Why are cigarettes sold in gas stations when smoking is prohibited there?
342610
For the same reason you can but condoms in the supermarket, vodka at the ABC store, bullets at the WalMart (oops, scratch that one), K-Y Gel at the Food Lion, "Marilyn Manson" CD's at Target, and python-food (mouses) at the PetSmart.\n\nYou are not supposed to use these products at the "point of purchase", LOL! Though life might be funner if you were, don'tcha think!
45628
Most people need their cars to get to and from work.  Cars are also needed to get to and from stores to buy food and other necessities.  \n\nSmoking is not a necessity.  \n\nBut why do I dislike smoking in public?  \n\nBecause of the smokers that:\n1) Throw their cigarettes on the ground because they are too lazy to clean up after themselves.\n2) Don't pay attention when throwing them out car windows - I once had to quickly pull over on a highway to find a still-lit cigarette some rude smoker tossed out their car window and it went into mine.  And yes, non-smokers should be able to ride with the windows of their own cars down also if they want to.  Riding with them down in your own car causes no problems for other people. Carelessly tossing your cigarette does.\n3) Don't pay attention when waving them around in public, and end up hitting others with the lit end of them.\n4) Hold the cigarette away from themselves so the smoke goes into other people's faces instead of their own.\n5) Ask to be brought ashtrays when seated in the NON-smoking sectiaon of a restaurant becasue they did not want to wait for a table in the smoking section to open up.\n\nOk, I realize not ALL smokers do the above things, but those are the reasons I have a low tolerance for it.
712543
Actually, I don't think they should stop to prevent people from smoking. That should be a personal choice that the person should make on their own behalf. This is a free country and people jump down tobacco product companies throats for what reason? Because the smoking population spends their own money on cigs. So personally, I am no smoker but I am not tempted to buy cigarettes no matter what the commercial says. If that's what an individual wants to do w/ their then so be it. If that's the case then we should stop making alcohol, we should shut these fast foods joints down, etc.... so really, smoking and lung cancer is a matter of choice.
803345
i am surprised to hear that there are still schools out there that haven't banned smoking near schools.  in texas, the legal age to buy tobacco products is 18, are we the only ones that have done this?\n\n\nwhen i was in HS 15 years ago you couldn't smoke anywhere on the property. we had to go across the street and smoke in an alley.  the legal age for purchasing tobacco went into effect when i was 16 or 17.
55466
While it is true that some bars are using the “membership” idea to get around the no smoking laws, there is another legal loophole.  The law allows bartenders that own their own bar and don’t have any other employees to allow smoking in their bars if they so choose.  This is how some bar allow smoking  indoors.
263215
Yes, it is illegal to sell one or more cigarettes other than in a sealed and properly labeled package in California. It's a violation of California Penal Code Section 308.2, 830.1. It has NOTHING to do with the age of the person buying the cigarette. \n\nI believe you should contact the California Department of Health Services.
997824
they are illegal in some states. They can sell them anywhere just like stupid "tobacco smoking devices" which are really bongs....
486764
"The Garden State is one of two states where it's illegal to fill 'er up yourself. Only gas station owners or employees can pump gas in New Jersey and Oregon -- "the only two states atavistic, sadistic, and masochistic enough to still require thousands of 'professionals' to waste time, money, and inconvenience customers," according to one columnist. \nThe ban on self-service gas stations is a highly combustible issue and makes for some heated debates. New Jersey passed the law making it illegal to pump your own gas in 1949. At the time, legislators felt it was too dangerous to have untrained people dispensing such a flammable liquid. \n\nThat may have been sensible at the time, but pumping gas is much safer today, and some motorists feel the ban is outdated and needs to go. Opponents of the law argue that removing it would lower the cost of gas and make refueling much quicker and more convenient. Proponents of the ban argue that it creates jobs and customers like full service. \n\nWhatever your position on the matter, next time you're in Jersey and need to refuel, take the opportunity to relax in the comfort of your car while the gas station attendant does the dirty work."
