Smoking In Public Banned

[Samurai]

Smokers in Italy are being forced to curb their habit as a ban on lighting up in public places comes into force today.

Bars, restaurants, discotheques and offices are all out of bounds for people with lit cigarettes, unless they have special ventilated smoking rooms.


Plainclothes police officers are expected to patrol the country's 240,000 eating and drinking establishments on the look out for any of Italy's 14 million smokers breaking the rules.

Anyone who defies the new law will face fines of up to £200. Offending landlords will have to pay up to £1,500.

The law had been due to come into force on January 1 but Health Minister Girolamo Sirchia granted a delay so New Year's Eve and Epiphany revellers did not have their parties spoiled.

Mr Sirchia, who is also a doctor, has insisted the law will protect public health. He said: "It's not inspired by the idea of prohibition. It's to protect against passive smoking.

"Eighty-seven percent of lung tumours are caused by cigarettes."

But Italian defence minister Antonio Martino is against the ban. He told the newspaper Corriere della Sera: "I've been smoking since age 18. It's my sacred right."

Only 5% of bar and restaurant owners have introduced dedicated smoking rooms.

The legislation in Italy follows similar bans imposed last year in Ireland and Norway.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13280452,00.html

[Money Fist]

hahahaha ow well
i always knew it was bad to smoke

a few of u may be outraged by this
but im really happy about it

[manker]

As a smoker, I'd be really happy to see this come into force in the UK. It is impossible* to stop smoking when each time one socialises, there is the smell and sight of others enjoying a cigarette. Of course I'm looking at this from a selfish point of view, there are the health issues of all you pesky non-smokers to consider too.

It surely is only a matter of time now. I know only of a handful of smokers who do not want to quit so this wouldn't meet with much opposition. Apart from maybe the FOREST people who believe that a person's civil rights extend to being detrimental to other folk's health and comfort.



*For me

[Skiz]

I live in Austin Texas and if your establishment makes more than 30% of its' revenue from non alchohol sales, than you cant smoke inside. This sucks b/c alot of the bars that are attached to restuarants are shutting down just because the restaurant makes so much money. Other bars that are resaurants by day and bars by night are being screwed too.

[Voetsek]

good then i can go out and not get smoke in my face just car/lorry fumes and loads more crap

[bigboab]

just car/lorry fumes and loads more crap

Not much chance of anything getting done about that. :( The big petrol companies 'run' the world. Also too much tax involved.

[HeavyMetalParkingLot]

I live in Austin Texas and if your establishment makes more than 30% of its' revenue from non alchohol sales, than you cant smoke inside. This sucks b/c alot of the bars that are attached to restuarants are shutting down just because the restaurant makes so much money. Other bars that are resaurants by day and bars by night are being screwed too.

another example of the austin city council trying to put an end to live music here....

[Busyman]

Smoking in office buildings have been in America for over a decade.

There are special areas in restaurants for smoking.

I would personally be happy if it was banned outright.

I would support smokes for only current addicted smokers and then squeeze them too until it is eliminated as public nuisance.

I know this would drive it underground but so be it.

Imagine the dramatic reduction.

As far as rights, it does seem a little weird to not allow smoking in bars and pool halls though. :(

I see the logic in the banning as it infringes on others with sidestream smoke.

In a banned place I feel I have the right punch someone in mouth for lighting up near me. :angry:

[bigboab]

I feel I have the right punch someone in mouth for lighting up near me. :angry:


Hope you dont have the same reaction to anyone who farts in your presence. :)

[Busyman]

Hope you dont have the same reaction to anyone who farts in your presence. :)
Well, sidestream smoke has been proven to be harmful to my health.

A fart isn't unless.....there is a fire nearby or it's one of those wet methane farts. :sick:

[TheDave]

it's the consumers right to choose where they go so i can't support an out-right ban.

maybe a smoker's license or an extra tax taken from smoking premises should be required as an incentive for some pubs and clubs not to allow smoking to give consumers more choice of smoking or non-smoking places to go

[Busyman]

it's the consumers right to choose where they go so i can't support an out-right ban.

I meant in public buildings.

