Anti-smoking movement just got serious

[sanman]

You know it's for REAL when they institue a smoking ban in FRANCE!!!

www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4514790.html

[Deleted]

Yeah, seems like everyone smokes in France!! ;D

I think it's going to be banned here in VA, too. They were talking about it last week.

I, for one, am glad!! I admit I smoked (socially at the clubs) back in the day, but that was years ago. I hate to go to a restaurant and ask for non-smoking only to see that the non-smoking section is 2 booths away from smoking. Half the time, the only thing that separates smoking from non-smoking is a booth or a partition with some plants on it. WTF??

I am definitely not the "anti-smoking" queen, but I do think it should be banned from restaurants. There were some people (smokers) on the news the other day saying "What about our rights"?, but what about non-smokers rights to eat a meal without inhaling smoke from a booth across the partition??

I don't necessarily think it should be banned from clubs because it's a different atmosphere, but for the most part, most restaurants are family oriented where people take their babies and kids and stuff and they don't need to be around the smoking.

God......now i officially sound like a mom! Who'd of thought??? ;D

(EDITED to add some more stuff!)

[Deleted]

LOL @ cyanidefish!!! That's the truth!!

[lavieenrose]

Smoking in almost all buildings is currently against the law in Ohio. While I can't stand cigarette smoke, I voted against it, cause I don't think it should be the government's job to make people's minds up for them.

I lived in Geneva, Switzerland (French-speaking) over 10 years ago. This one restaurant I liked to frequent, the non-smoking section was UPSTAIRS. First, it's inconvenient; and second, which direction does smoke go?

[sg4ever]

today, my state is deciding whether or not issue an all state non-smoking ban. my governor said if it passes and lands on his desk he would sign it. that would mean in the state of MN you would no longer be able to smoke in public buildings, all bars and resturants. except for your car, home or hotel room and outside of course.

[nooks1]

There's going to be trouble in France when it becomes law.

[Denise7609]

Funny, the smoking this doesn't bother me to much. I haven't smoked in 16 years.

[La Princess]

I hate smoking. I still don't think it should be the government's business what to allow. I firmly believe a business has the right to allow what they want. I have the right to not go there if they allow/don't allow something I am against.

[Deleted]

Smoking doesn't really bother me to the extreme. If I go to a bar or a club for drinks (not very often, but we do have girls night out), I'm O.K. with it. Hell, get me drunk enough and I may just light one up for old times sake, LOL!! Just kidding!!!! If the bill passes here in VA, it would be just like sg4ever posted, banned in bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. It would be nice, though, to come home from having drinks or dancing and not smell like a pack of cigarettes.

I do, however think it should not be allowed in restaurants. Like I said before, smokers say it would be taking away their rights, but non-smokers have the right to not have to inhale smoke while eating. Smoking is a choice and a health hazard to everyone, and I think if someone chooses to smoke while at a restaurant, they should have to go outside to do so.

[palomino-72]

nooks1 said:

There's going to be trouble in France when it becomes law.

Problem is, the French can make all the anti-smoking regulations they like (and have done in the past) - but it won't mean a thing unless people follow the regs and there is enforcement. And I can't see either of those things happening anytime soon.

I remember being in Paris in the late 1990s, in a Metro station waiting on the platform for a train. A recorded message came over the PA system annoucing that smoking was prohibited everywhere in the station. A group of men, standing a short distance away from me, heard the message - and responded by laughing, reaching for their smokes, and lighting up!