Smoking Bans

[Global Paw]

Well, as some of you know, I've recently purchased a Smoke Shop...and until Dec. 8, it will be smoke friendly... however, WA State has recently passed a measure to ban all smoking in publis areas.

How do we all feel about this? This measure means that no one will be allowed to smoke in my smoke shop...which is...silly. At least let the owners of establishments decide if they should allow smoke or not.

Opinions?

[linnie]

Actually i think it is a good law Quincy.
I hate it when people puff smoke in my face while I am shopping.
I also get highly offended if people pass wind next to me
I will admit I think that if you are in a smoke shop then its a bit silly not to be able to smoke in it lol.
perhaps you could add a smoking room

[MazieDog]

The new law here in Washington states that you must be at least 25 feet away from any enterances or vents in a public building, so the smoking room still wouldn't work.. I, too, think it is a good idea.. At least now I don't have to walk through a smoking section of a restaurant to get to the non-smoking section.

[Sayuri]

Yep - can't say I disagree too much with the law, especially seeing as I'm allergic to smoke (my mom, as a pediatrician, is thrilled, I'm sure)- Even just a minute or two of exposure causes irritation and nausea. However, I *do* think it's silly for the law to go into effect in a smoke shop - if you're *going* to a smoke shop, you're probably *not* allergic to it and heck, you probably expect to encounter it.

[Shadowkins]

We've had a smoking ban here for quite some time, actually. I'm a smoker but I don't mind smoking outside... I realize many people cannot tolerate the smoke, however, it seems rather silly to apply that to a smoke shop! I don't imagine non-smokers wanting to purchase smoking material . It's a sign of the times, I'm afraid. I feel sorry for you Quincy, I know when I read your first post , I was surprised that you would try that out because of the smoking controvery. In any case good luck to you, you'll just have to use the power of advertising to sell your product!

[bigdoglover]

As a smoker, I think putting a ban on smoking in a Smoke Shop is dumb. I understand in some places...(malls, small restaurants, etc) heck, I don't even smoke in my house! (dogs,ya know) But in a SMOKE SHOP???? Silly. I know a couple in Long Island that owned a bar. They had been in business for 30 years, and the smoking ban came into effect. They had to close down the bar, because they lost over 60% of their business. I don't think it should be a "blanket" law. But I am very opinionated anyway!!

[MatthewG]

The ban here in Winnipeg has an exception for smoke shops. It's about the only indoor public place you can smoke unless your on federal land (military bases and indian reserves). Because the province can't enforce the health laws there.

[poodlesmom]

We have all the no smoking laws here in NY also which, even though I am a smoker, I really have no problem with them (don't necessarily like all the restrictions but can deal with them). However, I just learned this week that at cigar stores they are allowed to have smoking which I think is definitely acceptable.

[Shalva]

I don't smoke and have very severe asthma .... even walking through the "butt huddlers " on the way into the building will trigger a serious problem for me.... however.... this is a bit stupid.... I do think you should be able to smoke in a smoke shoppe..... and I think smoking rooms should be allowed and so on....
now as far as passing wind... now that should not be allowed.
S

[BellFounder]

totally agree with smoking bans in public places. Smoking in public is antisocial and inconsiderate. Why should I, as an asthmatic, be restricted on the places i can go to because some people insist on practising their filthy habit around other people without a single thought as to how it adversely affects their health.

[Shalva]

Originally Posted by BellFounder

totally agree with smoking bans in public places. Smoking in public is antisocial and inconsiderate. Why should I, as an asthmatic, be restricted on the places i can go to because some people insist on practising their filthy habit around other people without a single thought as to how it adversely affects their health.

but it is a legal activity and this is a smoke shoppe where I personally would never go anyway.... while Iagree with smoking bans as a general rule to have a smoke shop and ban smoking in a smoke shop seems a bit ridiculous....

falls into the category of being able to buy alcohol at a bar but not drink it.....

[bigdoglover]

I think we all have some sort of "nasty habit" or vice. Nail biting is gross, just as an example. I don't want to shake hands with someone who has had their fingers in their mouth. Yuck. Or using a pen that someone has chewed the end off of. So do we ban that, too? I'm not trying to be a butt-head here, but nobody is perfect. I read somewhere that the reason so many of us are asthmatic (*I don't mean everyone, just many*) is because we are growing up in a more "sterile" world. Our immune systems are weak because we aren't exposed to certain environments...hence, we get sick more often. Children raised on a farm or around animals have a smaller chance of becoming asthmatic than those who are not. I'm not saying that we should start exposing people to everything, please don't get me wrong. But I don't think that some people should be cast out because of others. Isn't it just as easy to avoid places that have a smoking area as it is to ban those that smoke?

Just debating here, don't go crazy on me!!

[Shadowkins]

Seems a bit extreme to classify smokers as "antisocial and inconsiderate", most of the smokers that have posted understand the laws and abide by them. It seems to me the original post was regarding banning smoking in a smoke shoppe and not the character of those who do smoke. My son is also asthmatic and I don't smoke at home and have smoked outside ( even in public places ) for years. Anyways, this so called filthy habit was accepted and legal when I started years ago.

[Pugdawg1]

I don't mind the bans. I am a nonsmoker that does not like to be around smokers.. that said, both my mother and father smoke.. all day, every day. Dad always.. always.. has a cigar in his mouth. Even after a triple bypass last March. Seeing them so .. addicted to that... I just hate seeing them do that to themselves. I never say anything to them, it is their business. But I know I do NOT like being around it, and because of that, I do not spend as much time with them as I probably would if they weren't blowing smoke everywhere.

I have no problem with the bans. Maybe more folks will lead healthier lives for it, if it's not so convenient to smoke everywhere they go. And us nonsmokers won't have to put up with it so much.

It is odd though.. to not be able to smoke in smoke shop. But if one exception is made, there will be people that want more exceptions.. then pretty soon, what's the point in the ban.

[GSD]

I don't like the bans and I don't smoke. I can see for areas like shopping malls, grocery stores gas stations etc. and smoking hasn't been allowed in any of those places for sometime. however, places such as resteraunts, if the owner wants to allow smoking he/she should be able to, if a bar wants to allow smoking or have a smoking room, they should allow it, and for most defineatly a smoke shop or cigar bar should be allowed to have smoking. If us as non smokers don't want to go somewhere that allows smoking then we don't have to, and we can pressure those that allow smoking all over to restrict or cease it by not spending our money there. We don't need legislation to tell us otherwise.

If you ask me, fast food joints should be shut down, no snack foods or soda either, TFA's are absolutely terrible for you and tear you down cell by cell, cause your ateries to be damaged which then causes plaquing and Heart disease and death. Obesity and crappy foods are as much to blame for our decrepit state of health in this country every bit as much as smoking. Can I get a law please?? When does it stop??