State panel OKs ban on smoking in public places

[Pete]

I think this is a great idea for lots of reasons. I always thought allowing places to build smoking rooms was a bad first step and now as a result, those places can keep the dedicated rooms for five more years.

California has even stricter rules -- most don't even allow smoking on outdoor patios and some beaches have bans as well -- and after a brief adjustment, business actually increased at restaurants and clubs.

Even Ireland has banned smoking in all their restaurants and pubs... Time for Oklahoma to get with the times!

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State panel OKs ban on smoking in public places
By The Associated Press

A state Senate committee has voted for a bill that would ban smoking in all bars and restaurants.

The Legislature banned smoking in most public places in a 2003 law, but granted some exceptions. Restaurants, for instance, were allowed to build smoking rooms for their customers who smoke.

Under the bill passed Monday by the Senate Business and Labor Committee, restaurants that built separate smoking areas will have until 2013 to go completely smoke free.

However, smoking in bars, even cigar bars, would be banned when the law takes effect on Nov. 1.

Sen. David Myers of Ponca City sponsored the legislation, citing the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Sen. Randy Brogan of Owasso says the bill went too far because tobacco is a legal substance. He offered an amendment to ban the sale and distribution of tobacco products, but it died for lack of a second.

[Martin]

i don't agree with it. personally, i don't smoke and i don't like being around smoke. i probably wouldn't frequent a smoke-filled restaurant. however, i believe that as long as tobacco is a legal substance that it is the right of the property owner to dictate whether his establishment is smoke-free or not. if i don't like a smoke-filled restauraunt, i don't have to dine there... and if enough consumers demand smoke-free environments then that alone will put sufficient pressure on businesses to be smoke-free. -M

[Midtowner]

Say good bye to Maker's.

[Pete]

The fundamental issue is that these places are workplaces and no worker should be made to breathe second-hand smoke.

Yes, they can choose to work elsewhere but you could make the same argument for any workplace.

These laws have worked out great everywhere they've been implemented and the simple fact is that Oklahoma is lagging behind. As someone that lives in a place with strict laws, the lack of the same in any state would be a significant deterent for me (and I would assume many others) relocating.

[kmf563]

As conservative as this state is, I don't see why we are so behind on smoking laws. I'm all for the ban. Ban it in cars too - I am so sick of seeing people smoke in their cars with children present.

[Martin]

i respect your position, pete... however, i think that the effects of second-hand smoke have been overstated by those with an anti-smoking agenda. the idea that oklahoma is 'lagging behind' other states assumes that such restrictive laws are good things. i don't feel as if the government should be protecting and regulating every facet of my life. honestly, i doubt that oklahoma's smoking laws will factor too highly in the average person's decision whether or not to relocate here. -M

[kmf563]

i respect your position, pete... however, i think that the effects of second-hand smoke have been overstated by those with an anti-smoking agenda. the idea that oklahoma is 'lagging behind' other states assumes that such restrictive laws are good things. i don't feel as if the government should be protecting and regulating every facet of my life. honestly, i doubt that oklahoma's smoking laws will factor too highly in the average person's decision whether or not to relocate here. -M

How in the world can you think second hand smoke statements are overstated?? Please don't tell me you are one of those "i smoked 3 packs a day and drank a bottle of jack while i was pregnant and my kids are fine" people. It's not just a made up evil plot by nonsmokers. It has medically been proven that second hand smoke is damaging and harmful.

[Pete]

Forget scientific studies, plain common sense tells you that breathing in smoke in an enclosed area for 40-50 hours a weeks is really bad for you, which is exactly why smoking has been banned in every other place people work -- and that happened some time ago.

I am generally against the government imposing restrictions on personal freedoms but in this case they are actually protecting the rights of people that frequently don't have a lot of employment options. Waiting tables and tending bar offers a way for people to make decent money if they hustle and they shouldn't have to get lung cancer as a consequence.


There just really isn't a downside. Beside all the doomsayers in every other place (and there are many) that have these types of laws, it all works out for the best after a brief adjustment period.

[Chefdavies]

Just wondering...If the lawmakers that are tryin to pass the law are also the ones that are smoking out back from the capital building. Also, If I choose to smoke in my front yard can I get a ticket? I think it should be left up to businesses on their own levels. They want to allow smokers let them. Yes the government is suppose to "take care" of its citizens. With that said, why won't our government let the citizens vote on it. Why not put it up for a public vote?

Oh yeah almost forgot. With this ban does that mean all those tailgaters at an OU home game could face some type of ticketing for smoking?

[CuatrodeMayo]

Banning smoking is all fine and good...but banning smoking in cigar bars? Re. Tarded.

[FritterGirl]

Makers and the like are not included in this. So, your cigar bar will be saved. Although, it's hard to enjoy the sweet smelling cigar smoke for all of the cigarette smoke in there, but I digress.

EDIT Nevermind. I saw an earlier version of this (the proposed legislation) where it said that Makers and similar establishments would be exempt from the law. Maybe you can still smoke cigars, but no cigarettes.....?

[SoonerDave]

This thread reminds me of an old saying....

...Be careful what you wish for. You may get it.

It is *easy* to jump on the bandwagon for something like smoking.

It may be different if *your* ox is gored next.

Don't get me wrong; I despise smoking. It infuriates me to see a child in a car with two maroons puffing it up. I hate having to go through a smoking area in a restaurant to get to the non-smoking area.

But I also know that if our wonderful gummint gets a head of steam "banning" things in public places, they just might get to banning something I wouldn't be so happy about....all in the name of "protecting" me.

I think I need protection from our wonderful nanny government.

