurants without the smoke. It was first met with some resistance as it would "kill business", but it's not been the case. Actually, businesses have reported more traffic as the majority of their customers are nonsmokers. Nobody is telling anyone that they don't have the right to bake their lungs with cigarettes if they wish. It's a free country, but they should limit it to the privacy of their own home or do it outside in open spaces. It's your right to smoke, but it's also my right to not have to breathe it in as well.