Smoking Ban

[admin]

The City of Denton is considering expanding their smoking ban and we received this in our email box today...


The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says the proposed expansion of the Denton, Texas smoking ban would be tantamount to turning the city into a nanny state run by Big Brother. Research into the matter is expected to continue by City Council until December when a decision would be made as to whether or not the council will vote on the issue.

The current ban prohibits smoking in city-owned buildings, schools and stores, and requires restaurants to have designated smoking areas. The proposal under consideration would ban smoking in all city workplaces, bars and restaurants.

“Instead of researching expansion of the ban, they should be considering rescinding the ban altogether. We are against any form of legislated smoking ban and favor, instead, the rights of business owners to decide for themselves what the smoking policy would be in their respective establishments,” said Bill Spann, chief executive officer of the IPCPR. The association represents some 2,000 small businesses comprised mostly of family-owned, neighborhood cigar stores, manufacturers and distributors of premium cigars and related accoutrements.

“It is our understanding that one person brought this up, citing economic statistics in two other Texas cities that alleged no negative effects from an expanded ban. Well, there are plenty of statistics that prove otherwise, that smoking bans do, indeed, cost jobs, hurt businesses and lose tax revenues. But that’s not the point. The point is that people are fed up with government telling them what to do and where they can or cannot do it,” Spann said.

Spann pointed out that smoking bans are usually based on a lackadaisical public that doesn’t realize that its rights are taken away from them.

He cited a report by the Heartland Institute that “… studies have shown that smoking bans hurt small businesses…. In Ohio, for example, the Department of Job and Family Services predicted a 10,000-job gain for the state’s hospitality and leisure industry prior to the ban’s implementation. In reality, the industry lost 5,400 jobs during the first 12 months of the smoking ban,” according to the Institute’s report.*

“Business owners should have the right to declare whether or not smoking should be allowed on their premises, just as employees and customers should have the right to work in or patronize those businesses. But when a governmental body tells proprietors how to run their businesses, they risk losing business and tax revenues to surrounding cities. Smokers and non-smokers alike should be up in arms over the prospects of another Constitutional right being taken away from the citizens of Texas,” Spann said.

[Common Sense Al]

I'm not aware of the Constitution saying people have a right to pollute someone else's air with their toxic, disgusting smoke.

[weim_09]

ban smoking from public period...including cars. you wanna smoke do it in the privacy of your home...

[Pipeline]

ban smoking from public period...including cars. you wanna smoke do it in the privacy of your home...

Then ban socialist liberals or radical conservatives, also, they are more of a health detriment to this country. Another case of muni's and elitist idiots with too much power.

[Brian]

"The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says the proposed expansion of the Denton, Texas smoking ban would be tantamount to turning the city into a nanny state run by Big Brother."

That cracks me up. Of course they think that.

Lets ask Dallas County how "horrible" the ban has been. Patrons love it. I am amazed that its taking this long to pass the ban in Denton co. The concept of a "smoking area" in a restaurant is a joke. Its all open area and takes one chain smoker to stink up the entire place.

[admin]

Lewisville could be the next city jumping on the no-smoking ban-wagon: The City Council is strongly considering banning lighting up in restaurants and bars: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/06/18/lewi ... oking-ban/

[admin]

Smoke Free Lewisville: Answering the Critics

[Pipeline]

Smoke Free Lewisville: Answering the Critics

I don't want kids under 16 in restaurants. They are a nuisance. I don't want people over 60 in restaurants. they slow me down. I don't like fat people in restaurants. They hinder movement. I don't like "gays" in restaurants. Because they are gay. And I don't like elitist idiots in restaurants, because they are idiots. Where does it stop? My restaurant, not yours.

[Common Sense Al]

Well I'm glad to see more no-smoking ordinances. If you want to kill yourself, then do it somewhere where it doesn't affect other people.

[love Lantana]

Well I'm glad to see more no-smoking ordinances. If you want to kill yourself, then do it somewhere where it doesn't affect other people.

Agreed...well said

[JKTex]

I have to agree on this too, smoking in public is effecting the health of others who have no control over it. If I could control it, then it's up to me. I shouldn't have to get up in the middle of eating and walk out because some Aunt Smokey sits down and lights up. It's more about common courtesy that very few people have any more. I'm a casual cigar smoker and I'd never even think about lighting up in public unless it's appropriate, which I've never found, except in the cigar lounge at Pappa's Bros before they had to shut it down. Imagine that, a separate, enclosed area designed for smoking cigars and it was whacked because of Dallas smoking ban.

So, go ahead Lewisville, Denton or whoever, ban away.

[admin]

Lewisville Smoking Ban In Effect October 1

[admin]

Denton Smoking Ban Gets Closer to Reality

[admin]

Denton City Council adopts smoking ordinance

[Common Sense Al]

More support for these smoking bans.

Study links smoking bans to fewer pre-term births

I'll say it again... if you want to smoke, do it in your own home and pollute your own air, not someone else's.