Complete Cigar Ban!

[Island Epicurean]

While it seems that most posters on this forum are American, I thought I'd share a recent piece of legislation in Newfoundland, Canada. As of July 1st, 2005, ALL public places are completely smoke free. This includes outdoor patio's, and other completely outdoor establishments. I am a law student and as per my interpretation of the legislation it may even include Golf Courses!!! (Oh the humanity! ) Although such a piece of legislatin is unlikely to be saved by the federal charter, I think it is going too far. Does anyone have any opinion on this complete smoking ban? (I am expecially interested in the opinion of the American's on here.) (Oh yeah, and any cigar bars are officially closed!)

[Amanda]

Smoking bans in general are wrong at multiple levels. I get furious when I hear about them and wring my hands about the wholesale health-and-wellness police state that big brother is clobbering us over the head with. From what I hear, there are places in the US where even outdoor smoking is being banned. It's enough to make me weep for my country, not just as a smoker, but as someone who values freedom.

I always used to think that the nanny-staters would pistol-whip the smokers into submission and then move onto food and beverages, slapping the double cheeseburgers out of the mouths of fast-food patrons and sin taxing alcohol and coffee right into the black market. It was at this point I thought the people would say enough is enough and revolt...when it was more than just us smokers getting slapped around. Now I doubt the tide will ever change. The more hyperbolic rhetoric the public has thrust upon them about the need for Oreo prohibitions and "double latte sin taxes", the more they accept the idea that "something HAS TO BE DONE!!!!!" Public opinion polls are already showing a major shift in favor of "Twinkie taxes" and other anti-obesity measures. I suspect that with a couple more years of breathless warnings about obesity epidemics, obese people will be joining us smokers as the pariahs of society.

Sorry for the rant, but this kind of news really makes my blood boil..lol.

[CoventryCat86]

Oh the big time nanny states like Connecticut where I live are on the leading edge of this bullshit. They banned smoking in bars ans restaurants two years ago.

This year, the legislature tried to pass a "School Nutrition" bill where they would among other things, remove all vending machines from all schools. The Republicans voted against it and dubbed it the "No Child Left With a Big Behind" bill. The Democrats passed it and fortunately the Republican Governor vetoed it.

I thought things were bad here in the states until I saw Island Epicurean's post about Canada.

Just another reason why I don't think very highly of the socialist country of Canada

[grand cru no 2]

I like Amanda, use to think that people would stand up and put a stop to this freedom-limiting madness, but when a notoriously conservative state like TX is embracing smoking bans (Austin) I tend to lose hope. More and more it seems that the outcries of smokers are overlooked.

The attack on obese people has gotten to me as well. If the attack on them by the private sector (double ticketing on airplanes etc..) wasn't enough, now they are being attacked by BS legislation! It seems even with a "conservative" legislature and president the liberals are still imposing their whacked out views on our society. And now the Canadians are heading the same route.

Very sorry to hear it Island, hopefully one day all this crap legislation will be overturned. If not, I see a whole new prohibition era starting complete with speakeasies (I hear it's already started in CA).

[Amanda]

Personal freedoms are under assault from both the red and the blue. There are fewer and fewer good guys in this battle. I agree with grand cru that a new prohibition era is on the way throughout the Western world as the nanny state flexes its muscle. There's already a significant black market for cigarettes in the U.S. with tax rates varying so greatly from state to state. From what I understand, terrorist cells have discovered the black market sales of cigarettes across state lines are a fast and relatively benign way to raise alot of cash to finance terrorist operations. Tragically, the only thing that may make the nanny-staters realize the error of their ways is a major terrorist attack definitively financed through the black market sale of cigarettes.

[JStrider]

when a notoriously conservative state like TX is embracing smoking bans (Austin) I tend to lose hope.

austin is one of those little bastions of liberalism in texas... kinda like the montrose area of houston... they dont represent the whole state...

now when lubbock starts coming down on the smokers... then i'll really start to worry...

[MMAB]

I think banning smoking in open-air places is stupid. However, I can understand enclosed public places but I think that the word "public" has been broadened too much. To me, public suggests state owned or operated

If a proprietor of a privately owned restaurant, bar or store decides that he/she wishes to allow smoking in his/her establishment that is a risk that he/she has the right to take. Some patrons may decide not to go there because of smoking while others it won't bother.

But if it is a public place where one must go with no option, fine, ban smoking there. I have no problem with that. It's fair.

I could take this a step further. I'd like to see the wearing of excessive amount of cologne and perfume banned in all places. Few things piss me off as much as some dork or dorkette occupying my personal space after they have bathed in cologne. It's absolutely repellant and it makes me want to vomit! Also, the Dunkin' Donuts down the street from my work has a woman behind the counter who wears a lot of cologne and when I get my coffee from her I can smell it on my styro coffee cup quite strongly for a long time. So every time I take a sip of coffee I have to smell her cologne!!! That does it! Where's the phone number for Senator Kennedy's office??!!! I'm taking action! I'LL SUE!!!!!!!