[TheDave]

you well obviously it should be banned in offices and stuff. i was just putting my general oppinion out

[TheDave]

dont you think it's a bit selfish saying you should be able to go wherever you want and smokers shouldn't be allowed to smoke anywhere apart from designated areas.

i suggest pubs for smokers and pubs for non-smokers that way "selfish" non-smokers wont be stopping the smokers enjoying themselves and vice versa.

[zedaxax]

This law has been enforced in norway since july.
It works because of the Fine put on cafe owners (and the politically correctness of the natives... :dry: )
The law cannot prohibit smoking outdoor (terrraces)
Italy is alot warmer and terraces abundent so i doubt it will hurt smokers that much
i m interested to how the Italians handle this, whether it becomes a casual smoke occasionally thing or total....

[Busyman]

I love how smokers go outside in the cold to have a drag.

They will go through great lengths to smoke, the junkies. :lol: :lol:

[vidcc]

We had this debate before and my stance is the same.

We've had the old...well cars polute arguement... I have thought long and hard about that but still can't see how one polutant is justification for another.

We've had the "i am an adult and it's my right to smoke when and where i want"... but the thing is it isn't a personal habit.

I don't wish to ban smoking in private...go ahead.... however i made the choice to not smoke and as such there should NEVER be a time when i have to inhale second hand smoke in a public place.... A public place includes privately owned buildings that allow access such as shops, bars, trains, etc. etc.

if i make the choice to enter a smokers private residence i have to accept full responsibility for the passive smoking.


Personally i would like to see the law go further and ban smoking in public streets etc. Many times i have been walking on a crowded sidewalk behind a smoker. The fact that it was outside didn't stop the smoke going up my nose.

[DanB]

Personally i would like to see the law go further and ban smoking in public streets etc. Many times i have been walking on a crowded sidewalk behind a smoker.


Thats a tad extreme Vid :huh:

[Smith]

I think this is good, for some reason smokes give me a headache, so i really like this..









To bad i cant smoke grain in public :(

[DanB]

I think this is good, for some reason smokes give me a headache, so i really like this..









To bad i cant smoke grain in public :(

You smoke your joints pure then TC? :unsure:

[vidcc]

Thats a tad extreme Vid :huh:


yes it is and i make no appology for it.
Dave made the point that we have a choice to enter a bar etc. where smoking is permitted, and he is correct, i see his viewpoint and understand it even though i disagree with it. However would you say that as a non smoker i should be forced to not use the sidewalk etc. if i wish to avoid second hand smoke?

[DanB]

yes it is and i make no appology for it.
Dave made the point that we have a choice to enter a bar etc. where smoking is permitted, and he is correct, i see his viewpoint and understand it even though i disagree with it. However would you say that as a non smoker i should be forced to not use the sidewalk etc. if i wish to avoid second hand smoke?

Well I'd like to bring up the traffic pollution point here but I think someone has already said earlier on that its a moot point so i'm just going to shush and say I think its extreme & wrong.

Its certainly more ventilated outside than any pub's smoking section would be :ermm:

[vidcc]

Well I'd like to bring up the traffic pollution point here but I think someone has already said earlier on that its a moot point so i'm just going to shush and say I think its extreme & wrong.

Its certainly more ventilated outside than any pub's smoking section would be :ermm:
yes i was the one that raised it :) ...one doesn't excuse the other.

I will say that i also find it totally unaceptable that with the technology we have today we are not producing engines that are all but polutant (harmful polutant) free. I am not making a case to excuse one and allow the other...all poluters should clean up their acts.

I admit i am being hypocritical as we drive several large poluting vehicles. We have the best anti polution fittings available however they fall way short of what i would like to see as standard.....

:(

[j2k4]

Many times i have been walking on a crowded sidewalk behind a smoker. The fact that it was outside didn't stop the smoke going up my nose.

Studies have shown conclusively that liberals attract cigarette smoke. ;)

[Everose]

I smoke, but am extremely conscious of not smoking in the presence of non smokers.

One of the things that concerns me about laws like this is regulating compliance.

If you are going to pass a law such as this, I would hope a lot of thought would go into the added manpower needed by the police force which will be responsible for compliance.

