Posted on 08/15/2002 9:43:10 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
The few remaining outposts of smoking in public indoor spaces in New York City, such as small restaurants and bars, will soon be smoke-free — if Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his way, and it seems that he will. While most of the workers in these establishments and their nonsmoking customers breathe a sigh of relief, smokers find their universe shrinking yet again. The law, if passed by the City Council, will put the city alongside California and Delaware as the nation's most unaccommodating places for smoking.
Closing a major loophole in the city's anti-smoking law, the mayor has framed the proposed new ban as a workers' health issue, and that has merit, especially considering that most other workplaces don't allow lighting up indoors. Studies show that bar and restaurant workers are at a greater risk for lung cancer than other workers. Bartenders, in particular, currently have no choice but to breathe in large quantities of secondhand smoke.
Since taking office, Mr. Bloomberg has been a kind of anti-Marlboro Man, targeting smoking as a public health enemy, which makes him one of the best things to happen to lungs since the chest X-ray. Earlier this summer, the mayor put a squeeze on puffers with new cigarette taxes that pushed the price of a pack to more than $7 — about twice the national average.
Once the new ban is in effect, those extremely expensive cigarettes may burn a hole in some pockets and pocketbooks while their owners look for a place to use them. Expect smokers to congregate just outside the establishments that once allowed them to light up in more social, convivial surroundings.
Mr. Bloomberg can anticipate challenges to the new ban, including the argument that it will hurt business. His staff rejects that notion, with one exception. Restaurants and bars will do just fine, but the tobacco companies, they say, will feel the heat.
The Beginning of Thousands of Drunks Smoking Outside Bars, Disturbing the Pedestrians and Upstairs Neighbors.
Why would the government eliminate smoking? What about abolishing private manufacturers?
While most of the workers in these establishments and their nonsmoking customers breathe a sigh of reliefHorsemodell. I'd guess that most bartenders smoke. Just about every one of ours does.
-Eric
It ain't about smokin' folks.
ANTI SMOKERS can't have it all, you could have left the smokers alone...... you reap what you sow.
Excuse me..... that has never happened before. ?
Indeed, we might soon see drunks in parks and street corners again in NYC.
Thats more like it, thank you. :-}
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