1037177
I think that many people are finally getting the message. Cigarettes are very expensive and it's very hard to smoke in most places. The restaurants and bars in my county have forbidden it. Cig. smoking costs everyone money because of the costs of the illnesses they cause. Ins. rates go up for everyone to cover it.
451365
Not sure I understand your question. Alcohol and cigarettes are legal but use of them under a certain age is not.
375718
You make some excellent points about this.  On the surface, you are correct that people who have addictions to sex, food, alcohol and so many other vices aren’t kept away the way smokers are.  But the difference is, when you smoke, you affect other people who may be around you. \n \nSecond hand smoke is a serious health concern.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, which means that it is a significant causal factor to cancer in humans. \nSmoking is being restricted because everyone is vulnerable to secondhand smoke exposure in public places, such as restaurants, shopping centers, public transportation, schools and daycare centers. Although some businesses are reluctant to ban smoking, there is no credible evidence that going smoke-free is bad for business. Public places where children go are a special area of concern.  \n\nIf a restaurant existed that was for smokers ONLY, then that would be great.  They all the smokers could dine and socialize and snort each other’s smoke.  But when there are non smokers present, it’s unfair to subject them to the health hazard of breathing in the smoke. \n\nThanks for this discussion.  You articulated your points very well and I appreciate the opportunity to share.
896149
The tobacco tax is more of a prohibitive act rather than a forced imposition from smokers.  This tax is term as the "power to destroy" a business because it levies a burdensome tax on the makers and users of cigarettes.
1074453
I'm Canadian and it's legal in my Province but it is NOT sold in any stores let alone in cigarette packs so pay no attention to the person above me. Also, when you try to take it back across the border to get back to the USA be prepared to be arrested.
792865
If they are under the age limit of the movie, then yes the store is prohibited to sell to the said minor.  This rule isn't enforced as much compared with cigarettes.  It's just like going to the movie theater. If your not of age, you can't go in and watch the movie.  But if you do have an adult with you, you can buy the R-rated DVD.
814947
The objective of taxing cigarettes is to penalize smokers while adding to State and Federal coffers, not to get the smokers to stop.  The very last thing these governments and the anti-smoking crowd wants is for you to quit smoking.  The revenues from cigarette taxes would have to be replaced by taxing some other minority, and the anti-smokers would have to seek out new victims.
215051
The reactionary arrogance of some non-smokers is displayed by some of the "answers" here (To the few polite posters, thanks for not resorting to name-calling just because of smoking). However it is in the UK, I bet it's worse here. \n\nI posted this for a question asking about laws against smoking in cars, bars and open air:\n\nI totally agree- They're not only BS, I think they're bordering on infringement of civil liberties (At least the don't smoke in the entire town thing). Why ban smoking in a car? Who else does that effect? Is it because people throw their butts out the window? Why not make a law against that and not smoking in the car?\n\nI don't understand the self-riteousness and cruelty of some non-smokers. If someone is smoking outside, in the street, please just walk around. In Berkeley (motto: the most fascist liberal town in the world!) I would just be smoking outside of a bar, minding my own business (Because I can't smoke *in* the bar, which i'm fine with) and someone would purposefully walk next to me and start fake-coughing at me or yell things like "Smoking's bad for you!" in a derisive way. Duh. I know that. Do you think I'll quit because you yelled something at me? \n\nIt's just too slippery a slope. What's the next thing that people will tell you not to do? Trust me, the toxic gas that comes out of your car's tailpipe is much more likely to cause cancer than walking by a person smoking on the street. So, yeah, if you've driven/been in a car, don't whine about people smoking in open air. Places like Berkeley want to ban your SUV too. Pretty soon, they'll want to take away something that you like to do.\n\nAs for bars, I understand the intent, but I don't see why they can't allow some licensed smoking bars.
15628
I don't think that smoking should be banned in bars and in clubs. If they are banning things that are bad for you they wouldn't be able to drink there either. I think that if you are so health oriented you shouldn't be in the bar so if you don't want to be around smokers don't go in the bar. Drinking and smoking go hand in hand and some people that drink like to smoke only when they drink. I think it should be up to the bar owner. If the waitresses don't like being around it , get another job at a bar that doesn't allow smoking.