L.A. to get 13 miles of smoke-free beaches

The Associated Press ^ | April28, 2004 | The Associated Press

[Just another Joe]

Ban to be enforced on sand, pier and at bus stops

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Los Angeles County is getting 13 miles of smoke-free beaches. (snip)

The new law is expected to go into effect sometime in the next six weeks, as is a similar Los Angeles ban. (snip)

The bans represent a recent trend among Southern California coastal communities.

The mayor and backing council members say the law is needed to protect the environment, reduce beachgoers exposure to second-hand smoke, and keep the beaches clean.

The emphasis is mine and not the writers.

[somniferum]

I have a rather humerous anectdote about my first clash with anti-smoking forces. A little background..

I live in a fraternity house, which has allowed smoking in your room as long as its been in existance. Out of the blue, one of our members took it upon himself to try and ban smoking in the house. He no so subtly pointed me out as the reason, even though I generally only smoke in my own room and he lives on a different hall from me (The fellas who live next door to me do not smoke, and say they have never smelled/been bothered by it). He went so far as to claim that when I smoke in my room, he can smell it and it makes his eyes water so bad he cant study (never mind that he goes to extremely smoke filled bars every weekend and never complains about that). To make a long story short, when the vote came up, I gave up a speech against the ban which ended with "Man, you complain like a woman. Quit being a whiny little b*tch", resulting in much laughter and applause. The anti-smoking rule got crushed 48-2. And then everyone went out to the bar for a beer. I wish we could solve all of ours problems like that ;)

No offense to women intended ;)

[Gabz]

I like your idea..........but what about the state's that ban smoking (California, Delaware, and new York to name a few) and then turn around and RAISE the cigarette taxes?????

They will deny til they turn blue the bans had no effect on revenues............yet they turn around and stick it to the smokers again to pay for their folly...........

[Gabz]

I can't speak for other places.........but for what happened in Delaware - believe it.

[Gabz]

No offense taken by this woman!!!!!!!

This member is typical of the mindset of the true kool-aid drinking anti-smoker. They will claim cigarette smoke from a cr on a crowded highway three vehicles in front of them makes them ill.

You should be proud of your fraternity brothers.

[metesky]

I believe it. The neighborhood bars are getting croaked around here.

It sucks. The chains don't want to see a bunch of guys with muddy boots and hammer holsters doing shooters in their bars.

No one will make way. It used to be, "different strokes", now it's all or nothing. It's always zero sum with these frickin' mutts.

[Mears]

The antis blow 700 mph winds every time they open their mouths.

[Gabz]

The chains don't want to see a bunch of guys with muddy boots and hammer holsters doing shooters in their bars.

Or a bunch of guys just off a crab boat.

It's the places that catered to real folks that have gotten hammered with these bans.

I can just picture the reaction from some of my fishing buddies if they couldn't smoke while surf fishing or while bringing their boats back into the beach.

These fruitcakes are getting totally out of control.

[Just another Joe]

Are you sure it's their MOUTHS that are blowing wind? heh heh

[Mears]

No offense taken.

If this guy is such a wussy jerk at this young age imagine what he'll be like a few years down the line.

[New Perspective]

You really should take a 'new perspective' of the vilification of smokers going on practically everywhere in our nation for indulging in a legal activity.

Don't litter. Is that to difficult? And the last time I checked littering was not a legal activity.

[Mears]

Then enforce the littering laws.

The law say no smoking,which has nothing to do with littering,unless you are a slob.

When the smoking stops will they ban something else that causes a litter problem?

[Just another Joe]

Then enforce the littering laws.

And BTW, NP, what does littering have to do with all the other vilifications going on OTHER than the beach bans?

[Gabz]

You're correct, littering is not a legal activity.

However you implied much more than just littering in your post by commenting about "smelling" the ocean.

But as to litter........smokers aren't the only litterers on the beach and thus should not be singled out.

But since litter seems to be the problem, it can be taken care of easily - for everyone - nothing is permitted on the beach other than persons, clothes and blankets/towels. no food, no drink, no diapers, no ANYTHING other than persons and clothing. That will solve all problems.

[badgerlandjim]

POST # 14

...it's chokin' on your second hand smoke!

...or maybe chokin' on the methane you're spewin'...

[metesky]

Madame Dufarge married me for my ability to walk into strange bars and strike up subversive conversation. In our travels, we'd always look for the local gin mills and roadside taverns (preferably w/pool table). We made friends and found like minds over beer, smokes, food and pool.

They're changing the face of America.

[spunkets]

"the methane you're spewin'..."

Not me, that's a greenhouse gas. I'm tryin' to save the planet.

[socal_parrot]

Hey L.A. folks, come on down to beautiful Huntington Beach. You can still smoke here!

For now.

[Mears]

Hey,metesky. I didn't know you were married to Madame Dufarge.

Nice!

[Gabz]

They're changing the face of America.

You're right. And not for the good of America, but for the whims of the elite.

Local places have always been my favorite type of place to go into. And I always seek them out wherever I go. Coolbreeze is the same.....I guess that's why we get along so well also!!!!

[SanDiegoBushMan]

Not for long I bet... A couple places down here in San Diego are thinking about going smoke free. I want to know who's going to enforce this? Lifegaurds?