NJ Bans Smoking!!!

[N.Bailey]

I've always been of the belief that your rights end where mine begin. That's a generic sense of both you and I that I'm talking about there.

I could care less who has to shower at night (btw, I never do, I shower in the morning, LOL) and who has to hang their jacket in the garage to get the smoke smell out. Since 2nd hand smoke is very dangerous to everyone's health and not only a minor inconvenience, I do feel our legislatures should have the authority to pass laws such as these. I just hope everyone is right when they say bar owners don't have to take a financial hit.

 

[disneysteve]

OK, let me ask the non smokers a question. Would a bill that required a restaurant/bar to specifically designate if they were completely non smoking or completely smoking have worked for you?? Just curious.

No, this would not work for me. This is basically the situation we already have. DW and I know exactly which restaurants in our area are smoke-free and those are the only ones we go to.

Why doesn't it work? We are among the 75% majority of adults who don't smoke, but we are limited to dining at the 10-15% minority of restaurants that are smoke-free. Something is wrong with that imbalance. I hate to use this comparison, but it brings to mind "seperate but equal" rules of segregation days. The restaurants and bars available to non-smokers are not equal to those available to smokers.

As N.Bailey said, smoking is a public health issue and I do believe the government has the right to pass regulations that protect public health.

 

[gina2000]

That is wrong IMO. Private establishments should be allowed to designate which legal activities they will allow. I can't believe that everyone is so overjoyed about this level of government interference.

I totally agree with this.

I don't care for smoke but I do care about having the government telling a private enterprise which legal activities are no longer allowed in the owners' establishment.

Most of the restaurants up here in northern NJ are pretty smoke free to begin with. Most smokers have become aware of what pariahs they've become in restaurants and step outside to smoke. As far as bars with food are concerned, people are there to socialize and have a drink. If the smoke bothers me, I order take-out and leave. I do have that choice.

 

[Nancy]

The NY study compared 2001(right after 9/11) and 2002. Not a true record of business at it's best. This was brought out in the assembly meeting last week.

Look ,I don't have any problem with a smoking ban in government buildings, schools, churches,hospitals. I DO have a BIG problem with government telling a private business owner what he can and can't do on his own property that he paid for and owns regarding a legal substance. That's my gripe here and I don't think I'm alone in this.

Make the business designate smoking or non smoking. Then everyone can make their own choice on where they will go or not go.

You know what? The government controls many aspects of running a PRIVATE business. You have to have numerous licenses, that comes from the government. The health inspections come from the government. Based on your thinking maybe there shouldn't be health regulations in businesses like bars and rest. so they can serve your food in any kind of disgusting manner they want. There are laws regarding the sale of alcohol, also done by the goverment....should we no longer have laws regarding that, then anyone can go into a bar and drink...even kids because the bar is a private business. I am an ex smoker, I really didn't have a problem with going into places where there was smoke, but I think the law is a good thing. When you read the statistics on what second hand smoke can do to you, when you watch someone die from lung cancer, you might think differently.

 

[JudicialTyranny]

I can't believe that everyone is so overjoyed about this level of government interference.

Government interference is OK as long as it is favored by liberals. Otherwise, it's bad.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

Thanks for posting this info, DisneySteve. I'm happy with it. It's just great to go in family friendly restaurants with my children and not have to worry about any smoking in the room.

 

[gina2000]

Government interference is OK as long as it is favored by liberals. Otherwise, it's bad.

I think you need to put that in your sig.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

You know, I shake my head at the people who say "smoking is not illegal, and I have rights"

New laws are made everyday. This is a law that will keep people who don't smoke alive. they have a right ti life. If you truly do not belive your smoke is not harming innocent people, you live in a fantasy. My mother smoked my entire life. She even smoked while she was pregnant. I ended up with chronic bronchitis. I dreaded winter for about ten years. For some strange reason, I don't get it anymore. My colds stay in my head. When my dad got pnumonia, the Dr's told us he had "smoker's lungs". Living with my mom for 40 years..and he would lecture her on how she was "killing" everyone around her, and she did, she killed him, 9 years after she herself died.

