Who thinks that an outright smoking ban in bars, restaurants and cafes should become law?
609707
I don't have a problem with smoking being banned in restaurants and cafes, but banning it from bars would be too extreme.  Considering that the majority of people I've seen in bars often smoke, might as well keep it legal there.
923722
This is the only current information I could find for you.\n\nWhile the bill could still be changed right up until the vote, here is what the latest understanding of the bill is, which was released Friday. \n\nThere would be a policy that would not allow any restaurants to allow patrons under age 18 to smoke.\nThere would be no smoking in any place of employment, retail store, mall, bowling alley, sports arena, or outdoor county park.\nSmoking would be allowed in bars.  Also, any restaurant with a bar inside will be exempt from the ban, as long as the bar is physically separated with walls or doors.\n"That would allow places like Hacienda or Friday’s or whatever restaurant that might have a clearly separated bar and restaurant to allow smoking," explains County Councilman Andy Kostielney.\n\nAside from bars, smoking would also be allowed in any business that only allows patrons 18 and over, which includes tobacco shops, bingo and social halls, as well as private clubs.\n\nPunishment for not following the law \nIf the law is passed, and businesses do not obey, the punishments are as follows. \n\nA first offense gets only a verbal warning. \nThen, there will be a written warning for a second violation.\nBusiness owners will be slapped with a $100 fine for a third violation.\nAfter that, each additional violation would cost businesses $500.  \nLastly, the fourth will cost $200. \nMoney collected would go towards the county's enforcement of the ban.
958570
No smoking in bars or restaurants, and other places too.  I voted for Issue 5 and helped it pass.  I agree it is an excellent law.  Takes effect 30 days from passage.  \n\nFull text of the law here with all the details you are looking for:\n\nhttp://www.smartvoter.org/2006/11/07/oh/state/issue/5/\n\n~Kyle
109376
Thats great, I wish my town and resturants and workplace would be smoke free also!!
148651
One of many theories about the reasons behind such a move is that due to the increased taxation of cigarettes, many UK smokers have been turning to illegally imported cigarettes, which have actually reduced the amount of money the government recieve from the increased taxation on tobacco, and that by banning smoking in public houses, the availability of imported cigarettes and tobacco will be reduced; as much of the trade in these goods is done within pubs (but this is just a theory).\n\nThe alternate revenue that the government will recieve is already in effect, if you look at the statistics you will find that taxation on purchased goods, petrol and especially coucil tax have increased a staggering amount, while the weekly earning and benifits have remained the same.\nIt is doubtless that once the effects of lessened tobacco sales have reached the treasury, the poll tax will be extremely high, petrol will be as expensive as gold and alcohol and spirits will be taxed through the roof.\n\nI personally decided to quit a couple of weeks ago, just before this decision came in - but I still disagree completely with the governments infringement on civil liberties.\n\nSmoking is legal - cigarettes are legal, therefore it should not be a governmental decision on which public houses should and should not allow smoking. These matters should be left to the discretion of the pub landlord or the brewery. If a landlord chose to allow smoking in his bar, non-smokers would be free to seek out alternative pubs and clubs that would cater to non-smokers.\nThat's what freedom of choice is all about.
756802
Really the only issue Im concerned with is the No smoking in restraunts. \nI vote for who I think will do the best job, no matter what party they are with .
798613
I'm still not sure why smoking was banned in public places like restaurants and bars. Non smoker have had their non smoking areas with fans, wasn't that enough? I guess not. People just want to dictate what others do so they can get their way. If non a smokers right were seemingly violated they would and do get their way. How about smoker's rights?
801439
your rights end where another persons rights begin.  smokers should have the right to smoke and you should have the right to not smoke.  \n\nnon smoking restaurant rules in florida has caused heavy financial damage to places late night smokers used to visit -- like dennys.  \nbars don't have such rules in florida because bars like to cater to smokers.  if they didn't allow smoking then they would lose too many customers.  vices go with other vices -- smoking, drinking, eating grease in the middle of the night -- etc etc etc.\n\nif you want a bar that caters to nonsmokers than open one -- it is your right.  don't expect it to stay around long.  most states in the west have lots of non-smoking bars if you feel the urge to go out clubbing in smoke free atmospheres you can head for new mexico.
942181
The government will always controll us-there's no getting away from that.  I have been living in scotland for 3 months now, and have been working in a pub for the duration, and i've yet to make up my mind whether its a good thing or not.  As a non smoker, i can see the benifits of not stinking of smoke or inhaling second hand smoke all night.  However on the flip side, if i really hated stinking of ciggeretts and inhaling second hand smoke, i wouldn't work in a smokey enviroment, and i would stay away from similar enviroments.  What i DON'T think is a good thing is crowds of 20 to 30 people gathering outside a pub/club for a smoke-in the pouring rain. I think proper ventilation and/or a beer garden.  They are fantastic. especially with BBQs.
