Can smoking bans backfire?

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
May 24th 2007 6:37PM

As smoking bans continue to pop up worldwide, are there possible repercussions to these bans that are just now being seen? For example, the clustering of smokers outside clubs and restaurants that forms a secondhand smoke cloud that non-smokers must pass through?

Many non-smoking establishments I know of won't permit smoking within 25 or even 50 feet of door openings used by the public. Should the same strategy be used by establishments where smokers crowd outside doors to smoke?

Only the vocal non-smoker crowd will be served here, but if you're not all that excited about wading though smoke to get into your favorite non-smoking restaurant, what would you do?

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Comments (8)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

tara 5-24-2007 @ 8:34PM

Sick to death of the smoking bans, where are our rights? Between that and gas prices I am ready to move out of "the land of the free"

Thad Guy 5-25-2007 @ 2:43AM

I wonder if the smoking bans might also help smoking's image. Instead of the old man lighting up a cigar behind you while you are eating dinner it could turn it into a separate social group where smoking is sort of an entrance fee.

As for the health of smoking. You might find this comic about it a little funny:
http://www.thadguy.com/comic/the-power-of-smoking/83/

Nancy Hill 5-25-2007 @ 5:33AM

With all the exhaust fumes, diesel smoke, factory exhausts, you tell me that a person smoking in open air is going to endanger someones health? This is absolutely ridiculous. I am so sick of hearing about 2nd hand smoke. I would also like to see the results of tests ran proving second hand smoke dangerous? You wont find any because this is the "little white lie"...there have been no tests! We are getting all of our rights in this country taken away...isnt it a shame!

Kadia 5-25-2007 @ 6:08AM

Nancy wrote:
"This is absolutely ridiculous. I am so sick of hearing about 2nd hand smoke. I would also like to see the results of tests ran proving second hand smoke dangerous? You wont find any because this is the "little white lie"...there have been no tests!"

Second hand smoke probably causes more deaths per year than skin cancer in New Zealand:
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/10/4/383

Secondhand smoke is linked to increases in markers of cardiovascular disease:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TDC-4BHH8WF-1&_user=1495569&_coverDate=02%2F01%2F2004&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000053194&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1495569&md5=a3229c0f7e29b1a903cb676294a785b7

In addition, a quick search shows up quite a few articles that study the ways in which the tobacco industry tries to influence public opinion to think that passive smoking isn't dangerous.

That's just a sample from the first page of google scholar. A quick browse links second hand smoke with heart disease, stroke, cancer and possibly depression os certain aspects of the immune system.

Review of whether second hand smoke can be controlled by ventilation instead - they conclude that no ventilation method brings smoke down to safe levels:
http://www.ariacube.com/docs/tabacco/repace/FedOHSHAets.pdf

Studies looking at exposure to second hand smoke in Ireland after their smoking ban showed that exposure had been reduced (though not eliminated).

. . . I could go on all day if I were allowed to give you more than 3 URLs! I have no problem with other people smoking, but when there's so much evidence that other people smoking can permanently damage my health, I don't think there's a good argument for *not* banning it.

ESK 5-25-2007 @ 8:38AM

clearly, the government should just round up all smokers and summarily execute them, for the greater public good of course...donut makers too, damn trans fat pushers.

Crabby McSlacker 5-25-2007 @ 1:48PM

I don't know if some of the outdoor smoking bans might be going a bit too far. But I applaud all the cities and states that are banning indoor smoking in public places. I'm not sure why there's been such a deference to the convenience of smokers over the health of everybody else, but I'll be glad when it comes to an end.

Kadia makes a great point about the dangers of second hand smoke, with plenty of research to back it up. I get tired of smokers who are so in denial about the health risks to themselves and others that they refuse to face reality.

(Crabby has her own grouchy health and fitness blog over at http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/, which regular Thatsfit readers are no doubt tired of hearing about. But visitors are always welcome).

pete 5-25-2007 @ 6:54PM

crabby you are right, i am tired of you spamming the boards with your blog. try and get your page hits somewhere else.

Bessie 5-26-2007 @ 1:32PM

I don't think public outdoor bans are going too far. Nothing irks me more than seeing someone toss a lit cigarette on a pile of dry leaves because they're too damn lazy and/or selfish to throw it away properly.

Especially when the trash can is right there.

A generalization, yes, but unless there are actual attempts from the smoking community to take responsibility for their actions, they do not have the right to do it in public.

In summary, my take on the matter -- Smoking is a PRIVILEGE. Not a right.

(P.S. Does this allow simple html? I can't remember.)