Navy Bans Tobacco Use on Its Submarine Fleet

nyt ^ | 6/20/10 | Thom Shanker

[Nachum]

WASHINGTON — The smoking lamp is going out all across the Navy’s submarine fleet, where the mission to “run silent, run deep” now will be carried out by sailors ordered to run undersea operations without cigarettes, cigars or pipes.

This is the latest front in the long war against tobacco declared by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Their programs to help military personnel kick the smoking habit are intended to protect the health of the current force — and to save the government hundreds of millions of dollars a year in health care costs for those who have served, and smoked, in uniform.

[LouAvul]

I like the new non-smoking laws and rules. It's one of the few things that I think is better today than what it use to be.

Definitely. I was thrilled when I moved to California from Tennessee and discovered their restaurants were smoke free. Now I'm in Oklahoma and they've done the same thing. It became fun to eat out again.

[Myrddin]

Acceptable to the olfactory senses of non-smokers who will be asked/required to use those work spaces. The "clean up" of those designated smoking rooms was accomplished by removing the walls, floor tiles, ceiling tiles and doors and replacement of the air handling registers. The cafeteria took a similar "remodeling" effort with total ceiling and carpet replacements. New wall board, paint and replacement of all the furniture used in those locations.

There is a reason why hotels maintain separate smoking/non-smoking rooms. Some assess upwards of $400 if you smoke in a non-smoking room. It is vandalism. Expensive to clean up.

[Deagle]

Not to worry folks... Smoking is already frowned upon by society and with the Smoke Nazis taking charge, you will have little to worry about. I just don’t know why they don’t make smoking illegal along with the sale of tobacco.

They are doing a nice job of preventing the sale of tobacco but I guess it will take another few years before they make it illegal. Hang in there, it is coming...

So, relax and just wait...it will all turn out okay for all you that despise smoke. You just might have to wait a few more years...but it will come...

[ProfoundMan]

We have a lot of troglodytes here on FR ...

Well, at least that much of what you wrote is true.

[jakerobins]

Yes lock guys up for months at a time...give them no booze,no cigs, and put women and PC rules on Subs...this is going to work out real well...

[2ndDivisionVet]

WTF? Do you realize that the vast majority of today’s Americans are either overweight or obese? And what does an individuals’s weight have to do with their bowel movements?

[ProfoundMan]

But cigarette smoke is quite common and is ubiquitous.

Please describe for us the "common and ubiquitous" nature of the cigarette smoke you encounter. We can't smoke in office buildings, shopping malls, most restaraunts, airports, parks or many public beaches. Most smokers I know are huddled outside loading docks like the lepers people like you have made them. So where is it exactly that you go to find smoke so "common and ubiquitous". Sounds like a place I need to frequent more if only to be able to enjoy a legal product without the likes of small people snorting their displeasure at me.

[kelly4c]

Man, It’s hard to imagine there was actually a point in recent history when we could have an ashtray sitting by our workstation and light up a stogie as often as we wanted. Or even sit in a hospital waiting room puffing away. Ironically enough, nobody complained about it either! Even the non-smoking employees never said a word! Then they had to go and find out how baaaad it is for us and mom and dad...I mean umm, the government, started taking it away from us here and there and now pretty much everywhere. I think men fighting wars, or potential wars should be able to smoke though if anyone should!

[Jeff Chandler]

The new female submarine crew members will smoke.

Comment?

[truthguy]

Most smokers I know are huddled outside loading docks like the lepers people like you have made them. So where is it exactly that you go to find smoke so "common and ubiquitous". Sounds like a place I need to frequent more if only to be able to enjoy a legal product without the likes of small people snorting their displeasure at me.

You should read my comments more carefully. I'm sympathetic to your plight. I think restaurants and bars should have the choice of whether to be smoking or non-smoking. In an open air park people have an should also be able to smoke. Where most reasonable people would draw the line is when it starts to irritate others. Many smokers just can't seem to understand the discomfort it brings to non-smokers. I suffered from the smoke for years before the changes came about. Now I believe you should be able to smoke anywhere there isn't a hazard (Flammable materials) or where it irritates other people.

[truthguy]

Ironically enough, nobody complained about it either! Even the non-smoking employees never said a word!

No you are wrong. I lot of people complained about it. Many of us suffered for years breathing in the horrible smoke. I always hated it and tried to avoid it whenever I could. I chose friends who didn't smoke and never dated a smoker under any circumstances. So finally people had enough and started to make some changes. It took a while to build up the confidence to confront the smokers. Smoke if you want but just don't offend others who don't want to breath in the garbage.

[Mad Dawgg]

I don't like it but I can understand it from an equipment point of view. Cig smoke is hard on sound equipment Microphones and speakers especially. And there is some fairly expensive sound equipment in a sub.

But such could easily be filtered out and I am sure they already have some serious filtration on a sub.

Myself I hate cigarette smoke but I hate the law banning it in private stores and stuff much more.

I own building and we've not allowed smoking in it for almost 20 years. I don't need the government forcing me, I figured it out all by myself and I think people who own businesses have the right to allow smoking 24/7 in their place if business if they want. And I have the right not to enter such a building.

But it looks like the U.S. Navy finally fell to the Smoke Nazis. I figure if our servicemen want to smoke as long as it doesn't interfere with their duties then leave 'em the hell alone!

[truthguy]

Haven’t been in a room full of smokers, but have been in LA. LA is much worse....

But if you haven't been in a room of smokers how can you say LA is much worse. Your statement has no basis for comparison. It's illogical and irrational.

[truthguy]

I figure if our servicemen want to smoke as long as it doesn't interfere with their duties then leave 'em the hell alone!

What about the substantial majority of sailors who are irritated by the smoke and don't want to breath it into their lungs. Don't they have rights as well?

[Mad Dawgg]

"What about the substantial majority of sailors who are irritated by the smoke and don't want to breath it into their lungs. Don't they have rights as well?"

Its the armed services they can work out a way to accommodate both. Hell they spend extra resources accommodating women on board a sub should be able to take an existing area and make it a smoking room with heavy filtration.

[microgood]

What about the substantial majority of sailors who are irritated by the smoke and don't want to breath it into their lungs. Don't they have rights as well?

Actually, no. When you join the military you give up all your rights.

In any case, the right to be free from smoke wherever you go is about as Orwellian as you can get, and when supposed conservatives start claiming it, we must admit we have been defeated by the left. At that point they have poisoned our minds and our ability to think logically.

[NonValueAdded]

Oh great, finally add females to the crew and now you can’t smoke after sex.

[pingman]

My son (sonar tech) equates sub life to “living in a can of farts”.

Definite air quality issues, so what’s the beef with some smokey flavor?

[libertarian27]

My son (sonar tech) equates sub life to “living in a can of farts”. Definite air quality issues, so what’s the beef with some smokey flavor?

Now that "can of farts"(lol) will not have that smoky flavor to cover up the 'fart' flavor. Back when you could smoke in a bar you would very seldom smell a fart - now a good one will clear a room...At least they will be able to cut down the air filtration units in the subs now...yeah, that won't create a whole different set of issues...Achoo!

[swarthyguy]

>.Back when you could smoke in a bar you would very seldom smell a fart

No kidding.

And then there’s the modern smoke free restrooms!