Pennsylvania gets a Smoking Ban (luxury, inspections, restaurant)

[Hatless Wonder]

Looks like Pennsylvania is enacting a smoking ban (broken link). As an asthmatic who likes to eat out, and has worked as a bertender, I think it's a good idea. It will still be allowed in some bars.

Any other opinions?

[From Philly]

As a former smoker who now hates everything about it, I still think individual places of business should be allowed to run THEIR business like they want. If they want there to be smoking, so be it. If not, so be it. But it should be up to the owners to make that decision. And, it should be up to us consumers to decide which places to patronize. Smoking, non or one that has both. Neither the owners or customers should be forced into either situation.

[thecoalman]

There's a very long thread in the Northeastern Pennsylvania forum about this already. I agree with the previous poster.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...en-passed.html


That thread or this one should have been a poll to get numbers as well as opinions. I ran a poll on my website with a wide demographic and the results so far are 12-11 against the ban but that's far from conclusive because of the low number of people voting. I'd really like to see if that holds up where more people would be voting.

Is it possible to turn in into a poll? Could you ask a mod?

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by From Philly

As a former smoker who now hates everything about it, I still think individual places of business should be allowed to run THEIR business like they want. If they want there to be smoking, so be it. If not, so be it. But it should be up to the owners to make that decision. And, it should be up to us consumers to decide which places to patronize. Smoking, non or one that has both. Neither the owners or customers should be forced into either situation.

This is not just a "consumer rights" issue, however. Plenty of people who WORK in places in which smoking is allowed are also at a major health risk. Only by virtue of being employed there, they are forced to breathe in second-hand smoke. That should not be part of their job.

I'm strongly supportive of this ban. Simply put, it's about damn time. There are still plenty of places where smokers will be allowed to have their cigarette, but public forums -- privately-owned or not -- should not be one of them. Public health far supersedes your right to smoke.

[Dawne]

I favor the ban, but I have to say that people who work in places that allow smoking have chosen to work there. I always checked before applying for a job to see if smoking was allowed, and if it was I didn't apply there. I spent one day in a warehouse one time when I had forgotten to ask and that was the end of that job for me!

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Dawne

I favor the ban, but I have to say that people who work in places that allow smoking have chosen to work there. I always checked before applying for a job to see if smoking was allowed, and if it was I didn't apply there. I spent one day in a warehouse one time when I had forgotten to ask and that was the end of that job for me!

That's a fair point. However, I don't think people's job choices should be dictated by whether or not smokers are given the opportunity to smoke in a potential workplace.

Anyway, I was reading the other thread on the argument over this smoking ban, and I think the point that the government also dictates other things that businesses have no control over (i.e., underage drinking, facility inspections, etc.) completely debunks the "business owners' rights" argument. In other words, I could claim, "well, if that restaurant owner wants to let insects crawl around in their kitchen, why should the government stop them?"

We need decency standards, folks, and banning public smoking definitely falls in line with that.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by Duderino

We need decency standards, folks, and banning public smoking definitely falls in line with that.

Go invest your own money to open an establishment and you can make all the rules you want.

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by Dawne

I favor the ban, but I have to say that people who work in places that allow smoking have chosen to work there. I always checked before applying for a job to see if smoking was allowed, and if it was I didn't apply there. I spent one day in a warehouse one time when I had forgotten to ask and that was the end of that job for me!

But in this economy, most people have to take whatever job they can get, and shouldn't have to choose between their health and putting food on the table. Some people don't have the luxury of just quitting their job and finding another.

[BPP1999]

Finally. The last progressive thing PA helped take the initiative to pass was the ratification of the US Constitution.

I think it's great for business. We recently walked with our 2 kids into a small-town diner, smelled the smoke that you could practically see, and left. Now maybe next time we'll eat there.

Smokers can smoke outside if they need to. I don't understand why ideas such as smoking bans elicit such fears.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

Smokers can smoke outside if they need to. I don't understand why ideas such as smoking bans elicit such fears.

Because this law takes away the freedom of the owner of the establishment and the smoker and confers a right to the non-smoker. A freedom you already had I might add which you exercised by not patronizing the establishment that allowed smoking. I the smoker cannot make that choice anymore.