Thoughts on the Delaware Smoking Ban
January 10th, 2007 by Dan Gaffney    Delaware made headlines a few years ago when we passed the Clean Indoor Air Act, one of the most restrictive anti-smoking laws in the nation. Are we ready to take the next step?Â
    The Bangor, Maine, City Council has approved a measure that makes it illegal to smoke in vehicles if children are present. The 6-3 vote makes Bangor the first municipality in Maine with such a law, although similar statewide bans are in place in Arkansas and Louisiana and are being considered in other states. The law goes into effect next week.  Bangor City Councilor Patricia Blanchette — herself a smoker — told AP that people who smoke with children present in the confined space of a vehicle might as well be deliberately trying to kill them. But Councilor Susan Hawes was opposed to the legislation, saying police should concentrate on more important issues, and that there’s already too much government intervention in people’s lives.
    If we ban smoking to “protect†your local waitress, shouldn’t we do the same for our children?
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January 10th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Agreed, Dan. It’s one or the other. And isn’t kids’ health of greater concern than [adult] waitresses?
January 10th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
The voters here in Ohio passed an anti-smoking bill in November, and it went into effect in December. Basically, smoking is not permitted in any establishment or workplace (INCLUDING bars) and in a work-related vehicle (as such is considered the workplace as well). Basically, one can smoke in his home and outside…as long as they’re 25 feet from an entrance of an establishment. Each establishment must have a sign on the door, stating no smoking is permitted, and a phone number to report violations. The law is to be enforced by local and county health departments, and fines are as follows for first-time offenses…
Offender - $100 fine
Anyone in the establishment that fails to report the incident - $100
Establishment - $2500
Um, wouldn’t it be easier to sell smoking licenses ? That would be a great way to generate revenue (the ULTIMATE goal of the ban, apparently).
I don’t smoke, and I don’t really like you blowing smoke on me while I’m trying to enjoy my dinner…but what business is it of the state’s to tell private business owners what they can and can’t do, as long as those actions are within the law (adults smoking tobacco is legal, last I checked) ?
January 11th, 2007 at 9:37 am
We hashed this issue out extensively on the old forum, Pat.
My bottom line was that restaurants, although private property, are facilities used by the public, therefore subject to government oversight and regulation. I think you would agree to governmental regulation of hygienic practices in kitchens. I think contaminating the air with tobacco smoke relates to hygiene and is subject to regulation as well.
I can fully understand the disappointment of those who thoroughly enjoy their smoking privileges with their meal; however, from a hygiene and comfort standpoint for non-smokers, it becomes a question of who gets the nod, the smoker or the non-smoker.
This is a difficult issue, because the decision can easily go either way; whichever way it goes there will be disappointment and even some anger.
I think Delaware made the correct decision, a decision for the health of all, smokers and non-smokers alike.
Contrary to predictions, the patronage of restaurants in Delaware following the smoking ban has not shown a significant drop-off.
January 11th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Let’s experiment with bars and restaurants for smokers only. I would bet they would be much busier than the non-smoking establishments. At least here in NJ and NY they first tried sectioned areas, with proper smoke filtering ventilation. I don’t remember (though I can be wrong) if that was ever the case in DE. Of course, now, neither State allows smoking. And this was not done for health reasons, it is another revenue stream for government in the form of these fines. They are not happy with the $4.00 in taxes each pack brings them.
January 11th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
The thing is, Perry, there is no smoking even permitted in the bars in Ohio ! Not just the restaurants (or any other establishment other than a tobacco store), but bars also.
Let me state for the record, I am an ex-smoker, the worst kind of non-smoker. I am the last person in the world to appreciate a plume of smoke at eye level while enjoying my grass-fed steak. I am also a non-drinker and a non-bar patron. However, isn’t a beer in one hand and a non-filter in the other kinda a natural ???
January 13th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Do we really need more laws? The Government sems to be creeping into every aspect of our lives- yet our border is wide open?