Do smokers have rights?

**Midnight** · 05/30/2007 16:12:54

A interesting thing is happening here in Beverly Hills California. A new bill was put into voting last night on a ban from all outside and inside resturants.

If passed smokers will not longer have any rights to publicly smoke in or around any bars or resturants. It use to be smokers just couldn't smoke inside now it everywhere.

This doesnt effect me personally as I do not smoke. But I wonder how others feel who do smoke.

Heres the whole story

A smoking ban that was passed unanimously Tuesday night by the Beverly Hills City Council.The ban also affects poolside food and drink service at the city's hotels.Violators would be cited. The fine for the first offense would be $100, $200 for a second offense within one year and $500 for each additional violation within one year, according to Daniel E. Cartagena, a project manager with Beverly Hills' Department of Economic Development.
Cartagena said he expected few tickets would be issued, with diners or staff pointing out the smoking ban, prompting smokers to stop, as has occurred in other cities with similar smoking bans."This is significantly self-policing," Cartagena said.

The ban goes into effect Oct. 1.

**CPT_Starschwar**

The way I see it is, the right to smoke in public ends when the public's right to clean air begins.

**Procurator**

I'm right behind all smoking bans. Good thing if you ask me. Sure, smokers might not be pleased (there are always some who new laws affect the worst), but think of the cr*p non-smokers have had to put up with all these years.

With any luck it'll help encourage even more people to quit, whether or not they believe that smoking's a health hazard. As long as services are provided to help smokers through that process.

**MxO_Neopill**

What has this country come to?

I remember back in the day, hanging out outside of the Rainbow room, Viper room, Whiskey a go-go, Cat Club, hell even the troubador after the first time the inacted the smoking act, Outside the bars was a cool place to hang after that. But where in the heck are people suppossed to smoke now? The parking lots? The middle of sunset strip? Geez , I mean after a good meal, to a smoker, the next best thing is cigy afterwards.

I hope california pulls its head out of its bunghole, they let people drink dont they? And that kills people as well!

Oh well, I know a few places down there that will still let us rockstars do what we want. How in the heck can they enforce that anyways? Id rather the resources go to stopping gang violence and teaching poor kids how to be successful. BAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pill.

**Riac.**

Smoking is bad. It should be banned and restricted in as many ways as possible.

**FrostyV**

hellstomp3r wrote:

I hope california pulls its head out of its bunghole, they let people drink dont they? And that kills people as well!

Smoking dosnt just effect you it effects everyone people have to breath in the toxins coming off the end of that cig you could say if they dont like it move but no matter where you are someone will be breathing your smoke in. Drinking although I still think should be cut down on isnt as bad I cant get drunk because I was near somone who was drunk. Im glad the world is finally cracking down on smoking its about time

**Roukan**

Yes, smokers have rights. They are citizens afterall.

**CPT_Starschwar** · 05/30/2007 18:02:32

I've got no problem with smokers - if they want to do it, let 'em - but do it where people who *don't* want to breathe in *their* fumes won't be exposed to it.

**MxO_Neopill**

I'm not saying smokers rule or anything. And I know the effects of first and second hand smoke.

When out at a restaurant or diner, or what have you, I am always respectful of peoples air. But..............before all this went down, how namy people went ot bars? And how many people never complained about it? It wasnt a petition that started this, but someones choice.

I dont hink smokers should be castrated like this, I do however think that there are more viable options than banishment. Like perhaps a ventilated room with hepa filters that smokers could congregate and enjoy, with out worrieing about hurting other people, as well as getting busted.

**zeroone506**

The name of this thread sounds like "are they inferior to non-smokers in terms or rights"? Yes, they have the same rights as every other citizen, there is no political differentiation between smokers and non-smokers like maybe between domestics and outlanders, there's not even a license document allowing you to smoke.

It's simple the RIGHT TO SMOKE that gets nerfed. Next time, it'll be the right to hunt, to pollute water, or to use petrol cars when there will be better ones.
Come down to the floor with your "rights of the smokers", you're confusing Roukan.

Actually, a question - when you sit next to a smoker, but the smoke blows into an opposite direction, and the people there are so far away that the concentration of the smoke becomes minimal (in case it doesn't flow up to the sky anyway) - what's the buzz? Is it damaging then?

**Bayamos**

There's a fine line between preventing people from infringing upon others' rights to safety and restricting the "right" of people to do as they please. I'm more of a libertarian than a liberal, so I think this should not be codified into law -- if people want to smoke, they should be to as long as they're not around other people who don't want to be exposed to it. In theory a "smoking permit" where establishments that had a heavy smoking clientele could get a permit and be a smoking venue, and then people who didn't want to be around that wouldn't go would work, but then again it is Beverly Hills, and the celebrities with cash who wanted to smoke might influence the sway of things, it wouldn't really work if every popular place then got those permits. An interesting dilemna..

**Darkhorse**

thats why u chew tobacco in the bar if you need your fix

**ZippyTheSquirrel**

Smokers should not have rights.

Second-hand smoking kills, too. I have rights to a healthy life, and these idiots are ruining my chances.

Havocide

The UK has a smoking ban from June 1st I believe.

**Darkhorse**

its why u should dip instead