5 replies to this topic

[Goose]

One simple Question.

Since all we know about how bad ciggarettes are for you, the environment, and those around you, should smoking cigarettes be banned/prohibited?

Why?

[Steel Samurai]

I think it should be progressively restricted. For example, at the moment in Oz it's illegal to smoke in any indoor public place, including restaurants, pubs, etc. The government should progressively increase the restricted areas until one can only smoke on private property. This ensures, at least, that no one that doesn't want to smell smoke/is allergic to has to. As for complete banning, eh. I think people have a right to screw up their body if so they wish. But access to patches to help stop smoking should be much less expensive.

[wisp]

I think that banning it outright would be wrong, but I agree that people who don't want to go into a public area and breathe smoke shouldn't have to. I think that smoking in public areas ought to be confined to special rooms that are designed with proper ventilation and separated by full walls from nonsmoking areas so that the smoke doesn't drift across the room... without it, it's like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.

[Fizzbit]

Wichita has a nice law in effect that I think is pretty decent enough while giving a cushy buffer for smokers.

In Wichita, smoking is prohibited in public places UNLESS the building rules that no one under the age of 18 may enter. Meaning that in most bars and clubs, which prohibit minors, smoking is allowed, but at the local breakfast diner or bar and grille where Mom and Pop bring Billy to eat every Friday, smoking is prohibited.

Personally, I think public smoking should be banned, but this law is very nice. It means that only adults are being exposed in public places, and workers who can't get other jobs and have to work as waiters/waitresses don't have to sacrifice their health for meager wages and crumbs for tips.

[Egann]

I am of the personal opinion that nothing should be prohibited...just dealt with responsibly. Unfortunately, smoking is one of the things that doesn't lend itself to moderation too well. I have seen ONE smoker smoke in moderation the way most people drink alcohol in moderation.

So, no. I don't think smoking should ever be banned, but I do think it would be good to ban it from most public places for second-hand smoke reasons.

[Green Goblin]

I feeel a ban in open public spaces is respectable, however, I feel that smoking indoors should be left up to the establishment. A business has a right to cater to whomever they want. Who are we to stop them from catering to smokers?