Florida: Complaints over restaurants not complying with smoking ban

First Coast News ^

[SheLion]

DUVAL COUNTY, FL -- Florida's smoking ban was officially put into place on July 1st but not everyone is abiding. The state has had close to 800 complaints on restaurants that are not complying with the rules.

In Duval County, there have been 19 complaints with the majority coming from customers of RP McMurphy's located in Jacksonville Beach. The restaurant has received a warning and has 30 days to comply.

[Steely Glint]

"Bars and restaurants are PRIVATE BUSINESSES that you have the right to patronize or refuse to patronize."

Sorry, that argument is childish. Any bar or restaurant open to the public is automatically subject to government regulation and inspection.

[CSM]

"Smoking doesn't "cause" asthma, but any asthma researcher not on a tobacco company payroll will tell you that it aggravates existing asthma."

So does perfume, cologne, smoke from cooking, boquets of flowers, candles, bbq, vehicle exhaust, etc. Which of these should we ban for the convenience of the few that can control where they go?

[VRWC_minion]

Only 800 complaints ? Seems like most people are obeying the law and enjoying the clear air.

[CSM]

"Sorry, that argument is childish."

So, support of private property rights is childish? How's the weather in Cuba? Sounds like you are living in a socialist heaven!

[CSM]

"Seems like most people are obeying the law and enjoying the clear air."

Or the antis are not actually frequenting the places that currently allow it, regardless of the law.

[grania]

800 complaints? Citizens against CITIZENS??!! How terrific is THIS?

The restaurants in question really shouldn't have adbducted these citizens, locked them in the restaurants, handcuffed them to a chair, and forced them to eat there. (sarcasm)

[Steely Glint]

One of the silliest things that smokers do is to claim that the government somehow has no right to regulate health issues in businesses that serve food or drink. Where have you people been all your lives? Ever hear of state hotel and restaurant commissions? State boards of health?

[VRWC_minion]

Or the antis are not actually frequenting the places that currently allow it, regardless of the law.

Don't you think the anti's would seek out places that allow smoking just to force their nazi ways on the smokers ? Would a stone be left unturned ?

[SheLion]

Read it and weep. Are you smokers dumb enough to keep inhaling this vileness? Worse than that, are you smokers mean enough to inflict the misery this vileness causes on others, especially asthmatics?

Do you realize how much of this stuff is in our daily food intake? And the sun is also a Class A Carcinogen. Do you want to ban it too?

[Steely Glint]

"So, support of private property rights is childish? How's the weather in Cuba? Sounds like you are living in a socialist heaven!"

What stupid hyperbole. See my other posts about the government and health regulation.

There is no such thing as an unregulated public restaurant in this country. The ownership issue is utterly immaterial. If it's a restaurant, then it's already regulated for health purposes.

You addicts are just too desperate for words.

[grania]

and calling people who expect us nicotine addicts to take our unpleasant addiction out of their faces Nazis is wrong.

I'm a former smoker, and I disagree totally. If you have an addiction, it's your problem. Choose to go to restaurants and other establishments that choose to provide a non-smoking environment, if that's what makes you happy. Those that like to smoke can go to places that allow it. It's an old tradition we used to have in this country...it was called democracy...and citizens could actually run their businesses as they see fit.

[SheLion]

"Bars and restaurants are PRIVATE BUSINESSES that you have the right to patronize or refuse to patronize." Sorry, that argument is childish. Any bar or restaurant open to the public is automatically subject to government regulation and inspection.

WRONG!

[VRWC_minion]

The restaurant bans are being passed on a more fundamental issue. The main issue is not the customers, its the employees.

In most states, employees are guaranteed a smoke free environment in which to work. Unfortunately, bar and restaurant workers have been exempt from enjoying the same smoke free environment that other workers have. These bans allow these employees to work in a safer, smoke free environment.

[CSM]

"Don't you think the anti's would seek out places that allow smoking just to force their nazi ways on the smokers ? Would a stone be left unturned ?"

Only the places they know about. I am sure that a lot of out of the way smaller neighborhood places are still unknown to the gnatzie. In addition, I am sure that no one dares to complain about some of them or they may not be able to dial a phone afterwards.

[Steely Glint]

You have to love it when a disabled conservative veteran who hates Communists worse than God hates sin gets accused of being a socialist by a nicotime addict for posting the truth about smoking being a health hazard.

[FreedomPoster]

Let business owners decide what they want to "inflict" on others. Let others decide whether or not they want to patronize those businesses. Simple. Easy. No governmental involvement.

What changed in our country, that we at one time thought we needed a Constitutional Amendment to ban alcoholic beverages, but we no longer need this to effectively ban cigarettes? It is not a change for the "good", in my mind.

BTW, I'm a non-smoker, never have.

[E Rocc]

The position is not about smoking. It is about the government entity in the USA acting in the same manor as did the Nazi government. These people own their restaurant and stores. They can allow people to smoke the legal products on their premises if they want to. Get it? Legal products! It smacks of Nazi-like behavior wherever these bans are allowed to exist.

I don't smoke, I work part time in a bar, and I've been the safety manager for two employers (in charge of, among other things, chemical exposure guidelines) and served on the safety committee for the two others.

I pretty much agree with SheLion's position on this issue.

-Eric

[CSM]

Wrong. You are supporting the confiscation of private property in the name of public good. That stance is very socialistic and to call it anything else is a lie.

Will you fall for the obesity arguments too? Will you support a ban of red meat? What activities do you participate in that could some day be deemed unhealthy and a burden on society?

[Steely Glint]

Any bar or restaraunt open to the public is already automatically subject to government regulation. That's a fact.

[E Rocc]

There is no such thing as an unregulated public restaurant in this country. The ownership issue is utterly immaterial. If it's a restaurant, then it's already regulated for health purposes.

Should the government be allowed to tell bars or restaurants they can't serve foods with too much cholesterol? How about alcohol?

The point isn't what's healthy or not, the point is government trying to enforce "healthy" behavior.

-Eric