A wide-ranging smoking ban has recently been enacted in the city of Santa Cruz. Some are ecstatic about the new law and others are not so happy, as is usually the case with smoking bans.
The ban was passed unanimously by City Council and it bans smoking in front of dining areas (bars and coffee shops included) and within 25 feet of any window or door used by the public.
That’s not the end of it for smokers in Santa Cruz as a local tax on cigarettes has also been proposed by Council.
Only 30 people attended the meeting on the subject and most of them cheered when these decisions were made.
One person, Scott Graham, was not among them, "This room used to be filled with people smoking cigarettes at City Council meetings. No one died at those meetings. If I were to back my car into this room and let it run for 10 minutes, everyone would be dead."
Though his example may be a bit exaggerated, it is a fact that imposing laws on outdoor areas is taking things a bit too far.
[Via: santacruz.com]
Smoking will continue to be allowed in Hutchinson, Minnesota's parks, public opinion has been considered in this town and smoking will not be prohibited in public parks.
City Council received a lot of phone calls and comments about the proposed smoke-free parks policy.
Instead of banning smoking in parks council members Chad Cznmowski and Jim Haugen, have decided to put their efforts toward educating young people about the negative effects of smoking.
Interestingly enough even non-smokers opposed the idea of banning smoking parks, even though this law would not have included law enforcement methods or fines, it would have simply encouraged people not to smoke in parks.
It seems that in this part of the country people are still hanging onto their last bit of freedom to choose.
[Via: hutchinsonleader.com]
As of November 19th, the University of Louisville will be banning smoking on all campuses.
Smoking has already been banned indoors, and according to Provost Shirley Willihnganz this is simply a minor move of the ban outdoors. There will university-designated smoking areas, so smokers will still have somewhere to go.
This ban has actually been put in place to help students who are trying to kick the habit, says Willihnganz. "This is also a place where students live, and we are aware for students who smoke, it's not going to be as easy as quitting by November 19th."
"It just seems very consistent with the University's mission that we would be making a strong statement that since we know that 80% of lung cancers are caused by either smoking directly or second-hand smoke that we would come out very strongly and say that it is not something we think is good for people to do," said Willihnganz.
Smoking bans don't have to be all that horrible when smokers get some understanding, which is apparently present at this university.
[Via: wfpl.org]
Two new anti-smoking laws have been signed by President Jacob Zuma in South Africa. Anti-smoking campaigns are in full swing in this country, with hopes to increase fines, restrict marketing on tobacco and to ban smoking in cars.
Peter Ucko, the Director of the National Council Against Smoking says the laws will have an effect on everyone, smokers and non-smokers alike, with the focus being on protecting non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
Ucko also added that three times more people are killed by smoking in South Africa by tobacco smoke, than those killed in road accidents.
It seems that smokers worldwide are going to have to start looking at a quit plan, as there are few places in the world where smoking is not taboo. Stupid…
[Via: gbcghana.com]
A bill banning smoking in most businesses is soon to be implemented in St. Louis County, but both smokers and non-smokers are not too happy with the decision that lawmakers have made.
Advocates of smoking and owners of businesses feel that this is infringing on their personal rights. While anti-smoking advocates feel that the bill is too weak as it only mentions casinos and "drinking" bars.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley has been asked to veto the bill before November elections by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the American Lung Association.
These anti-smoking groups are worried by the fact that if this bill is approved by voters then some establishments will be able to receive a license which would allow them to permit smoking. A letter about this issue reads, "In this effect, this will give bars a county-issued license to harm the health of its employees and patrons."
Residents of St. Louis should be so lucky that such a bill is passed, because at least they will be able to choose to some extent.
[Via: riverfronttimes.com]
