Originally Posted By jonvn The city of Belmont (next to me) has passed a law that will make smoking almost impossible to do within the city limits. Even in a car driving through town. While I think that prohibition does not work, I'm perfectly happy with them making the use of this drug or any other drug something that is not easily done in front of me, or children. Not necessarily a bad idea: <a href="http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=67005&eddate=11/16/2006" target="_blank">http://www.smdailyjournal.com/ article_preview.php?id=67005&eddate=11/16/2006</a>
Originally Posted By DlandJB Can't tell from the article, but do you know if they plan to ban the sale of tobacco products? Also, is it only smoking or would they still permit (blech) chewing tobacco?
Originally Posted By DlandJB I hate smoking -- I can't even describe how much. Suffice to say I am a former smoker who "got religion" about it after I quit. I've lost family members to smoking related deaths and I think it is disgusting. However, it seems to me that you can't enforce a ban like that without making your law enforcement folks spend a lot of time chasing down smokers in their cars when they might be needed for something a little more "police-like" and it will probably end up being largely ignored.
Originally Posted By jonvn Well, it's not like the police in Belmont have a lot to do otherwise. It's a pretty quiet place with a high tax base and little crime. Given that, though, I think it is more symbolic than anything. But like the seat belt law, it is still something they can ding you with if they want to.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<While I think that prohibition does not work, I'm perfectly happy with them making the use of this drug or any other drug something that is not easily done in front of me, or children.>> jonvn, you have previously disclosed that your job entails hosting people and plying them with alcohol. How do you reconcile the duties of your occupation with your apparent disdain for "drugs"?
Originally Posted By jonvn I don't have a disdain for drugs. I just don't want it done in front of me, when it can affect me, or in front of kids, where it can make them interested in doing it.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj These smoking bans have also had a positive economic impact in the communities that have enacted them. In nearly all cases, the demand for EMT services at bars and restaurants has declined anywhere from 50-80% where smoking bans have been enacted. One town rescinded their ban, and the calls for EMT services due to heart attacks in public venues immediately returned to the pre-ban levels.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Mr. Alice and I are VERY happy with the new restrictions getting ready to go into effect in Las Vegas soon. We went into an Italian restaurant/sports bar near home last night for dinner (doesn't sound that great, but the food is great and the atmosphere is dark and quiet - perfect for adults after a long day at work) and asked for "non-smoking"... We were told that in preparation for the business going totally smoke-free (they all have to unless they can COMPLETELY separate the restaurant from the bar/gaming area with walls and doors) the owner already mandated that all of the restaurant seating is non-smoking... COOL! It's going to be so nice to go into any restaurant and be able to enjoy a meal without the stench of smoke wafting into the supposed non-smoking areas. And if we want to go play some video poker in a local bar that serves food (that's the 'catch'... if they don't serve food prepared in their own kitchen, they can allow smoking), we'll be able to do it without smelling like an ashtray when we leave. And my favorite... No more smoking at the little banks of video poker machines in grocery stores! I've been in the distant Produce section of my favorite store and smelled smoke clear over there... No more! Anyway... When smokers come to town, they'll still be able to smoke in the gaming areas of big hotel/casinos - just not in their restaurants.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm a former smoker (just over a year now) and I must admit that I enjoy the smell of an occasional wisp of smoke that comes my way. But I hate it when it is really heavy like it is in most bars... I didn't even like that when I still smoked. I think bans are very effective. One of the things that made me want to stop was that it was just too much bother. I'd stopped smoking in my house and car when our daughter was born 23 years ago. They had eliminated smoking lounges at work probably 12 years ago. When Minneapolis passed laws eliminating smoking in all bars and restaurants it was just too much bother to keep smoking. Virtually the only place I could smoke was outside, and that wasn't always very enjoyable in the middle of winter.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^Minnesota winters, anyway... Heh heh hee hee heh heh heh... ;-)
