h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

And for the hospital thing, having a bunch of people huddling with their cigarettes just outside the entryway really is almost as bad as smoking in the hospital itself. At least *in* the hospital, I'd bet there are some places people could theoretically smoke (if allowed) where I wouldn't need to walk through the clouds. When they're all standing around the doorway to the ER, and you're on your way in for an asthma attack to begin with, it's more than a little aggravating.

Personally, I never had anything against the whole idea of "smoking lounges" in public buildings or workplaces, but those seem to have gone largely out of style, at least in places I've lived.

Again, here's how it is where I live:

"The new Smoking Bylaw #13333 continues to promote the health, safety and welfare of all Edmontonians and states that no person shall smoke:

Inside a building
On a patio
In a public transportation vehicle
(bus, taxi, LRT, etc.)

This bylaw will be implemented in two stages. The first begins July 1, 2003 when, subject to limited exceptions, all indoor areas other than private living accommodations will be smoke free.

The exceptions are as follows:

Smoking may be allowed in Bars (establishments having a Class A Minors Prohibited liquor licence, or a Class B Recreational Facility liquor licence with a condition that prohibits minors) but only during hours that minors are prohibited and that liquor may be served.
Smoking will be allowed in "Private Living Accommodations" such as one's home or hotel room.
Licensed gaming events such as bingos and casinos may also allow smoking under certain conditions.
Finally, smoking may be allowed in the workplace, but again only under certain conditions.

After July 1, 2005, smoking will be eliminated from all bars, bingo halls and casinos in the City of Edmonton. Smoking will be limited to private living accommodations, private vehicles and designated smoking areas in the workplace."
http://www.gov.edmonton.ab.ca/smokingbylaw/


How would this fly where you live?

The bars one wouldn't go down too well, and the bingo restriction would put them out of business.

What about restaurants? I assume that that is a no-no.

Also what about just wandering down the street having a smoke. I presume that is still OK?

Restaurants are smoke free (even on outdoor patios, as I understand it). Walking down the street smoking is still okay. In one neighbouring jurisdiction the no smoking zone for restaurants and public buildings etc. extends outside the building in an arc of a certain radius centred on each door. The huddles of smokers are required to remove themselves a certain distance from the doorways.

There are a lot of people saying where it is legal to smoke rather than where it is okay. There is a massive difference between doing something which is illegal and something which is wrong (unless you happen to think that out laws are perfect?)

If smoking is wrong say in my house and in the psychology building is it still okay to smoke in the areas inbetween? There are a hoard of smokers who stand in the doorway in a constant cloud of smoke which I have to walk through everyday. Others find it better to lean against walls around the corner to make sure that you can't see them until they are exhaling into your face. I don't mind people smoking if only they would do it where I can see them! If I can avoid them I really don't mind.

Heres another one, suppose you have a table in the smoking area, adjacent to the non-smoking area. Is it okay to light up? Should there be a nomansland between the smoking and nonsmoking areas where noone may smoke, but nonsmokers shouldn't sit there?

A comedian commented on this issue that he enjoyed swinging a ball and chain around. "Sure its dangerous to others but it keeps me happy" Would it be okay for me to walk about swinging a ball and chain about my head so long as I stopped once I was in a 'non ball and chain' zone?

The idea that smoking outside or walking down the street doesn't inconvenience anyone is a complete fallacy. Take a busy street like Wood Green High Road - people wall to kerb on the pavement most of the time. If someone ahead of you is smoking a cigarette and you're within 20 feet of them, you'll get a great waft of smoke each time they take a drag unless there's a good strong wind blowing in the opposite direction. Same goes for a beer garden or cafe patio if the wind's in the right direction.

at the risk of stepping on the toes of smokers here - all of whom have indicated that they are exceptionally careful and polite about the potential concerns of non-smokers - I don't think that smoking is ever "ok" anywhere. It's a habit/addiction which is terribly damaging to millions of lives and causes incalculable property damage. It is a phenomenon that brings benefit only to the shareholders of a few large tobacco companies (and tobacco farmers who could likely grow something much more benificial if given the financial incentive) and, to put it bluntly, kills millions.

Now, the obvious having been said, it's a bugger to quit and I understand that. Those who already smoke should be treated with fairness and consideration. Those who don't smoke now, particularly the young, should have as much of society's attention as possible to make sure that they don't start. Perhaps treating smoking as a damaging addiction rather than a "right" would help to discourage non-smokers from lighting up. I don't know.

