Worked great here in Hawaii. We just had a ban go into effect November 16th, and the environment is already much nicer. I say this as a NON-hostile ex-smoker. In fact, I quit Nov. 16th.
I'd attempted to quit a few times before, but invariably I'd go out drinking with friends, and lack of self-control (be it alcohol induced or not - no matter) + smell of smoke == me smoking by the end of the night.
Now that it's banned indoors in public places, and within 20 feet of public entry ways, it made it relatively easy for me to avoid the smoke. I could care less what people do with their own lungs - but I was tired of destroying my own. I know I'm selfish in saying that, and selfish in the fact I endorsed the smoking ban so *I* could benefit - but the reality is - it benefits everybody in the end.
It inconviences smokers, but they inconvience non-smokers, so it's rather equal in that regard.
That said, I think the law should be amended for bars/non-necessary places. If they want to allow smoking, I don't care - I can take my money elsewhere and go to a non-smoking bar.
The part of the law I am in favor of is the ban of smoking in areas that as a "normal" person, you cannot avoid going, smoker or non. Public entryways, public buildings the general populace needs to use, etc. If private establishments want to permit smoking, I feel they should be allowed.
That said, as long as smokers/their diseases impact my medicare deductions, I don't want them to be allowed to smoke AT ALL. If people want to smoke, they should be entirely financially responsible for the resulting diseases. I don't want to pay for social health care support for people who do something they *know* kills them. Anybody who hasn't figured out smoking is bad for you by now, is a prime target for survival of the fittest anyways.
So, summarized, as long as smoker's smoking has *0* effect on me, I don't care what they do. The second it has an impact on me (be it my finances, my health, whatever) that is not avoidable with reasonable measures - then I have a big problem with it. As long as bans go in place that keep it from affecting me, I'm all for it. I have the "right to life", there is no "right to smoke". |
