Smoking In Public

[Welstonia (Ancient)]

As an asthmatic I often curse, metaphorically of course, at smokers who either purposely or by accident blow their cigarette smoke in my face. What follows is usually a nasty cough and wheezing, which is always pleasant whilst walking through town or around my college. Luckily I usually only have to experience smoke all around me in the town centre or by my college as, here in the UK, ever since the smoking ban I can sit in restaurants and pubs, offices etc. without it. Thankfully none of my family smoke either.

However I was wondering-should we go further with smoking restrictions in public? In the UK and in a number of US states I believe, smoking bans inside public places such as bars and offices, but out on the street you are perfectly free to smoke. Should we restrict this further-smoking should only be permitted inside your own home or on other private property? Perhaps we shouldn't allow smoking in high streets-we have alcohol free zones where you can't drink, why not this?

I'll admit I'm biased in my view being an asthmatic, but I'd like perhaps smoke free zones in high streets or only allowing smoking in smoke shelters. I'd even stretch to only allowing smoking on private property, but nothing else. Do you agree or do you take a libertarian viewpoint on smoking-you can do it anywhere you like, regardless.

Thank you NS.

At least let people smoke outside, if you can't deal with that you shouldn't leave your house.

[Hathradic States]

That's a completely bias view because a smoker is always the one doing the annoyance and therefore will be winner every time. Is like saying that sheep and wolves should be free to be together outside the barn when you know very well what is gonna happen to the sheep. Even if the restaurant has 30 no-smokers and 5 smokers if the smokers are allowed then they will start smoking not giving a shit about the majority they bother.
If you want to make it free for them to smoke then give non smokers the right to freely punch a smoker with no repercussions if they are annoyed.

A ridiculous viewpoint. If you know of a business that allows smoking then don't go there. Go somewhere else. A bar or restaurant isn't a democracy. Why should you get to dictate what goes on there? You don't own the place, do you?

For some reason, no one listens to that argument. They shouldn't have to change at all, after all. They shouldn't have to change their choices because of others.

[Mkuki]

Smoking should be banned in all public areas. It's a public health hazard.

[Costa Alegria]

Smoking should be banned in all public areas. It's a public health hazard.

So are motor vehicles. Ban them too.

[The Steel Magnolia]

You should only be allowed to use e cigs in Public or in a home with kids.

This a good solution. Allow e-cig use in public but not cigarettes.

That's a fucking terrible solution.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Either you're crawling through the doorway or you're being too sensitive here. How long does it take you to wade through the thick tobacco fog? Save for medical reasons, I think this is more of a sensitivity issue. Also, put up a sign that says "no smoking within 20 feet of doorway." Problem solved!

Why do you feel such a sense of entitlement that you don't feel the need to give the slightest fuck about anyone else being affected by your second hand smoke?

Because it's an unnecessary restriction of freedom that will offer almost no public health benefit.

You inhale more carcinogens from fucking cars.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Boy, this anti-smoking crowd is a bandwagon jumping, melodramatically asthmatic, self-righteous, "I don't like it so ban it," adults-can't-ever-be-adults, health Nazi, wheat grass sipping, long life destined bunch of boring pricks. Wild parties involving Scrabble, Fruit Smoothies, and Ice Cream going all the way to 11 PM before spending 45 worthless years of drudgery before a shoddy pension and death from colon cancer.

"I smelled smoke and was sick for an hour." "Smoke makes me wheeze uncontrollably, and kills 900,000 people every year." What a bunch of pantywaist, bs'ing ninnies. Be glad some people are considerate enough to pay shitloads of tobacco taxes and die promptly at 65 from smoking before becoming a burden to society for 20 years while telling wild tales of a mundane, useless life to anyone who'll listen. Obviously, smoking doesn't make one interesting whatsoever, but this health nut attitude is a virtual guarantee of a douche wanting a politically correct, G-rated world.

Careless smokers are also pricks and partly responsible for this backlash, though there was a time people weren't so incredibly whiny and quick to ban anything they could merely disagree with. Bertrand Russell loved his pipe and was a better man than these "ban this, ban that" dorks combined.

This is by far and away the best post in this thread. A beer on me good sir/madam.

I'm inclined to agree. I don't agree with all of it, namely the whole notion of political correctness, but come the fuck on people.

Ban car smoke first and then you can fucking talk.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Why do you feel such a sense of entitlement that you don't feel the need to give the slightest fuck about anyone else being affected by your second hand smoke?

Because it's an unnecessary restriction of freedom that will offer almost no public health benefit.

You inhale more carcinogens from fucking cars.

No.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Because it's an unnecessary restriction of freedom that will offer almost no public health benefit.

You inhale more carcinogens from fucking cars.

No.

There's also a lot more of it.

[Vitaphone Racing]

No.

There's also a lot more of it.

And you're also a lot further away from it. And exhaust gas from cars is either emitted extremely low or extremely high to minimize the chance of someone breathing it in. And roads, unlike many pedestrian footpaths, are not covered to trap exhausts.

