HONOLULU: Legislators Approve Tough Smoking Ban

thehawaiichannel.com ^ | May 3, 2006

[SheLion]

HONOLULU -- Hawaii lawmakers have approved one of the strictest smoking bans in the country. The bill prohibits smoking in almost every public space.

The governor is expected to approve the bill. She is a former smoker herself and has always been openly in favor of legislation to encourage smokers to give it up and to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.

The bill prohibits smoking in all public places including: bars, restaurants -- even open air restaurants -- office buildings and any place workers would be affected by smoke.

"I think this is a huge step forward for public health in Hawaii and we are just ecstatic now that all workers in the state will be afforded a state smoke-free workplace," said Deborah Zysman, of Tobacco Free Hawaii.

About the only place you would be able to smoke would be your car, on your bike or in your home.

The airport now has designated smoking places, but under the bill the entire airport would be off limits to smokers.

Smokers would have to smoke at least 20 feet away from the entrance to any business or office.

The fines for violation would be $50 for smokers and up to $500 for businesses.

Smokers seemed resigned to the new stricter ban.

"Even though I am a smoker I think the writing is on the wall for all of us smokers that it is time to give it up," Jim Cook said.

"I don't think it is really a bad thing because there are a lot of people, elderly, a lot of people who can't handle cigarette smoke it affects," Yvonne Lindley said.

Nonsmokers said they feel freer knowing bars and office entrances will be smoke free.

"I am really happy about it. I have been a nonsmoker since 2000. I hope this makes other people want to stop smoking," Jeanette Simons said.

The new smoking ban is scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 16.

[SheLion]

"I am really happy about it. I have been a nonsmoker since 2000. I hope this makes other people want to stop smoking," Jeanette Simons said.

What a complete idiot she is!  A smoker that wants to quit will quit.  Smoking bans won't force people to quit.

But it WILL help us to decide where to take our money on vacation. And it sure won't be  HAWAII!!!

The State of Hawaii has  become another Anti-occupied prohibition casualty,
banning smoking from restaurants and bars!!!

IF YOU CAN'T SMOKE, DON'T GO! - KEEP YOUR WALLETS SHUT!
OVER 600,000 Hawaiians ARE SMOKERS!

[SheLion]

Boycott Hawaii Ping! Discrimination Rings!!!

[ErnBatavia]

I'll tell ya one thing...the no smoking even in open air restaurants is gonna hurt 'em....a very large percentage of Honolulu restaurants are open air, and an even larger percentage of their turistas are Japanese - and these people indeed smoke.

I guess the powers that be have forgotten the gentle trade winds that are pretty much constant over there....second hand smoke isn't going to be an issue.

[BostonianRightist]

She is a former smoker herself and has always been openly in favor of legislation to encourage smokers to give it up ...

That's not "encouragement", it's tyranny.

[SheLion]

I'll tell ya one thing...the no smoking even in open air restaurants is gonna hurt 'em....a very large percentage of Honolulu restaurants are open air, and an even larger percentage of their turistas are Japanese - and these people indeed smoke.

I guess the powers that be have forgotten the gentle trade winds that are pretty much constant over there....second hand smoke isn't going to be an issue.

That's what it is when you get a few power hungry idiots on the City Councils.  Instead of working for the city, they turn around and want to RUN the city.

And the trade winds are always going.  You are right.  And there is no reason on earth why they ban smoking on the patio's and outside.  Just another way to control people who use a legal commodity!

And that one idiot states that maybe this will help people quit.  Who the hell is she to tell any of us to quit using a legal commodity!  Cigarettes have been around for a long, long time.  I bet she won't  have the nerve to tell the Celebrities not to smoke when THEY visit the Island!

I'll tell ya one thing...the no smoking even in open air restaurants is gonna hurt 'em....a very large percentage of Honolulu restaurants are open air, and an even larger percentage of their turistas are Japanese - and these people indeed smoke.

I guess the powers that be have forgotten the gentle trade winds that are pretty much constant over there....second hand smoke isn't going to be an issue.

That's what it is when you get a few power hungry idiots on the City Councils.  Instead of working for the city, they turn around and want to RUN the city.

And the trade winds are always going.  You are right.  And there is no reason on earth why they ban smoking on the patio's and outside.  Just another way to control people who use a legal commodity!

And that one idiot states that maybe this will help people quit.  Who the hell is she to tell any of us to quit using a legal commodity!  Cigarettes have been around for a long, long time.  I bet she won't  have the nerve to tell the Celebrities not to smoke when THEY visit the Island!

[SheLion]

"She is a former smoker herself and has always been openly in favor of legislation to encourage smokers to give it up ..."

That's not "encouragement", it's tyranny.

Yes.  Who the hell is she to force a smoking ban "hoping that it will force smokers to quit!"  Who died and left HER King?

"She is a former smoker herself and has always been openly in favor of legislation to encourage smokers to give it up ..."

That's not "encouragement", it's tyranny.

Yes.  Who the hell is she to force a smoking ban "hoping that it will force smokers to quit!"  Who died and left HER King?

[CSM]

Dang it! I was actually considering planning a vacation in our very own tropical paradise.

[greasepaint]

Japanese tourists won't like this.

[Gabz]

Nanny State PING


Tell the governor of Hawaii just what you think of this smoking ban.



http://www.hawaii.gov/hellogovernor/

[sergeantdave]

"The bill prohibits smoking in all public places including: bars, restaurants..."

The only people who believe bars and restaurants are public buildings are Marxists and their useful idiots. Government banning a legal product that is lawfully used on private property is a fascist government. Some enterprising citizen should pass out swastikas to the so-called lawmakers.

[Sunshine Sister]

I'll be up front about this. I'm a non smoker. Having said that I just can't stand these idiots. Let me guess how they are going to replace the taxes smokers pay when they all quit because they can't smoke anywhere ever again.

We made a choice this week about a very expensive vacation. Our choices were Hawaii and Alaska. We chose AK. I'm glad.

[Gabz]

The only people who believe bars and restaurants are public buildings are Marxists and their useful idiots.

There is a large contingent of them right here at Free Republic.

[SheLion]

an even larger percentage of their turistas are Japanese - and these people indeed smoke.

When New York City was forced into a smoking ban, all the Japanese business men were wondering where they could go for their meetings now.  They smoke, and I wonder to this day, if they can STILL smoke when they come for meetings in NYC.  Who is going to tell them NOT to smoke??!!

But now they will be hit again with a smoking ban in Hawaii.  These forced smoking bans on private businesses make no sense and I am truly surprised that the business owners just sit quietly and let them come.

[Niteranger68]

I'm not sure what this will change. I've never met anyone who has visited Hawaii twice.

[monkapotamus]

This coming from a state where the largest cash crop is marijuana.

[SheLion]

Dang it! I was actually considering planning a vacation in our very own tropical paradise.

Well, any plans "I" ever had of going to Hawaii is now ended.  I sure won't take my money to a place that is discriminating against me.  Nothing like sitting in the "back of the bus," eh?

[SheLion]

Japanese tourists won't like this.

They were totally upset when Bloomberg forced a smoking ban in New York City.  The Japanese always went there for business meetings. 

[Nonstatist]

Banning it without banning it. Lots of laws difficult to enforce, so enforcement will be selective. Thats the definition of a tyranny. Arbitrary and capricious enforcement of hundreds of onerous laws. How pathetic

[Rummyfan]

This is nothing more than petty tyranny. I'm going to go have a smoke now!

[LynnHam]

That's not "encouragement", it's tyranny.

As we've said before most of these anti-smoking people are Republicans