It is not against the law to have sex, but it is against the law to have sex in a restaurant. It is a public health hazard.

 

[buddy&wooz]

Now my kids won't come home from bowling Saturday mornings smelling like ash trays!

I don't see this law as a huge imposition. We have to wear seatbelts, we have to wear motorcycle helmets. There are all kinds of laws that govern how businesses are run, restaurants in particular, for our own safety (food poisoning, anyone?)

I seriously doubt this will hurt restaurants and bars. The smoking sections have become smaller and smaller over the years- I remember having to wait at least twice as long to be seated in non-smoking as smoking, but that's no longer the case. People want to taste and smell the meal, not some other person's Marlboro.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I wish it applied to casinos. We are going to AC tomorrow night and I hate hate the smoke. It's just horrible.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I think Claridge is smoke free

 

[wdwgirl03]

That's great!!

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Congrats to you New Jersey-ans!

Its been that way here for awhile. I love being able to go into a restaurant and not come out reeking of smoke. I don't think bars are losing any revenue because of this ban. At first some did bad but then everyone realized that this is the law, they have no choice, and business picked back up. There are still some bars/clubs that will let patrons smoke. I just refuse to go to those.

I have asthma, so does my mother and my brother. Smoke is one of the things that trigger an attack in all of us. Going out to eat used to almost out of the question before this law was passed here. Even though there were smoking and non-smoking sections, it didnt matter. The smoke lingered in the air and travelled to the non-smoking section. This made having dinner out with my family an immediate health hazard for 3/4 of us (not just a health hazard in general). Now that the ban is in place I go out to eat much more often. I have noticed businesses around her flourish because they made it so much easier for the majority of people to have a nice time out.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Chicago banned smoking too. In restaurants starting January 1, 2006 and in bars starting in....2.5 to 3 years!!!

Actually it starts Jan 16tth in restaurants. I have 3 more work days of my morning coffee and smoke.

 

[jbdreamer]

It has been smoke free here in St. Paul for about a year now. It's great to go to a bar to see a band and be able to breath clean air! And now that a year has gone by, we have seen that the ban hasn't been hurting businesses.

I think the government stepping in on this one is fine. If you want to pollute the air in your own home, fine. But I should be able to go eat without breathing in smoke. It's a health hazzard.

LOL, I get mad when a smoker hangs their coat next to mine. I can't stand the smell.

 

[disneysteve]

I think Claridge is smoke free

Can anyone confirm this? If they are totally smoke-free, that would be great. We love to visit the casinos but never do because the smoke is just overwhelming. Some of the casinos have smoke-free tables or areas, but they are worthless because it is just one big room with poor ventilation.

If anyone knows of a truly smoke-free casino in AC, please tell me!

 

[PrincessPatty]

Can anyone confirm this? If they are totally smoke-free, that would be great. We love to visit the casinos but never do because the smoke is just overwhelming. Some of the casinos have smoke-free tables or areas, but they are worthless because it is just one big room with poor ventilation.

If anyone knows of a truly smoke-free casino in AC, please tell me!

Trump has an entire floor area of non-smoking, my ex's grandfather would always play here he has emphysema (sp?)

 

[disneysteve]

Trump has an entire floor area of non-smoking

Which property: Boardwalk, Taj or Marina?

Do you know if it is actually seperate? Sands used to have a smoke-free floor but the floors are all open to an atrium so the smoke-free floor was not really any better than the smoking floors.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Actually it starts Jan 16tth in restaurants. I have 3 more work days of my morning coffee and smoke.

Oh, okay! Also, one of the reasons they are waiting a couple years before banning it in bars is to see if there is new technology that would provide adequate filtration! I can see Daley pushing this off as long as possible!!