44981
The law doesn't say it, the people who pass laws say it.  You being one of those people, you can always work to change it.\n\nWould you agree that there needs to be some legal age for those things?  I mean, do you feel like it should be legal for a 12 year old to buy and drink whiskey?  A nine year old to buy and smoke tobacco?  I assume you're okay with the idea that there needs to be some regulation on the ages for those things.\n\nIf your question has to do with the disparity between them, I'd agree with the other poster.  I can smoke a pack of cigarettes in ten minutes and get in my car and drive as safely as ever.  I can't drink a six-pack in ten minutes and go off and drive safely, so it makes sense to me that we'd sell alcohol to people who are older than 18.\n\nMaybe we should raise the smoking age? :)
698255
Issue 4 would allow smoking in bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls, racetracks, enclosed areas of restaurants and some other buildings. \n\nIssue 5, would ban smoking in nearly all buildings outside the home.\n\nMy husband and I just recently purchased a bar and we are very concerned that the people, (may I remind everyone one that their name is not on our promissory note with the bank.) Can decide if I can allow smoking in my establishment.\n\nI'm pissed. It's suppose to be effective December 8, 2006. And since Issue 5 passed, the only place smokers can smoke is outside. That's it.\n\nI posted a similar question, about possible loopholes. There is a clause in the issue 5 regarding private clubs and you would have to get a D-4 permit to do so. But, to get a D-4 permit you have to be Non-Profit and an established "club" for at least 3 years. \n\nSo basically, the voter's told us how to run our business. Which to me is not fair. \n\nI guess the bright side is that there is no evidence that it actually decreases business, it may possibly increase business because the people who don't like cigarette smoke may be more likely to frequent bars now, since they won't have to deal with the smoke. and since it's for the entire state and not just a city/ward . It's not like our patrons can go around the corner and give there business to another bar because you can't smoke there either.
141942
I was in Ireland last year and I loved the smoking ban. I realize that many like to smoke, but the smoke effects all. The pub life was much more enjoyable than previous visits. The smokers that complain the loudest are just not being reasonable towards others. They can go outside and smoke if it is that important to them.
41806
An automobile puts more toxins into the atmosphere than any tobacco smoker does.  Should cars be banned?  It is always easier to point the finger at someone else and say their behavior is bad for your health than it is to accept one's own faults.\nSmoking is a bad habit.  So is overeating.  Should fat people be banned from public places?\nOur society should spend more time and effort preventing the next generation from smoking tobacco.  It may already be too late to change people who smoke now.
726019
A smoking ban in pubs might have the same effect here in UK as it has in Ireland.  I have read in the papers that one action resulting from the smoking ban (in pubs) is that fewer people now go to pubs in Dublin and the sales of Guinness are down by some 15 - 20%.  What people, especially young men, seem to be doing instead, is going to the offie and buying a bunch of 6 packs and then going to a friends house to booze it up and smoke.  The pubs, while not exactly empty are not the social centres they once were.  I read an article in the Time about a year ago when New York bars went smoke free.  The Times sent one of their journalists over to NYC to have a look and report back on what effect it was having.  The journalist described bars he remembers being packed as now being empty and some even contemplating closing down.\n\nSmoking levels in the population at large, say around 25% have nothing to do with the pub-going population where smoking is roughly 40 - 45% or even higher.\n\nBack in Ireland a couple of years ago, I read of one hotel which lost almost one million pounds worth of custom due entirely to the smoking ban.  Two companies had booked the hotel at different times for their respective AGMs.  The first of these was BUPA - when it was told of the smoking ban it told the hotel that 40% of its HQ staff smoked and they would therefore cancel.  Likewise the bosses of Mercedes Benz also cancelled for the same reason.\n\nThere is no smoking ban in Germany or France, yet anyway.  So if your planning a big gathering, do it there.
240655
in america most states have had this ban for a while.  (i think new york for about 3 yrs, and ct about 2) numerous business owners have complained b/c it keeps customers away according to them.( bars/restaurants/nightclubs) as for the tax implications...i can only guess it must be pretty bad as cigs are highly taxed.
809010
No, because they didn't make anyone smoke!  If they were responsible for smokers health then McDonalds, Burger King, etc. should also be responsible.  Alcohol manufacturers would also have to be responsible, come to think of it, the sun should also be responsible for skin cancer victims!!  We need to stop this nonsense, people should be reponsible for what they do to themselves.
80007
A business banning smoking has nothing to do with a law. Some states have made laws outlawing smoking in businesses across the board, but otherwise, The business has a right to set its own standards on its property.  Now, laws banning smoking in government (federal and state) buildings are another matter.