DC Smoking Ban Vote Today

Not sure I understand exactly what the rules will be….Looks, though, like bars and clubs are off the hook. It's just restaurants that are dinged. I didn't realize there were still restaurants you could smoke in. As to the waiver, how will you make a case that your business will decline by 25% before you prohibit smoking??

D.C. Council Expands Smoking Ban
UPDATED - Tuesday December 06, 2005 2:03pm

Washington D.C. (AP) - On a 12-to-1 vote, the D.C. Council has expanded the city's smoking ban, making it illegal to light up in restaurants.

The measure also requires bars and nightclubs to install ventilation equipment or separate accommodations by January first of 2007.

But it also provides businesses with an opportunity to seek waivers in the event that the prohibitions reduce overall sales by 25-percent.

Council may also consider adding an amendment exempting cigar and hookah bars sought by Councilman Jim Graham. The amendment could be attached to the bill on its second reading as early as January third.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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Smoking Ban Expanded in D.C. Restaurants
Dec 6th - 2:15pm

WASHINGTON - If you like to have a cigarette after a meal, you may have to venture outside if you are dining in the District.

On a 12-1 vote, the D.C. Council has expanded the city's smoking ban, making it illegal to light up in restaurants.

The measure also requires bars and nightclubs to install ventilation equipment or separate accommodations by Jan. 1, 2007. But it also provides businesses with an opportunity to seek waivers in the event that the prohibitions reduce overall sales by 25-percent.

Council may also consider adding an amendment exempting cigar and hookah bars sought by Councilman Jim Graham.

The amendment could be attached to the bill on its second reading as early as January third.

(Copyright 2005 by WTOP Radio and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

<img src="http://parkerposey.org/new/images/movies/scream3/scream18.jpg" alt=" - " />

Smoking babes are hot. It's my fave fetish.

This is long overdue. How would a smoker feel if I pissed on him everytime I had a beer? It is not so fun to come out of a bar smelling like crap and feeling your sinus cavity struggling to get by. You want to smoke - cool. Just do it outside or at home.

People who go into bars and complain about smoking make no sense to me. You're doing far more damage to yourself by drinking than you are from breathing second hand smoke for a few hours. You don't like the smoke, don't go to bars. It's the same kind of mentality as people who move into an urban neighborhood because they want vitality, and then start trying to get places shut down because of noise.

The only people who have a valid case on this issue are the employees, who don't really have a choice as to smoke exposure (except to seek out a different line of work).

If you're bored and want a good read, there's a 26 page debate on this here:

http://forums.thestranger.com/showthread.php?t=353

At least the first page or two was a good read…

If I'm ever *that* bored, I will kill myself!

Oh c'mon, how can you resist chatter such as this:

Smoking bans suck ass I lived in a city with a smoking ban and it sucked my ass. Couldn't smoke anywhere you can bet your ass though that GAINES won't stand outside in the cold to enjoy a cigarette, at work I smoked in the staircase and I went to a bar that allowed smoking anyway because they know the mayor who put in the law sucks goat dicks for quarters.

All you anti smokers are all a bunch of stupid fucks and can kiss my ass.

I'll smoke wherever I want to in my town and there's not a GODDAM thing you can do about it, so shut the fuck up and inhale my second hand smoke you little bitch.

I work right next to a guy in my office round here and I chainsmoke all the time, since that guy's a MAN he can deal with it and we're good friends.

And the little cocksuckin fucks in Government don't see a penny outta me as I get my Winstons online, dutyfree.

So stick that in your pipe and eat it.

Warmest regards and happy smoking,
Gaines

Originally posted by Doctor Doom:
People who go into bars and complain about smoking make no sense to me. You're doing far more damage to yourself by drinking than you are from breathing second hand smoke for a few hours. You don't like the smoke, don't go to bars. It's the same kind of mentality as people who move into an urban neighborhood because they want vitality, and then start trying to get places shut down because of noise.

The only people who have a valid case on this issue are the employees, who don't really have a choice as to smoke exposure (except to seek out a different line of work).

I for one am a nonsmoker, but against the smoking ban. However, your logic here makes no sense at all. To say that everyone who goes to bars are heavy drinkers doing more harm than the smoking is not even close to reality. I for one am a light social drinker and have been known to only have a couple drinks. Trust me when I say that the second hand smoke I'm breathing in for several hours is far worse for me than the one or two beers.

