Complete Cigar Ban!

[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!!!!!!!

[grand cru no 2]

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!!!!!!!

[jdavis4082]

this doesnt make sense. i dont see why the polititans would ban smoking all over, dont many of them smoke cigars. that is the only reason i can think of to explain low tax on cigars and outragous tax on cigarettes. smoking was ban in the city i used to live in. made moving a hell of a lot easier.

[Amanda]

Lubbock is a college town. I'd be very surprised if they don't enact a smoking ban in the next couple years. College towns of either political persuasion have recently enacted bans, including the very conservative cities of Lincoln, Nebraska; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and even the heart of tobacco country, Lexington, Kentucky. Just this year, Georgia passed a partial smoking ban statewide, and Georgia is as red of a state as there is. I'm not sure on the smoking ban situations in America's alcohol-free "dry counties", most of which are rural and in the Deep South. If these places have not yet banned smoking in "public places" (which almost always refers to privately-owned businesses), I get the feeling that the same prohibitionary impulses that led them to ban alcohol will lead them to ban public smoking as well, probably sooner rather than later.

If ever there was a time when one political party was better for smokers (or those who value the right to consume what we want to into our bodies) than the other, that time has all but passed. I expect my theory will be reinforced at the Federal level at some point in the next few years as nationwide restrictions on tobacco (and food) will be strengthened, and a large Federal tobacco tax already given by the Department of Health and Human Services will be enacted with the support of a Republican President, Republican Senate and Republican House of Representatives. Only time will tell if I'm right.

[Iced T]

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.

Too late. Where I live, it is generally against the rules to wear too much cologne anywhere. This is specific to doctor's offices and hospitals, but I have seen official "no cologne" warning signs at entrances to malls. They did this mostly for people who are allergic to cologne/perfume. Too much sets them off.

[MMAB]

and I live in Massachusetts which usually follows California in such unusual things!

I applaud the beautiful state of California!

[Island Epicurean]

Most public and private buildings in Newfoundland, Canada are completely scent free.

[jaewing]

Too late. Where I live, it is generally against the rules to wear too much cologne anywhere. This is specific to doctor's offices and hospitals, but I have seen official "no cologne" warning signs at entrances to malls. They did this mostly for people who are allergic to cologne/perfume. Too much sets them off.

If I saw this here in California in any of my local malls or shopping centers I woudl bathe in cologne and slather myself up with so much that you could tell I was coming from a mile away. Just try and enforce it biznatch! Just frigg'n ridiculous!

[Buhz]

My hometown is about to have a public smoke ban too. However there is some light in this dark hour. I think that you need to declare whether your business is smoking or non smoking, so it's possible there may be a few bars around that will still allow me to light up a cigar.