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In reading the WRAL website regarding the NC House and Senate versions of the smoking bans passed in each chamber, the station takes the position that the House Bill is stronger. I am not so sure that I agree.
From what I understand, here is a quick summary of each bill passed:
House Bill:
* No Smoking in restaurants or bars within restaurants
* No Smoking in places that employ or serve children under 18 years old
* Smoking still allowed in stand alone bars and clubs
Senate Bill:
* No Smoking in restaurants or any bars, regardless of stand alone status
* No Smoking outside establishments if there are more than 2 walls surrounding the outdoor area.
* Smoking still allowed in private country clubs or fraternal orgs like the Masons.
* No provision to protect employees or patrons under the age of 18.
Frankly, I think that the Senate Bill is stronger though I'd prefer a combo of both. Most kids under 18 are already working in smoke free places since they tend to work retail and fast food. Most fast food chains are currently smoke free by policy and I can't think of any retail places that allow smoking. And, if either bill passes, all restaurants become smoke free anyway. To me, the big difference is that the Senate Bill protects many more adults by making bars smoke free as well. Time will tell if the Senate bill will include night clubs or if they will be treated as private like country clubs.
I've never understood why the government allowed the sale of a poisonous substance let alone allowed users of the substance to put others in danger of breathing a "secondhand" poison.
I've known absolutely brilliant, talented people who would be alive today if they hadn't chosen to smoke. Instead, they suffered long painful deaths.
I was in New York on business last year and went out for dinner. As usual, I asked for a seat in the non smoking section. The hostess asked me where I was from... apparently smoking has already been banned in restaurants there for some time, but the place was still packed.
I don't think smokers will stop eating out just because of a smoking ban. I also think that non smoking food service employees should not be continually subjected to breathing in second hand smoke all day, every day, while serving customers in smoking areas that could potentially affect the long term health of those employees.
Many large companies have already banned smoking inside buildings and encourage employees to quit smoking to help reduce health care insurance premium costs.
A smokers rights are not being taken away... they are simply being restricted to designated smoking areas that do not affect others. However, smoking isn't as widely accepted today as it once was in the past, again mainly due to the long term health concerns and increased medical expenses associated with smoking.
I can't wait for smoking to be banned in public. We go out to eat and ask to be seated in non-smoking areas, yet smoke wafts over and the smell ruins the meal. I feel awful for the waitresses breathing that in all day. We tried to have a late meal downtown because a friend's band was playing and we were chased out by all the smoke. Even walking around the neighborhood, we're accosted by smoke. I don't see why people put up with it- it's disgusting.
Yeah my favorite is when you go to a grocery store and have to walk by a group of employees out in front of the store taking their smoking break. I cough and gasp as a walk by just to make my point.
to the OP, i was thinking the same thing when i read the story. i think it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. i don't understand why these legislators don't just grow a pair and do what they should be doing, instead of trying to water this down so much. ban smoking in public, period. or at least bring the restaurants and bars up to speed with the 21st century. i mean even in dublin you can't smoke in bars!
to the OP, i was thinking the same thing when i read the story. i think it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. i don't understand why these legislators don't just grow a pair and do what they should be doing, instead of trying to water this down so much. ban smoking in public, period. or at least bring the restaurants and bars up to speed with the 21st century. i mean even in dublin you can't smoke in bars!
Because NC has always been known as a tobacco farming state, and there are politicians that are still loyal to the leaf even though the tobacco farming industry has dwindled down quite a bit in NC over the past 5-10 years.
I personally agree with the smoking band...I was in a locally owned but really nice sized furniture store recently and the manager, not the owner was talking to me and smoking a cigarette at the same time, I said to myself what the **#&!!! I politely said smoke bothers me,said If u dont mind putting that out I have asthma. He put it away but I just though his actions were rude and inconsiderate.
I personally agree with the smoking band...I was in a locally owned but really nice sized furniture store recently and the manager, not the owner was talking to me and smoking a cigarette at the same time, I said to myself what the **#&!!! I politely said smoke bothers me,said If u dont mind putting that out I have asthma. He put it away but I just though his actions were rude and inconsiderate.
I agree with you, but what he was doing was probably considered normal behaviour to him as a smoker. Doing that can have a negative affect on his business however by driving away customers such as yourself and others who are offended by his actions.
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