-SoonerDave

[kmf563]

I say when your rights encroach upon my rights, it should be banned. BUT - I would be willing to compromise and say that a law forbidding children in smoking areas would work. We as adults can make the choice as to whether we visit a place where smoking is allowed and/or work in a place that allows smoking. Children can not make a decision like that. They go where the parents say they go.

[betts]

I think it's ridiculous to ban smoking in cigar bars. If you choose to go to a bar that is a designated smoking bar, then that is a personal choice. However, we've already made all sorts of things illegal that hurt only the user and not bystanders, so I don't think any precedents are being established by banning smoking that aren't already there.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I wish they'd crack down on people throwing cigarette butts out their car windows. With all the fires we've had the last few years, it kills me when I see people do it. Plus, I don't want your sparky bouncing off of my windshield. There's a reason your freakin' car came with an ashtray. Use it.

Butts all over the ground outside of any building tick me off too. Pick up after yourselves, you inconsiderate dillhole.

/neat freak

[kmf563]

I wish they'd crack down on people throwing cigarette butts out their car windows. With all the fires we've had the last few years, it kills me when I see people do it. Plus, I don't want your sparky bouncing off of my windshield. There's a reason your freakin' car came with an ashtray. Use it.

Butts all over the ground outside of any building tick me off too. Pick up after yourselves, you inconsiderate dillhole.

/neat freak

LOL. I love your passion. Your posts always crack me up. And I agree.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

lol...I sit between two smokers at work. You should hear the things I say to them when they get back from their hourly smoke break smelling like ashtrays.

[John]

The state will next work on legislation banning tanning salons, because they can cause skin cancer.

This is over-legislating just a tad.

[metro]

I wish they'd crack down on people throwing cigarette butts out their car windows. With all the fires we've had the last few years, it kills me when I see people do it. Plus, I don't want your sparky bouncing off of my windshield. There's a reason your freakin' car came with an ashtray. Use it.

Butts all over the ground outside of any building tick me off too. Pick up after yourselves, you inconsiderate dillhole.

/neat freak

OGTS, this is something I can completely agree with you. It's illegal to throw them out but I see people do it in front of cops all the time and it pisses me off the cops don't do anything in this state. We need to seriously crack down on this issue. If the cigarette is not good enough to keep in your car's ashtray until you get to an ashtray, you probably shouldn't be smoking at all dillhole!

[metro]

Forget scientific studies, plain common sense tells you that breathing in smoke in an enclosed area for 40-50 hours a weeks is really bad for you, which is exactly why smoking has been banned in every other place people work -- and that happened some time ago.

I am generally against the government imposing restrictions on personal freedoms but in this case they are actually protecting the rights of people that frequently don't have a lot of employment options. Waiting tables and tending bar offers a way for people to make decent money if they hustle and they shouldn't have to get lung cancer as a consequence.


There just really isn't a downside. Beside all the doomsayers in every other place (and there are many) that have these types of laws, it all works out for the best after a brief adjustment period.

Pete, I totally agree with you on this smoking issue. I have moderate to severe asthma and I'm tired of breathing dirty air all the time because of "inconsiderate dillholes" (in the words of OGTS). While yes, sometimes I do have the choice to patronize somewhere or not if I know it is smoky, but sometimes I don't have that choice, sometimes people are such dillholes that they just disobey the law in the first place. I can't tell you how many public places that have signs/stickers saying smoking is banned period on the grounds or banned within 25 feet of the door (even hospital) and some jerkoff is puffing it up right by the hospital door, making me breathe it in. Same thing with concerts in Ford Center, Coca Cola center, etc. I've seen/walked by plenty of jerks that light up in the public places despite it being banned instead of going to the designated places. Heck, want to know something even more stupid?? I was in the Belle Isle Ross store last night and some moron lady was smoking in the store, in between puffs, she put the lit cigarette in her purse and her purse was just smoking away! Complete ignorance!!! This is the stuff that really pisses me off in principle, let alone me being a bad asthmatic and having to breathe in stuff that gives me a hard time breathing for days or being able to sleep because I can't get much oxygen because of somebody elses stupid choices. What about non-smokers rights? We don't have a choice about breathing it in in certain places we want to go, smokers DO have a choice if they want to breathe it in. I agree Pete, Oklahoma needs to get with the times on smoking laws, have a good PR campaign promoting it.

[bretthexum]

This is tonight's topic on "The Rant". We'll see how they spin it.

[fromdust]

if they want to ban smoking everywhere, they should make smoking as a whole illegal.
i dont smoke, but frankly i wish the government would stay out of our lives. next they'll tell you what you can and cant eat. or tell you what temperature you can have your house.... oh wait...

[Pete]

I admit that I have some conflicting feelings about restricting the rights of individuals and there are examples here in California of taking things a bit too far.

For example, there are some communities that have banned smoking *everywhere* but private homes. No smoking at parks, parking lots, outdoor shopping areas, beaches, etc. In fact, smoking is not allowed in cars that contain children below a certain age.

I think this is a case of the majority imposing their will on others and that's not always a good thing.


But I can assure you that after living somewhere with strict laws and thus going very long periods of time without even smelling smoke, there is no way I could live in a place that allowed smoking in bars and restaurants. After being completely protected from it for so long, being in such an environment is absolutely nauseating. And it makes you realize how incredibly disgusting it is for people to be eating and drinking in a cloud of cig smoke.

Last summer, for example, I was in Wisconsin and as much as I love Milwaukee, I literally couldn't eat a meal because there was smoking in the bar area of a restaurant my family chose that wafted into the entire room. Madison, however, has similar laws to Cali, NY, Colorado, etc.

[jbrown84]

Pete, does California not have places like Makers, or is there some kind of exception?

[u50254082]

This is great news.

That is all.