[Umbra Ac Silentium]

V:< I'm sick of gagging on smoke while I'm waiting for the bus.
It's disgusting how many people keep sucking on fags and work on ruining everyone's lungs around them.
Keep it in private property; I don't care then.
Keep it in bars and restaurants.
Just keep it away from me.

[The Steel Magnolia]

There's also a lot more of it.

And you're also a lot further away from it. And exhaust gas from cars is either emitted extremely low or extremely high to minimize the chance of someone breathing it in. And roads, unlike many pedestrian footpaths, are not covered to trap exhausts.

I live in a city with 6 million people. Even on the main streets at rush hour, the amount of smoke you'll actually experience is few and far between, and over in seconds.

If you have people smoking in the middle of a gigantic, immovable crowd, sure that's a legitimate problem. But when you have a wideopen sidewalk and you're getting maybe one breath of secondhand smoke? You can fucking deal with it. The restriction on my personal liberty is too severe.

[Vitaphone Racing]

And you're also a lot further away from it. And exhaust gas from cars is either emitted extremely low or extremely high to minimize the chance of someone breathing it in. And roads, unlike many pedestrian footpaths, are not covered to trap exhausts.

I live in a city with 6 million people. Even on the main streets at rush hour, the amount of smoke you'll actually experience is few and far between, and over in seconds.

If you have people smoking in the middle of a gigantic, immovable crowd, sure that's a legitimate problem. But when you have a wideopen sidewalk and you're getting maybe one breath of secondhand smoke? You can fucking deal with it. The restriction on my personal liberty is too severe.

You don't have a legal right to smoke so what you feel about your personal liberties doesn't matter the least bit. Likewise it's not up to you to determine whether or not everybody else should "fucking deal with it" when it comes to inhaling unwanted fumes. We already regulated tough exhaust restrictions on cars which you happily point to in defence, why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

[Trollgaard]

I live in a city with 6 million people. Even on the main streets at rush hour, the amount of smoke you'll actually experience is few and far between, and over in seconds.

If you have people smoking in the middle of a gigantic, immovable crowd, sure that's a legitimate problem. But when you have a wideopen sidewalk and you're getting maybe one breath of secondhand smoke? You can fucking deal with it. The restriction on my personal liberty is too severe.

You don't have a legal right to smoke so what you feel about your personal liberties doesn't matter the least bit. Likewise it's not up to you to determine whether or not everybody else should "fucking deal with it" when it comes to inhaling unwanted fumes. We already regulated tough exhaust restrictions on cars which you happily point to in defence, why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

Because we are already regulated and pay out the ass in taxes. We should be able to smoke pretty much wherever we damn well please, as we pay for it.

[Vitaphone Racing]

You don't have a legal right to smoke so what you feel about your personal liberties doesn't matter the least bit. Likewise it's not up to you to determine whether or not everybody else should "fucking deal with it" when it comes to inhaling unwanted fumes. We already regulated tough exhaust restrictions on cars which you happily point to in defence, why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

Because we are already regulated and pay out the ass in taxes. We should be able to smoke pretty much wherever we damn well please, as we pay for it.

Not really as the taxes paid by smokers barely, if at all, cover the due cost of smoking related illnesses on government health care.

[Pillea]

I live in a city with 6 million people. Even on the main streets at rush hour, the amount of smoke you'll actually experience is few and far between, and over in seconds.

If you have people smoking in the middle of a gigantic, immovable crowd, sure that's a legitimate problem. But when you have a wideopen sidewalk and you're getting maybe one breath of secondhand smoke? You can fucking deal with it. The restriction on my personal liberty is too severe.

You don't have a legal right to smoke so what you feel about your personal liberties doesn't matter the least bit. Likewise it's not up to you to determine whether or not everybody else should "fucking deal with it" when it comes to inhaling unwanted fumes. We already regulated tough exhaust restrictions on cars which you happily point to in defence, why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

When I have to pay 6.57$ for a pack of smokes, because of crazy taxes that are partially put into place to discourage smoking, I'm gonna smoke outside. Why? I don't like the smell of stale smoke, and I like the outside breeze. Also cause I smoke to deal with rampant anxiety issues, sure Xanax is cheaper but this way I can have something as an emergency tool.
Why else? Because I'm legally allowed to smoke outside, and I damn well will if I want.

[Occupied Deutschland]

...[snip]...why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

Because we're better for society than nonsmokers.

[Welstonia (Ancient)]

V:< I'm sick of gagging on smoke while I'm waiting for the bus.
It's disgusting how many people keep sucking on fags and work on ruining everyone's lungs around them.
Keep it in private property; I don't care then.
Keep it in bars and restaurants.
Just keep it away from me.

YOu know, you could always stand up wind or a couple feet away while waiting for the bus

[The Steel Magnolia]

I live in a city with 6 million people. Even on the main streets at rush hour, the amount of smoke you'll actually experience is few and far between, and over in seconds.