I don't know. Seems like an overwhelming task when there are a lot of other crimes to see to.

[vidcc]

If you are going to pass a law such as this, I would hope a lot of thought would go into the added manpower needed by the police force which will be responsible for compliance.
.
try to look at it as an opportunity for new jobs to replace those lost due to technology advancements and outsourcing ;)

[vidcc]

Studies have shown conclusively that liberals attract cigarette smoke. ;)

obviously.


Who or what in it's right mind would wish to be anywhere near a conservative? ;)

[Everose]

try to look at it as an opportunity for new jobs to replace those lost due to technology advancements and outsourcing ;)



Save a tax dollar here, expend another one there, huh? :D

By that same logic: You know, I really would like to quit smoking. But if I did, it would cut back on the cigarette tax money going to support our state health insurance, etc. I hate to cut into that subsidy. :lol:

[j2k4]

try to look at it as an opportunity for new jobs to replace those lost due to technology advancements and outsourcing ;)

No, try to look at it for what it is:

Your nanny government at work.

Boab-your farting days are coming to an end.

Government coercion will be in full swing when they legislate the No Farting in Public slate, while the "health" lobbies discover that a diet of pea-soup lowers cholesterol levels in pigs, and ram through a mandatory regimen of same for you-know-who.

Sounds like a real gas to me. :P

[vidcc]

No, try to look at it for what it is:

Your nanny government at work.




I have a nanny government? :unsure:


by that i take it that you think drugs should be legal?...oh and drink driving.

but lets look at that from the other angle....

Limit rights to sue for damage to our health while at the same time make sure that government doesn't interfere with the right to polute or partake in any activity that is harmful to the health of others.

but you are right... i don't want mercury and arsnic in my drinking water...but rather that than have the government poke its nose in to stop it happening.
;)

[j2k4]

I have a nanny government? :unsure:


by that i take it that you think drugs should be legal?...oh and drink driving.

but lets look at that from the other angle....

Limit rights to sue for damage to our health while at the same time make sure that government doesn't interfere with the right to polute or partake in any activity that is harmful to the health of others.

but you are right... i don't want mercury and arsnic in my drinking water...but rather that than have the government poke its nose in to stop it happening.
;)

Just so-

Why did you ignore the rest of my post, vid?

You just did a lib-thing; commission through omission. ;)

[vidcc]

Just so-

Why did you ignore the rest of my post, vid?



I didn't...the rest of the post was a satire of a nanny government...or wasn't it supposed to be?



You just did a lib-thing; commission through omission. ;)

:sleep1:

[j2k4]

I didn't...the rest of the post was a satire of a nanny government...or wasn't it supposed to be?




:sleep1:

Wake up, vid!!! :lol:

[Everose]

obviously.


Who or what in it's right mind would wish to be anywhere near a conservative? ;)



I am in my right mind. I have many friends that are conservatives. :D

[j2k4]

I am in my right mind. I have many friends that are conservatives. :D

I've heard that about you. ;)

[Busyman]

I am in my right mind. I have many friends that are conservatives. :D
I could tell.

[Busyman]

No, try to look at it for what it is:

Your nanny government at work.

Boab-your farting days are coming to an end.

Government coercion will be in full swing when they legislate the No Farting in Public slate, while the "health" lobbies discover that a diet of pea-soup lowers cholesterol levels in pigs, and ram through a mandatory regimen of same for you-know-who.

Sounds like a real gas to me. :P
Wow, our nanny seems to be at her fattest nowadays yet doesn't provide the cradling.

[Everose]

I could tell.


Uhm.... :unsure: That I am in my right mind, or that I have friends that are conservatives? :D

[vidcc]

I am in my right mind. I have many friends that are conservatives. :D

Come now.... given the feed line it was too good an oportunity to miss.....
:P

[Everose]

Come now.... given the feed line it was too good an oportunity to miss.....
:P


I am in my right mind. I have many friends who are Liberals. :D

(some of both my conservative and my liberal friends smoke, and I will give you the fact that while we smoke, we may not be in our right minds.) :lol: