Smoking in South Carolina (Columbia, Charleston: apartments, purchase, allergies)

[Marks]

Originally Posted by anonymous

well, i think the point is that any establishment already has the authority to ban smoking if they wish, and it's not necessary for the government to tell everyone to do it.

I'm not a smoker, and I get irritated when people smoke next to me in restaurants as well. However, I blame the smoker and the restaurant, in that order. If the government were to get involved in the situation, I'd get a little worried.

Anon, I can understand your point. I too am for limited government. Although, sometimes rules and regs. can be benifical, as in the case of smoking in restaurants, now seeing it's close to the 4th of July would you feel comfortable standing in line to buy fireworks while people are smoking behind the counter? The point is, in that case it's a ban that's good.

The problem was restaurants would not say to customers "please don't smoke." They would segragate them into some corner which did not help either cuz you could still smell the smoke.

I'm glad SC looks long and hard at laws that are to be signed that tells me a lot. Slow and cautious progress that's ok.

Mark

[margo]

Sounds like I might fit in just right in SC! I keep registering Libertarian. I keep voting on the edge, but in CA I always feel alone! If my county were a state, I would fit in better, but here I am between San Fran and LA :-(

[southernnative]

I am also Libertarian politically, but I have to agree with Mark on the smoking ban. The problem is that restaurants are afraid to ban smoking for fear of alienating smokers. If the government says that they all have to do it, then the owners do not have to fear that smokers will go somewhere else that allows smoking.

Mark, in the Carolinas, some places don't even have the separate sections for smokers and non-smokers, so you never know when someone sitting right next to you will light up and spoil your meal.

[anonymous]

I completely understand where y'all are coming from, and this isn't an issue I feel strongly about. If they banned smoking (in certain areas or outright) it wouldn't bother me much.

I was just using this topic to point out something that I think it pertinent. As far as libertarians go, most people in SC probably don't even know what that means, or what the libertarian platform is. Gov. Mark Sanford is about as close as you can be to libertarian, while still being part of a mainstream party. If he would've run as libertarian, I can guarantee he wouldn't be governor, simply because of the name. But just do some reading (thestate.com), and you can tell how he thinks. He gets bashed for 'not doing enough about..X/Y/Z', and he vetos LOTS of bills, or just sits on them (like the smoking thing).

Many people here equate Democrat with 'big government', and Republican with 'small government'. Others see Democrat as 'against religion' and Republican as 'for religion'. Still others see Democrat as 'for blacks' and Republican as 'for whites'. I think understanding this is the key to understanding a lot about the south.

There's a common theory among folks that study Southern history & politics involving the culture and sociology of the highland scots, and the Irish, and how their clannish, anti-government ways have carried on throughout southern history - particularly South Carolina. I don't know how valid of a theory it is, but on the surface it makes sense to me.

[Marks]

Originally Posted by anonymous

There's a common theory among folks that study Southern history & politics involving the culture and sociology of the highland scots, and the Irish, and how their clannish, anti-government ways have carried on throughout southern history - particularly South Carolina. I don't know how valid of a theory it is, but on the surface it makes sense to me.

Anon, I hear ya. I'm 50% Irish part Scots so I guess I'll fit in better than I think.

Southernnative, yep there are things that folks not from the south are going to have to deal with some good, and some bad. There are trade off always when switching states.

Mark

[Sonrise]

I'm a staunch conservative but I can't for the life of me comprehend how someone can advocate smoking indoors in public places a good thing. Why should I a non smoker have to suffer? Wanna smoke? Go outside or in your home. Hope you get lung cancer too. I know that's a bit harsh but in 2006, knowing all we know about cigarettes and you still choose to smoke, well you reap what you sow. And no smoking sections are a joke, like the smoke knows where to stop. Why are drugs illegal and smoking isn't? Other than it being ingrained in our society I can't think of any other reason.

[Team Mom]

I for one am hoping that bill gets signed! That is a positive about here in CA.

Though my asthma is aggrevated by allergies -- my doctors have long believed that it originated from second hand smoke exposure (like many others my 30 something generation is showing higher asthma rates many of our parents smoked). My father smoked. I also just took a college Health course that dedicated a whole chapter to the subject. It is important to honor a person's right to make the choice for their life. Addictions are tough to break--to say the least. Nonetheless, I have the right to eat, sit, and breath without exposure to second hand smoke. Mostly I want this for my children. I can't imagine being a smoker and compromising the well being of children around me. Perhaps some just don't know the damage it brings?

I do also believe that adequate areas outside for smoking should be provided. Smokers should be treated with courtesy and I hope they will do the same for me. Most smokers I run into are kind and aware of my children and just take a few steps in another direction as I do the same. I try to offer a smile of thanks. I want my children to see that people might make different choices (choices that Mommy has taught them as unsafe choices) but it's the choices that are bad not the people.

[KMT]

This is great discussion. The issues balance between public health, government control, and individual rights. Having said that, as a human being, I weigh in on the side of public health. In adddition, I think it is important to consider that smoking is a tobacco issue and tobacco is a money issue. According to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture web site:

Tobacco Facts:

• The heaviest concentration of tobacco production is in the Pee Dee area, but growers and allotment holders are listed in 45 counties.
• Tobacco generates millions of dollars a year in sales tax revenue for the state.
• Tobacco is an international market.
• Tobacco is a close-knit family business.
• Tobacco growers work hard to produce a top quality product.
• Tobacco rolls over 5-7 times in the economy.

The effect a smoking ban throughout the state may have on the tobacco industry in SC is probibly undetermined...but certainly something powerful lobbyests have pointed to, given the international ties and revenue.

Keith

[sudont]

Originally Posted by KMT

From what limited research I have been able to do, it appears that South Carolina still allows smoking in restaurants and other locations.

Is this something that anyone coming from states that do ban smoking have considered? I did not until today.

Is anyone aware of any legislation in progress to ban smoking? I plan on researching it more but was looking for quick answers.

I want to clarify that I have nothing against smokers...just breathing smoke.

Keith

Keith,
I'm considering moving to South Carolina to escape the kind of petty laws you seem to favor. I moved from Chicago to North Carolina for that reason, but they've recently enacted anti-smoker discrimination laws there. You see, my one little pleasure in life was to go down to my neighborhood bar, have a couple of beers, and enjoy a cigar. There were already voluntary no-smoking bars in my town, (Wilmington), so people were able to exercise their freedom, but that wasn't enough for those who wish to impose their lifestyle upon others. Please don't join these folks, Keith. Think of the things that you enjoy, that others would like to put a stop to. We need, all of us, to get away from imposing our morals upon others, and learn to let others live as they choose, whether they're gay, gun owners, smokers, or just someone who wants to have a soda.
There are alternatives to forcing others to comply with your own particular lifestyle choices, such as patronizing establishments that cater to non-smokers, or vice-versa. Feel free to open your own no-smoking bar in your area. This is, ostensively, a free country. You have to remember, these bars and restaurants are not owned by the government. As a former bar owner, I can tell you, you would not want the government telling you what you can and cannot do in your own establishment.
Or, like me, you can move. You might like Chicago!

[waccamatt]

Smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants in the City of Columbia and in unincorporated areas of Richland County. There are also a couple of other cities and towns in the state that prohibit smoking as well.