Originally Posted By mele Okay, I find it so funny that there are slot machines in the grocery stores in Vegas. I am not surprised but I guess I just never thought about it before. LOL We watched some old Perry Mason episodes awhile back. It was hilarious to see everyone smoking in what seemed the oddest places...standing next to a patient in their hospital bed, in court, at a job interview. Things sure have changed a lot. It's funny how it used to be considered sophisticated and sexy to smoke. Now I just think people look skanky when they smoke. (I don't think they're evil like some people do...just tacky looking.) My mom was very allergic to cigarette smoke and got very sick from being exposed to it at work. At the time, she worked for the state of Oregon and continually begged them to ban indoor smoking. People hated her and gave her a really bad time about it. She eventually got so sick that she couldn't work. She sued the state and incredibly, lost a case that she would have won a few years later, after the public learned more about the effects of second-hand smoke. Sad.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^I'm so sorry for the horrible stuff your mom was put through, mele... That's just awful. I remember those times really well... Coworkers being allowed to smoke at their desks... Bleecchh. I was very outspoken (no kidding, eh? ;-) ...there was one woman who always let her cigarettes just sit in the ashtray and burn. I'd walk by her desk and tell her "Drive that thing or park it," meaning, of course, either smoke it or snuff the rotten thing out! Guess I was kind of intimidating... She'd do it and never held it against me - that I was aware of anyway. The slot machine thing is one of those odd "Vegas things" for people to get used to. They're in convenience stores, laundromats, some restaurants... And actually, a pretty good source of extra income for those businesses. *L* Wish we could have them at my company... Earn some $$ so we could have an employee Christmas party again! ;-)
Originally Posted By Dabob2 In the NJ casinos they have no-smoking tables (which helps a little), and in the CT casinos they actually have entire no-smoking mini-casinos within (but separated from) the larger casinos. I wasn't really paying attention, but I don't remember even non-smoking tables when I was in Vegas earlier this year. Just curious: do they have them? Or are gaming areas sort of stubbornly holding on to "all smoking all the time?"
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Soem casinos have them in Vegas, although when I was there two weeks ago I didn't notice any.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Yep, there are a number of casinos that offer non-smoking tables, but I'm not sure which ones. We had one casino that was all non-smoking... It failed after about five years. Now it's a Ross store next door to the Peppermill Restaurant. *L* That's as weird to us as slots in grocery stores is for you guys... A stand-alone department store across the street from what was until recently - the Stardust.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Oh... And as far as I know, ALL major hotel/casino poker rooms are now non-smoking.
Originally Posted By bboisvert <<We watched some old Perry Mason episodes awhile back. It was hilarious to see everyone smoking in what seemed the oddest places...standing next to a patient in their hospital bed, in court, at a job interview. Things sure have changed a lot. It's funny how it used to be considered sophisticated and sexy to smoke. Now I just think people look skanky when they smoke. (I don't think they're evil like some people do...just tacky looking.)>> Watching Dateline: Disneyland earlier this week. The opening shot is of a busy newsroom with ashtrays smoldering and people smoking in the background. I wonder what we may have seen from Disney had cigarettes not taken him away so early. I heard he smoked like a chimney. ===== <<Okay, I find it so funny that there are slot machines in the grocery stores in Vegas>> I remember growing up in NLV and walking to Thriftymart or Skaggs and playing video games right next to someone's chain-smoking grandma playing the slots. The only thing that separated the two of us was the change lady and the sign stating. "You must be 21 to play the slots. NO MINORS." When I moved to Oregon from LV, the three things that caught me off guard right away was the lack of slots at AM/PM, no liquor at the grocery store, and I couldn't be trusted to pump my own gas. Wierd!
Originally Posted By LVCajun <Mr. Alice and I are VERY happy with the new restrictions getting ready to go into effect in Las Vegas soon> Yeah me too. December 8th on my birthday. What a wonderful present that will be.
