Smokers and non-smokers ...?

Question

Should smoking be banned in areas that can affect others (workplace, restaurants, apartment/condos, etc)?

Should you have a right to smoke wherever?

Do you agree or disagree with the following quotes:

"Many fought and died for the freedom of choice in this country..now more freedom is being taken away by the government..it's a choice of one to smoke, they have the right to make that choice..smoking in public places should be prohibited, but also brings up the question on what's next if this is passed!"

"Ban it. NOBODY has the right to pollute someone else's lungs.
Maybe customers have choices about whether or not to go into a restaurant or other public place but every public building has employees. These people deserve the right to breathe unpolluted air. Also, many people bring kids into these public places. Kids have no say in the quality of the air they are exposed to. We need to provide clean air for them."

Answer 1

Until this country begins to have integrity in all of its laws, there is no way to have fairness on this issue. If smoking IS as hazardous as it seems, then, it should be made illegal completely. But our country is so diverse, and proud of our diversity, that we cannot come to a concensus on anything and, therefore, we have contradictory feelings on many issues.

De-legalizing tobacco/smoking would have a devastating effect on the tobacco industry, which is made up of individual farmers, factory workers, and retailers whose loss of income would substantially effect the rest of the economy. Eventually, they would be reabsorped into the workforce in other jobs, but until then, their problems would become our problems. Do we want to support them through this time?

And criminalizing tobacco use would create an underground industry to provide tobacco products to those who still desired to have them, just as "rum running" and moonshine appeared at the time of Prohibition. Are we prepared to pay to combat this "criminal activity"?

IMHO, we are attempting to legislate something that should be a personal moral decision. If every smoker would care more about the right of non-smokers to breathe, if every alcohol consumer would care about the other people who are on the roadways and byways, if all users of illegal drugs would see the damage they are doing to themselves and others... Unfortunately, since these people refuse to respect the rights of others, claiming only their own "rights", we must make laws that are "unfair" to some in order to protect others. That means that even though smoking is a legal activity, smokers will have to be restricted by law from smoking where an innocent bystander may be harmed.

Answer 2

Hey you make the choice to enter a specific building. I agree that grocery stores, banks, schools and other government buildings should not have smoking. Don't ban smoking in casinos, bars, nightclubs etc. I think there are enough non smoking restaurants around these days so it shouldn't automatically be banned in every restaurant. I don't smoke and I think it is unhealthy but I don't want you or anyone else making that decision for me. Not only on this issue but so many others are turning this country into something it was not meant to be. Pretty soon freedom will just be a romantic notion of the past.

Answer 3

First off smoking is stupid and bad for the for the economy. Health problems cause by smoking causes health cost to be higher.

I believe smoking should be banned in all government building for that reason. However, I do not believe the government should ban smoking in private businesses and residences.

This is taking the choice away from property owners. Non smokers don't have any of their choices taken away, if they don't wish to go to a smoke filled bar then find another bar.

As for workers at these private business they also have the choice to work there. They know the risks just like coal miners know the risks they take. They choose the work there. If no one wants to work there maybe the owner will change policy.

Answer 4

i will difinitly vote for

"Ban it. NOBODY has the right to pollute someone else's lungs.
Maybe customers have choices about whether or not to go into a restaurant or other public place but every public building has employees. These people deserve the right to breathe unpolluted air. Also, many people bring kids into these public places. Kids have no say in the quality of the air they are exposed to. We need to provide clean air for them."

ben them !!
add more tax !!

Answer 5

I agree that non-smokers have a right to not be exposed to smoke, but smokers have the right to smoke too. I don't believe it should be banned or prohibited. That is just saying that because one group has the right to not be exposed to it, the other group loses their right completely. I believe that smoking should be allowed in designated areas inside of bars and restaurants,etc. And Smoking should be allowed outside of public buildings 25 feet away from the enterance. Employees of businesses/companies should have the right to smoke on break, either outside of the building, or in a designated area, away from the customers.

Answer 6

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its all corrupt. instead of banning it why not make programs to help people quit. im not talking about the stupid "talk to a counselor on the phone thing" that stuff sucks. i tried it and they called me every two week and asked "are you still smoking?" how dumb is that. the **** about "Ban it. NOBODY has the right to pollute someone else's lungs." of course i respect the non smoker and try not to smoke while they are around. how about when those non smokers are driving their SUVs, arent they polluting lung on an even bigger scale? so if they ban smoking in public then they should ban cars as well because people who DONT drive and choose to walk or bike would be subjected to mass polution from cars. comercial on the tv are always talking about, "the same smoke that comes out of a car is coming out of your cigarette" so why not ban cars too because im sure their are more drivers with cars than there are smokers. people never think about cars because they have been taught that cigarettes are the bad ones. the chain of bans will just countinue from their untill we are a nation of people with no right.... (were pretty colse to that already)

EVERYONE READ THIS

SMOKING KILLS BUT WHY DONT WE TRY THIS. HAVE SOMEONE STAND NEXT TO ME WHILE I SMOKE AND YOU STAND TWO FEET AWAY FROM THE TAIL PIPE OF A CAR THAT IS RUNNING. I'LL JUST KEEP SMOKING AND WE'LL SEE WHO DIES FIRST. OF COURSE IT WOULD BE YOU. SO WHY DONT WE BAN CARS INSTEAD.

Answer 7

Non-Smoker

Answer 8

I'm a smoker. To be honest, the government is trying to control EVERYTHING. As far as others being protected, yes I agree. It is my right to smoke but no - I would respect others. As far as if I smoke in my apartment, no....that is not right. I don't hold 100% in the second hand smoke thing. I'm sure a few people MAY have been affected but I also think that is way overboard too. I don't know of anyone or anyone who knows anyone affected by second hand smoke and my generation grew up with parents smoking in the house. I'm in my 40s.

Answer 9

I agree that it should be banned to protect non-smokers but I do have a problem with not having places for smokers at all.

I do understand the problem though. It's like this: if smoking restaurants are allowed then the workers would be required to be smokers and by law, an employer can't discriminate when hiring for that.

So it is a dilema. Basically, the right to smoke is at the losing end of both arguments.

Answer 10

i smoke, and i think that banning smoking in places that have children coming to them is a good idea. But on the other hand if its a bar or a place where only ppl 18 and over are allowed then they owner of the business should be allowed to say if there is smoking or not. I agree with the first quote

Answer 11

Everyone has a right to kill themselves slowly through tobacco use. They do NOT have the right to kill anyone else. "Anyone else" can be their co-workers, the waitstaff working their table, the bartender, their spouse, or their children. While we can (and do) ban smoking in many public workplaces, we still allow it in bars and restaurants across the country. In my hometown, we now ban smoking in all restaurants, and allow it in bars if the majority of the income comes from alcohol sales. I'd like to see it banned in bars as well, personally.

As far as infringing upon the rights of smokers, NO ONE has ever been allowed to protect their own rights at the expense of the rights of others, expecially when we're talking about physical harm. Banning smoking in public places isn't the beginning of the end of civil liberty.

Finally, for those smokers who are considerate, thank you. BOTH of you. To the rest, who choose to fling their still lit cigarettes out their car windows (and into my car, thank you very much), or drop them two feet from a garbage can instead of disposing of them properly, THE WORLD IS NOT YOUR ASHTRAY. It's your filthy habit, so take responsibility for it.