If you have people smoking in the middle of a gigantic, immovable crowd, sure that's a legitimate problem. But when you have a wideopen sidewalk and you're getting maybe one breath of secondhand smoke? You can fucking deal with it. The restriction on my personal liberty is too severe.

You don't have a legal right to smoke so what you feel about your personal liberties doesn't matter the least bit. Likewise it's not up to you to determine whether or not everybody else should "fucking deal with it" when it comes to inhaling unwanted fumes. We already regulated tough exhaust restrictions on cars which you happily point to in defence, why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

Which is why we no longer smoke indoors.

People have scent allergies that can require them to be hospitalized. How dare we allow people to wear strong perfumes, outdoors!

Your 'right' to not have a breath of secondhand smoke is not worth the restriction in personal liberty, especially considering the additional taxation smokers already face.

I sound like a damn libertarian now, thank you very much.

[Umbra Ac Silentium]

V:< I'm sick of gagging on smoke while I'm waiting for the bus.
It's disgusting how many people keep sucking on fags and work on ruining everyone's lungs around them.
Keep it in private property; I don't care then.
Keep it in bars and restaurants.
Just keep it away from me.

YOu know, you could always stand up wind or a couple feet away while waiting for the bus

I try that but it travels everywhere. ;~; I usually stand thirty or more feet away from everywhere else but the only place the smoke doesn't go is the far back in the field which is even worse than smoke. :V

[The Steel Magnolia]

Because we are already regulated and pay out the ass in taxes. We should be able to smoke pretty much wherever we damn well please, as we pay for it.

Not really as the taxes paid by smokers barely, if at all, cover the due cost of smoking related illnesses on government health care.

Smokers are net producers.

[Vitaphone Racing]

You don't have a legal right to smoke so what you feel about your personal liberties doesn't matter the least bit. Likewise it's not up to you to determine whether or not everybody else should "fucking deal with it" when it comes to inhaling unwanted fumes. We already regulated tough exhaust restrictions on cars which you happily point to in defence, why should smokers be immune to further regulation?

When I have to pay 6.57$ for a pack of smokes, because of crazy taxes that are partially put into place to discourage smoking, I'm gonna smoke outside. Why? I don't like the smell of stale smoke, and I like the outside breeze. Also cause I smoke to deal with rampant anxiety issues, sure Xanax is cheaper but this way I can have something as an emergency tool.
Why else? Because I'm legally allowed to smoke outside, and I damn well will if I want.

I don't give a rats arse what you pay for smokes. There is no expressed legal right to smoke wherever you please therefore being allowed to legally smoke anywhere outside could change at any given minute.

[Trollgaard]

Because we are already regulated and pay out the ass in taxes. We should be able to smoke pretty much wherever we damn well please, as we pay for it.

Not really as the taxes paid by smokers barely, if at all, cover the due cost of smoking related illnesses on government health care.

Lies. Smokers die before using much government benefits, on average. We smoke and pay a shitload in sin tax, and then die before using most of those benefits we payed for. If anything, you should be thanking smokers for being a benefit to society. Any further restrictions upon smokers is just pointless actions based on fear and stupidity.

Quite frankly one should be able to smoke in any establishment that wants to allow it. IE: bars and restaurants. Having smoking and nonsmoking sections again. Worked fine for waffle house...and waffle house is a tiny place. You couldn't even smell smoke in the nonsmoking section.

[Pillea]

When I have to pay 6.57$ for a pack of smokes, because of crazy taxes that are partially put into place to discourage smoking, I'm gonna smoke outside. Why? I don't like the smell of stale smoke, and I like the outside breeze. Also cause I smoke to deal with rampant anxiety issues, sure Xanax is cheaper but this way I can have something as an emergency tool.
Why else? Because I'm legally allowed to smoke outside, and I damn well will if I want.

I don't give a rats arse what you pay for smokes. There is no expressed legal right to smoke wherever you please therefore being allowed to legally smoke anywhere outside could change at any given minute.

You are correct. But by that same logic, there's no expressed legal right that says you have the the right to not have people blow smoke in your face every minute you're outside.

I'm a rather polite smoker, I stay downwind of folks, I only smoke stationarily around people I know are okay with it/smoke themselves. But let me tell you, holier-than-thou anti-smokers make me want to reconsider sometimes. At least for them.

Heck, I smoke an e-cig if I know I'm gonna be stuck around people so as to be even kinder to them.

[Welstonia (Ancient)]

YOu know, you could always stand up wind or a couple feet away while waiting for the bus

I try that but it travels everywhere. ;~; I usually stand thirty or more feet away from everywhere else but the only place the smoke doesn't go is the far back in the field which is even worse than smoke. :V

You know, granted I smoke, but smoke doesn't permeate areas like that. If you stand a while away and up wind you will be fine. If not, just deal with it, don't ruin it for everyone else cause you can't suck it up for a couple minutes each day. Your not going to get cancer or the like from that.