That being said, smoking is just a part of that bar environment and those who don't want to be around it have the choice of not going.

I like the idea of restaurants being nonsmoking as I should never have to be subjected to smoke (especailly cigar smoke) while enjoying a meal. Bars however have a different atmosphere and smoking is expected and tolerated in that setting.

I've wondered if it would be practical and/or profitable for someone to open a nightclub/bar in DC that caters to nonsmoking patrons?

Just playing Devils Advocate here: If smoking bans have worked in New York City and Los Angeles, why couldn't one work here?

Rhett, substitute "smoking" with any other word – abortion, guns, Democrats, Republicans – and what you've got there is just generic boilerplate internet debate. Boring!

I don't think a non-smoking bar would be profitable, or someone would have already tried it. It's just a fact of life that people who hang out in bars tend to be smokers. In fact, many people I know smoke *only* in bars, and are nonsmokers the rest of the time.

We've had this discussion here before…

But I for one would be much more likely to go to a bar for a drink or two if bars were nonsmoking. As it is, the smoke is my #1 reason I don't frequent bars (unless a very good band is playing).

I am willing to wager that nonsmoking in bars would be a big draw, and more customers such as me would be drawn in.

my only problem with smoking bans (and i'm not exactly referring to DC here) is that they are often passed by referendum … the people who vote FOR a smoking ban in bars are often people who DON'T GO TO BARS! … a public referendum on this issue is similar to banning gay marriage or some shit, the people who it DOESN'T AFFECT vote for it

now, there's no referendum here, but i'd be interested to see a poll of local bar-goers to see how they feel on this issue (or even better, a poll of bar workers, which this bill is supposed to be helping) … i'd gather that smokers would gladly give up smoking in restaurants if we could still smoke in bars, and i've seen informal polls in various washpost articles of bar workers who nearly unanimously dislike the bill

and why aren't there more private businesses opening for people like rhett? the new open city in woodley park is non-smoking and it's actually kind of nice, you can go there, or you have murphy's right around the corner if you feel like having a smoke with your beer … choice is great, huh?

Originally posted by Shadrach:
Just playing Devils Advocate here: If smoking bans have worked in New York City and Los Angeles, why couldn't one work here?

I'm a very light smoker (only on weekends, if I'm drinking, then only 3 or 4…). Not excusing it by any means, but admitting that I can do without.

The ban does seem to work in NY, and I have to say that clubs with bands are SO much more pleasant without the smoke. You can always go outside if you can't make it for an hour, and actually it's quite a social scene outside.

But, I'm not 100% convinced, I just know that I'd be happy with a full ban (I don't think it would impact places like 9:30 or Black Cat at all…Bowery Ballroom still sells out nearly every show).

Seriously, catch up to the rest of civilized society and ban smoking in public places. You know it's the right thing to do.

Ten Years Later…

Seriously, catch up to the rest of civilized society and legalize gay marriage. You know it's the right thing to do.

Sensing a trend here?

Originally posted by Bags:
You can always go outside if you can't make it for an hour, and actually it's quite a social scene outside.

yeah, the irving plaza smoking area rocks!!!

<img src="http://www.fozzilinymoo.org/events/2001-LWCE-NY/images/0127/irving-plaza.medium.jpg" alt=" - " />

there it is!! (but now they have a rope around it and you have to wait a while to cram out there)

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
yeah, the irving plaza smoking area rocks!!!

Hey, I've been there. I never said it was glamorous, but I always strike up a conversation while out there and I find it pretty cool. (Must admit to never needing to smoke in the rain…that'd be a bummer).

Smokers can buy there cigs duty free - but they are still a slave to big money corporations. Where do you think that money goes? So stick that up your ass you pathetic addict. Why should I have to deal with smoke because you are too weak to quit. It's a proven hazzard. Maybe I should smash my bottle over your head. It would make me feel good - but obviously would be bad for your health. Count the days, enjoy your smokes while you can. It's going to be over sooner rather than later. And life will go on without you. You will be stuck dragging around an oxygen tank or locked in an iron lung. Enjoy the growing cancer in your lung, and the hair falling out of your head from the chemo.

Is smoking nicotine more addictive than either cocaine or heroin? According to leading drug addiction experts it is. This picture shows the nicotine addiction warning label on an actual pack of Camel cigarettes from Canada. Although youth in Canada and in all European Union nations now see addiction warning labels, since 1990 the U.S. tobacco industry has used its muscle to successfully stop the United States Congress from passing a bill to warn U.S. children and teens of the true power of nicotine to de-sensitize and enslave their brain reward pathways.

