Smoking Bylaw

[Halcohol]

As of January 1st, a new city bylaw was implemented here in Calgary forcing all pubs, bars, clubs, and restaurants to go smoke-free completely. Though there's been tremendous grumbling from the establishments themselves, as a patron and employee of a bar I have to say I thoroughly support the new bylaw.

Since we already had a previous bylaw making all restaurant patios non-smoking, this means that many establishments are forcing their customers outdoors to have a smoke. Since this city is conservative central, most people are pretty ticked off that the city government gets to tell them what to do.

It's notable that casinos, bingo halls, and other places that make the majority of their revenue through gambling are exempt from the bylaw for another year. There's been a lawsuit put forth by a group of pubs declaring the bylaw is discriminatory, I guess because these bars make a lot of money from their VLTs.

My question to you all is: does your city have an anti-smoking bylaw indoors? If so, where are you and when was it implemented? Have you noticed a change?

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Yes.

 

[Halcohol]

Yes.

Where are you, when was it passed, do you like it, etc?

 

[lars573]

Halifax has had one for 4 years now. It just got tougher too.

 

[y2jversion1]

Been here for a few year now too (Toronto)

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Where are you, when was it passed, do you like it, etc?

Somewhere in the South, it was passed recently; sometime over the Christmas break, No; I pretty much hate anti-smoking laws.

 

[Matt]

These laws are stupid. The government should either ban all sells of tobacco or allow people to smoke it. They have absolutely no problem sticking their hand out for the big ass chunk of sales they get in tax money, but then they pass laws to block its usage. It is a double standard.

 

[Halcohol]

These laws are stupid. The government should either ban all sells of tobacco or allow people to smoke it. They have absolutely no problem sticking their hand out for the big ass chunk of sales they get in tax money, but then they pass laws to block its usage. It is a double standard.

The idea is to prevent the exposure of other people to second-hand smoke. I'm all for giving people the choice to smoke, but shouldn't people have the choice to go into an establishment and not be forced to breathe the smoke?

Looking on the bright side of this, it's really helped me quit smoking. I'm good without having a smoke when I wake up or when I'm stressed, but it's really hard for me not to light up when I'm drinking a beer. This bylaw makes that a loooot easier.

 

[DarthRekal]

we were the first ..thank god

 

[huskerwebhead]

We have it here in Omaha, Nebraska....and I love it.

 

[Matt]

The idea is to prevent the exposure of other people to second-hand smoke. I'm all for giving people the choice to smoke, but shouldn't people have the choice to go into an establishment and not be forced to breathe the smoke?

That is a load of bull****. Every hear of a self-regulating market. If people do not want to get smoke blown in their face, GO TO A NON-SMOKING RESTRUANT! No one is holding a gun to their head and telling them to go somewhere. I am not a smoker, I am a business owner, however. I am happy that the state of Pennsylvania has not tried to tell me how to run my bar and hopefully it'll stay that way. If I lose enough business because non-smokers stop coming, then I will have to change my policy. As it is, I have not.

 

[DarthRekal]

That is a load of bull****. Every hear of a self-regulating market. If people do not want to get smoke blown in their face, GO TO A NON-SMOKING RESTRUANT! No one is holding a gun to their head and telling them to go somewhere. I am not a smoker, I am a business owner, however. I am happy that the state of Pennsylvania has not tried to tell me how to run my bar and hopefully it'll stay that way. If I lose enough business because non-smokers stop coming, then I will have to change my policy. As it is, I have not.

do they have BIG SIGNS that say NON SMOKING establishment??? or vice versa

 

[Addendum]

The idea is to prevent the exposure of other people to second-hand smoke. I'm all for giving people the choice to smoke, but shouldn't people have the choice to go into an establishment and not be forced to breathe the smoke?

Looking on the bright side of this, it's really helped me quit smoking. I'm good without having a smoke when I wake up or when I'm stressed, but it's really hard for me not to light up when I'm drinking a beer. This bylaw makes that a loooot easier.