By the way anhaga - Steve Martin may have said it, but I got it (once removed) from Miriam Margolyes who is a friend if a friend. My friend told me that Miriam sometimes wears a badge which says 'If you don't smoke I won't fart'

I expect it goes back into history beyond Steve Martin (although few things do).

okay, now I'm just going to be silly with the links:

""DO YOU MIND IF I SMOKE?"
"NO, DO YOU MIND IF I FART? IT'S A HABIT OF MINE. THEY'VE GOT A
SPECIAL SECTION FOR ME ON AIRPLANES NOW. I TRIED TO QUIT ONCE, BUT
I GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT. YOU KNOW, AFTER SEX I REALLY HAVE THE
URGE TO LIGHT ONE UP" STEVE MARTIN, CIRCA LATE 70'S."

http://www.cacucc.org/~dwhite/nms/html/nms_256.htm

""If You Don't Smoke, I Won't Fart." ~an old pin"

http://www.geocities.com/adventures_of_wildlife/quotes.html

That was more trouble than it was worth.

Only allowing smoking in very restricted areas doesn't work very well, because

1) there will always be inconsiderate smokers that won't respect it and

2) because many smokers inhale smoke very deeply the last thing they do before putting out the cigarette, and then breathe out the smoke in the non-smoking area

As a non-smoker it is completely impossible for me to travel to/from work each day without breathing in someone else's smoke... happens each and every day no matter how hard I try to avoid it (no car, so I'm travelling by commuter train)

Re Tobacco farmers as mentioned in anhaga's earlier post

Currently in development is a new dental caries vaccine which is likely to be administered in the form of a mouth wash. It will probably be generally available within the next ten years and should substantially reduce tooth decay.

The vaccine will be manufactured from GM tobacco plants - so those farmers will still have a market for their crop. And there's a rather nice irony that something which has been responsible for so much ill health will, albeit GM, be able to prevent a great deal of pain and misery.


Teuchter - an ex-30-a-day-gal

I've read (somewhere or other, don't remember where because it was a long time ago) that if the tobacco companies would put the money into research for other uses of tobacco that they put into advertising, we'd probably have a cure for cancer. Glad to hear that research is finally being done on alternate uses for tobacco.

Am teaching in Italy at the moment - it constantly amazes me that they can smoke in the workplace here.

Don't ever go to East Kilbride Kelli - even the dogs and babies smoke there....






allegedly .

Speaking of smokers with and without manners (smoking in public places, agreeing to put cigarettes out etc.), I had a very weird experience a couple of months ago. It was still high summer. I went into a cafe to get a cold drink, and some people were smoking. I hate the smell, so my friends and I had a wee chat about the pros and cons of staying in in the air-conditiong (cool but smokey) or sitting on the patio (hot but less smokey). A couple of my friends were smokers too, and I can assure you all I said was 'I don't like the smell of cigarettes, I'm afraid' and my smoker friends cheerfully said we'd all go sit outside and they'd have a fag later. We picked up our drinks and on our way back out one of the smokers sitting near the door stood up and gave me an earful about how rude and fascist I was for 'thinking smokers stink'. Now, you smokers reading this thread, I did not say smokers stink, I said I didn't like the smell of cigarettes much. I said it to my friends not to her, and they agreed even though they smoked themselves. I did not ask anyone to put their fag out or leave the cafe, in fact, I was going to leave them in peace and go away myself. What is fascist about that?

"What is fascist about that?"

The fascist who gave you an ear full.

The whole subject about smoking is obviously for me a strange one (see my nick name)

For example...when I used to smoke, I wouldn't smoke whilst in a restaurant, or with other people that didn't smoke. I do think it's unfair.

As for smoking outside....I would walk down the street smoking not thinking of what it was doing to other people so I changed my habits and went somewhere quiet with less people around.

I always used perfume and a mint afterwards to disguise the smell because I, myself, didn't like it.

Now I haven't smoked for 7 days, but I wouldn't as yet call myself a non-smoker, but I must admit that going into a pub that is smokey and then going home, my clothes reeked of smoke and it was horrible!!!!

I never smoked in the house because my partner didn't smoke....I stood on the doorstep, I had a little pot of water next to the front door so I could put my fag end out and then threw it in the bin.

For my part, I think I was a concienscious smoker, and I apologise for people who breathed my smoke in.

I usually figure that if they are in a place that will cause others to breathe their smoke then i'd prefer they didn't.
If i'm going into a place where smoking is accepted, it's my choice to poison myself.
I am however almost looking forward to the day when someone purposely blows smoke in my face so that i can cough all over them

Smoking in publics not to bad as long as they don't just throw the end on the ground when they've finished

Ireland is introducing a complete smoking ban in workplaces in January. The only exceptions appear to be prisons and psychiatric institutions. Pub owners are going crazy about it, and are planning to lauch legal challenges.

My opinion is that it is a good thing. As an ex-smoker (more specifically as a smoker that is not smoking regularly at this moment in time) I would be very happy to go into a pub, and to not have a craving for a fag because nobody else will be smoking.

I am also pleasently surprised on the amount of people here that hate going into Pubs because of the smoke. There must be lots of people that hate going into these places, and who will start to return when it becomes smoke free.

Woodpigeon