It's the exact same message that the over 4 million killed by tobacco each year failed to receive during their youth when they placed those first cigarettes to their lips while trying to look so darn cool and grown-up - NICOTINE IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

As shown by the recent HONC study, it takes just a few puffs on a few cigarettes before the mind begins experiencing an endless nicotine crave cycle. Did you know that 90% of all smokers became addicted while teenagers? So who were we really trying to imitate, real adults who were smart enough to never start, or the 90% of addicted teens who simply grew older? If 90% of all smokers start as teenagers, what age group are the tobacco companies (run by adults) working hard to addict?

Do you consider yourself addicted to nicotine? Are you a drug addict? Do you live from fix to fix? How is addiction defined? Although definitions vary a bit, most include the following factors: (1) a dependance on the substance; (2) its compulsive use; (3) tolerance; (4) damage to the user; and (5) withdrawal symptoms once the substance is taken away. Hi! My name is John and Iâ??m a â??nicoholic!â? Oh, I'm quit, arrested my dependency and am totally comfortable now but like true alcoholics, we nicotine addicts always remains just one powerful puff of nicotine away from commencing the onset of full and complete relapse.

The tobacco companies successfully addict 2,000 new teenagers in the U.S. each and every day and 100,000 worldwide. Thatâ??s over one million teens each year. CDC statistics show that most teens want to quit, have tried to quit (73%), but few have been successful (13%). I guess misery does love company because, sadly, many addicted teens help their friends and classmates join the ranks of the permanently addicted.

This picture is of the European Community addiction warning label that seeks to inform and protect children and teenagers in Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Sweden. Sadly, there is no warning of impending chemical addiction for U.S. children and teens. Instead, those pushing, selling and promoting nicotine products in the U.S. are teaching children that smoking is just a nasty little habit.

And where does all the drug money go? It goes to the local seller (a drug pusher of sorts), to the tobacco company (the drug supplier), to the tobacco farmer (the grower) and to the government as takes its tax slice of the drug pie. Iâ??m convinced that millions of adults would rather see our youth continue to become addicted and take their money, rather than to stop or control this madness. Here in the South Carolina, USA, you canâ??t go into any supermarket, pharmacy (thatâ??s a kicker), bowling alley, gas station or restaurant without someone or some machine offering to sell you nicotine.

Each and every day up to 100,000 children and teenagers become addicted to nicotine, while the addiction pipeline pumps 4.9 million wonderful humans into early graves. Thatâ??s four (4) times as many people as killed annually by all other drugs, car accidents, suicides, homicides, and AIDS deaths combined. How many mothers would go out and purchase heroin to give their teen a drug fix? According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control there were 4,175 heroin related deaths reported in 1995. Mom, your child is 100 times more likely to die from smoking related causes than heroin related ones.

We need to change the way we look at nicotine use and addiction. Is it cool to smell like an ashtray, have bad breath and watch your teeth grow stained while your gums grow diseased? Is it cool to live your entire life from nicotine crave to nicotine crave? Is it cool to surrender control of your life to chemical commands, to become a slave? How strong is nicotine? Well, for every 20 nicotine addicts who attempt to quit on their own only one succeeds in doing so for a year. It was supposed to be cool, remember?

Even newly addicted youth can almost feel the tar and other chemicals as they begin to build and gradually impair their breathing. They can feel the damage while trying to run, swim, dance, sing or engage in other energetic activities? They don't have to wait on lung cancer, emphysema or heart disease before seeing tobaccoâ??s awesome power. For most, it will happen shortly after their first few cigarettes, as soon as nicotine takes control and commands them to smoke some more nicotine NOW!

If you want to see where nicotine addiction can lead then read Sean's, Noni's, Bryan's, Kim's, or the tragic stories of others. Nicotine never lets up, the accelerated decay and damage never takes a break, and breaking free will never be easier than it is today. Take a quick peek at how thousands are breaking free with the help of serious online education, support and counseling. The site is called Freedom from Tobacco and it's a classroom and support group all rolled into one. Knowledge is power! We hope you'll join us!

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/addicts.html Why Quit?

Originally posted by jsnow2:
So stick that up your ass you pathetic addict.

there's no one i like more than anti-smoking internet trolls … you rock!!

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