Or how about giving businesses the right to have a place for smokers? Such as a bar for smoking and drinking. And then another bar can be a non-smoking and drinking bar.

That makes sense rather than having every bar be a non-smoking bar

 

[Matt]

do they have BIG SIGNS that say NON SMOKING establishment??? or vice versa

Actually most places do.

 

[Eddie Brock]

over here around Philadelphia, there is one (just got put into effect not that long ago)
it's great, i love not having to worry about being near smokers

 

[04nbod]

that has begun in public places that serve food but i think the total ban of smoking in bars and such comes in in april in the UK. Everywhere in the Uk has a request not to smoke but it isn't compulsary yet

 

[Halcohol]

That is a load of bull****. Every hear of a self-regulating market. If people do not want to get smoke blown in their face, GO TO A NON-SMOKING RESTRUANT! No one is holding a gun to their head and telling them to go somewhere. I am not a smoker, I am a business owner, however. I am happy that the state of Pennsylvania has not tried to tell me how to run my bar and hopefully it'll stay that way. If I lose enough business because non-smokers stop coming, then I will have to change my policy. As it is, I have not.

But doesn't the government have a responsibility to make sure that most of its citizens are living healthy lives? It seems apparent that many, many people can't be bothered to take their health seriously, so what's wrong with the government promoting laws that encourage healthy living?

It's not like they've banned the sale of tobacco, or they're telling you that you can't smoke in your own home. If you want to expose yourself to smoke, that's fine. But you can't forcibly expose a non-smoker to your second-hand smoke. What about the staff? We should be forced to quit and find another job because you're too much of a stick in the mud to go outside for a dart? Give me a break.

Or how about giving businesses the right to have a place for smokers? Such as a bar for smoking and drinking. And then another bar can be a non-smoking and drinking bar.

That makes sense rather than having every bar be a non-smoking bar

Well, apparently you can have an exemption from the bylaw if the establishment has a smoking room with its own separate ventilation system.

 

[huskerwebhead]

That is a load of bull****. Every hear of a self-regulating market. If people do not want to get smoke blown in their face, GO TO A NON-SMOKING RESTRUANT! No one is holding a gun to their head and telling them to go somewhere. I am not a smoker, I am a business owner, however. I am happy that the state of Pennsylvania has not tried to tell me how to run my bar and hopefully it'll stay that way. If I lose enough business because non-smokers stop coming, then I will have to change my policy. As it is, I have not.

That's a nice idea, but it will NEVER happen. It's like those email chain letters telling people to not buy gas for a day to stick it to the oil companies. Sure, it's a great idea but you know as well as anyone that there will never be enough people participating to make an impact. N.E.V.E.R. Instead, guess what?? People voted. The public who have to go into these places and eat, drink, whatever decided "We want the smoking ban." Business owners must conform or get fined....for starters. I voted for it....and damn glad I did.

And BTW, I have been a bar patron for many many years...used to play sand volleyball at the different bars alot too. So I've made alot of friends with bar/restaurant owners. Not one of them has experienced a DROP in business since the ban...quite the opposite.

 

[DarthRekal]

Actually most places do.

gotcha

 

[Avalanche]

Sheffield doesn't. Roll on the ban.

 

[fangrl06]

We have one where I live. It's a huge waste of tax dollars.

 

[Eddie Brock]

We have one where I live. It's a huge waste of tax dollars.

but a huge save on money for hospitals to treat lung cancer

 

[fangrl06]

^That's true, but it hasn't stopped me from all of the second hand smoke I get hanging around my friends and even on the streets.

 

[Eddie Brock]

true
but unless you live in a bubble, you'll never avoid it

 

[Matt]

But you can't forcibly expose a non-smoker to your second-hand smoke. What about the staff? We should be forced to quit and find another job because you're too much of a stick in the mud to go outside for a dart? Give me a break.

Key word, FORCIBLY. No one is being forced. It is a free market, go somewhere else.