Comments on SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Make You Really, Really Stupid

And what nearby jurisdictions would those be? People in Seattle are driving to Idaho to get lit up? Seems unlikely.

Fnarf, maybe this isnt all about Washington.

Don't forget about tribal casinos, Fnarf.

wanna bet this is more of a problem in cold climates? for instance, you can more comfortably go outside for a 5 minute smoke in a place like, say, california in october/november than michigan in october/november.

Some people don't want to be anywhere near a tribal casino (Bellevue Ave, me).

This does sound like a bunch of crap. Sounds like there may be a correlation but I doubt it is because people are venturing “farther afield in search of a place where lighting up is still allowed” Maybe smoking keeps people from drinking as much or maybe smoking has a sobering effect. All I know is every weekend I come home not smelling like a trailer park, no offense to trailer parks, is a great day and makes me angry I had to huff the smoke from others for so long. Now the 25 feet things is a bit extreme.

You can also smoke in private clubs (strip clubs, american legion bars, etc.) Most private clubs and casinos in cities are outside the city center (where all the bars are).

My two cents.

I'm a smoker and dont see a problem stepping outside, or just not smoking period. People are fucking idiots. I dont miss one bit coming home from a night out and not smelling like "the bar".

#7

Smoking is BANNED IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PLACES in Washington state except for Private residences (as long as they aren't used as a Day care) and Tribal casinos (because they exist on soveriegn non-governmental land).

People should sign the petition going around that would allow cigar bars to exist again and cigar smoking to be allowed in businesses that sell more than 25,000 dollars worth of cigars a year. It seems reasonable. Forcing people who smoke cigars or pipes out into the street for a hour or more to smoke is just stupid.

I don't smoke them but I think the smoking ban is just retarded in so many ways.

Fnarf: There's a whole big world out there beyond the Seattle city limits. Talk about parochial

I think it's beautiful.

Maybe people are drinking more because the economy sucks and the Bush Administration is psychologically destroying us all.

It's just evolution in action.

You smoke - you die.

@11: actually, you smoke, you hurt more than just you--cancer/asthma from second hand smoke, ciggy butts poisoning wildlife--you drink, you hurt more than just you--in a traffic collision with a drunk, it's more often the other person/people who are killed. i wish it were just darwinian law operating here, but it's not.

smoking does have a sobering effect. it increases the metabolism of alcohol, thereby reducing blood alcohol content. they've shown this in numerous studies. without evidence that people are driving further away, this to me is the most likely explanation.

12

Boogy Boogy

Second hand smoke is the new monster under the bed!

I got a whiff of second hand smoke from the patio bar on a walk the other day. I am going to the Dr. this afternoon to get screened for cancer. I think I caught the asthma too. Bummer huh?!

Bars should ban alchohol. I hate coming home smelling like Whiskey. Plus Whiskey gives you and others cancer. Bars should be free for the health fixated people to go to and get wicked drunk on distilled ETOH!

@8

I had no idea- maybe it's changed since I was there in december, because I remember going to a few private "clubs" and there was smoking.

Plus, we're not just talking Washington. Here in NM if you have a private party at a bar, you can smoke inside. The law is all tweeked so that you can still get around it here- and as I recall in WA too.

This is just all the more reason to ban smoking in bars everywhere. No reason to drive further if no bars allow it.

15

Nope, you don't have a clue about the WA state law. I don't know about NM, so I won't say.

If you were smoking indoors in WA where there was 1 employee (including the business owner) then it was illegal. Pure and simple.

16

I want to ban everything that is offensive. That way, everyone must conform to my ideals and I can go through life not being intruded upon by other people.

I want to ban make up and perfumes too. I also want to ban businesses that sell organic clothes. I also want to ban dogs.
I also want to ban pissy ass liberal dweebs with bikes. Ban children in public places. Ban Church. Ban businesses that hire asians. Ban cars made in Japan. Ban tatoos and bad haricuts. Ban overpriced coffee shops. Ban the homeless. Ban panhandling. Ban private property. I want to live in a beautiful place!!

BAN BAN BAN!!!!!!

I want to ban ecce homo.

#17

REALLY? God that's fucked. Yeah, I guess I was in places that were doing illegal things. What if it wasnt on the clock? Like before the place opened? I can name 15 bars I've done that in in Seattle. Who's going to stop them, anyways? It's retarded.

It's a stupid law. I like not smelling like the bar and all... but still.

@19 - I'll second that!!

Wow, that's a pretty dumb conclusion to draw. Most smokers don't have a problem with stepping out to light up. Sounds to me like researchers bought one of the litany of excuses drunk drivers make up for their actions.

Wait a minute! Isn't it legal to smoke AND drink in own your home?

#23

Not if you live in a Vulcan property.

Aha, so we just need to ban smoking in bars everywhere. Then, no incentive to go anywhere else...

Let us remember the offer:



For $5 every few days (less or more), smokers get the following:




lighter wallet

shorter life

something to hurt and annoy others

wrinkles

yellowing

a bad smell

disdain from non-believers

decreased lung capacity (we may even take one)

the perception that you look cool

the confidence to defend your decision

and many more!

So remember, don't argue with the addict.