Bill Aims to Ban Workplace Smoking

Newsday | 9/17/02 | J. Palmer

[Great Dane]

Tazman70 signed up 2002-08-30.

Like I said, the anti smoker groups sends them over.

[altair]

Why do you go to restaurants that allow smoking? There are plenty of restaurants in Tokyo that don't allow smoking.

[sushiman]

Why do Americans always assume that every foreigner who is in Japan lives in Tokyo ? I live in Kyushu in southern Japan , in a small town in Kumamoto . EVERY restaurant I have ever been to allows smoking , and had NO " smoking section " . No doubt some family restaurants in big cities
have smoking sections , but most other types of restaurants do not . I don't frequent family restaurants , hence my trouble with smokers .

[Gabz]

I don't frequent family restaurants , hence my trouble with smokers .

Maybe you should start.

[altair]

Why do Americans always assume that every foreigner who is in Japan lives in Tokyo ?

That's my bad memory, sorry if I offended you. I thought I remembered you writing something about living in Tokyo.

EVERY restaurant I have ever been to allows smoking , and had NO " smoking section " .

There are lots of them in Kanto. There are also lots of restaurants that don't allow smoking at all. That's as it should be -- let the restaurant owner decide. I don't know what the situation is like elsewhere, I haven't gone out much since moving to Kobe.

[Great Dane]

Good find, what a hypocrite.

[Great Dane]

There are plenty of restaurants in Tokyo that don't allow smoking.

But then he would have nothing to complain about. :-}

[Great Dane]

I don't frequent family restaurants , hence my trouble with smokers .

You don't go to family restaurants, guess you don't much care for ankle biters........ say, why don't you have them banned.

[sushiman]

Unfortunately , the BEST restaurants are NOT what are referred to as " Family " restaurants here . USA equivalent would be Roy Rogers or Howard Johnsons . No thanks !

[Madame Dufarge]

No thanks !

So, in your perfect world, you can exercise choice and not frequent family restaurants; business owners, however, cannot exercise choice and accommodate smokers if they wish.

If only the smoking Nazis realized how repellent they are to adults.

[thepitts]

socialist pig

[Just another Joe]

They most certainly can and should restrict it on the grounds of being a public health danger. Just as asbestos, lead paint, and other hazards are banned - so too should smoking be banned in any area where someone can be adversely affected against their will.?

Did you read any of the links put up on this thread?
Second hand smoke HAS NOT been proven to be a health hazard except to people with pre-existing health conditions.

Because someone has asthma that means that everyone in the nation should have to accomodate them specifically?
If I had asthma and knew that walking into a business would cause an attack you can bet that I wouldn't be walking into that business.
At some point you have to take personal responsibility for your own safety.

[ohioman]

"Did I mistype something? We are on the same side. I'm saying that the rights of the property are the most important. The government
has no business butting in, if you'll excuse the pun."

You sir are exactly correct.

[sushiman]

I have no problem sharing restaurant space with smokers if they are in their own smoking section . Problem in Japan is that many privately owned shops ( versus corporate = " family " restaurants " ) are relatively small therefore cannot section off into smoking and non-smoking areas . Another thing is Japanese smokers have terrible manners , never asking if you mind if they smoke . They dump ashes all over the restaurant floor , and don't even try to avoid blowing smoke in your direction . If I want smoked fish I'll ORDER smoked fish ! I don't want somebody filthy tobacco smoke all over my fresh sashimi or sushi .

[Madame Dufarge]

Well, it seems to me that the small restaurant owners are perfectly happy with their customer base just the way it is.

And since they assumed the risk and expense of owning and operating the business, it's their call to make.

Why don't you open a non-smoking establishment or seek out others willing to spend their time and risk their money to do so?

If there's a market for it, it'll succeed. If not, it won't.

[VermiciousKnid]

Here's the link to the Newsday story. There's a poll that needs Freeping.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lismok172928509sep17.story?coll=ny%2Dhomepage%2Dmore%2Dbreaking%2Dnews


Regards,

[KS Flyover]

Thanks for the link, VermiciousKnid.

SheLion, the poll linked above needs some serious FReepin'!

[SheLion]

I found out a few hours ago that it had a poll. When I took it, it was 63% Yes and 36% no. :(

I hope that we have been able to even the odds some.

[VermiciousKnid]

My pleasure, KS. You know, a very similar poll was in Newsday just last week (or maybe 2 weeks ago), and THAT poll was worded something like this: "Do you think there should be more restrictions on smoking in bars, restaurants and pool halls?"

Well, THAT poll showed over 10,000 votes on the "NO" side, representing a full 96% against the measures.

What I find interesting is that in less than two weeks, Newsday has decided to run such a similar poll, only this time it reads, "Should smoking be banned in all workplaces?"

You know what I think? I think they didn't like that WHOPPING 96% "no" vote, and changed the wording to make people believe they were talking about offices and the like (where business owners should STILL be able to decide for themselves, BTW).

Now, perhaps I am a cynic, but I come by it honestly. Living in close proximity to so many socialists and RINOs will do that to ya.

Regards,