When we asked our bloggers to suggest some new discussion topics, the issue of schools and businesses going tobacco-free immediately came up. It’s a very relevant issue. In the last few months alone we’ve had both school systems, Northern Hospital and a number of restaurants prohibit smoking and chewing tobacco. Looks like Surry Community College might be next. Do the public health benefits of such policies justify the restrictions? Or are we going too far?
Lights out on lighting up?
November 14, 2007 by brookcorwin
Posted in Brook's Blog, Schools | 16 Comments
16 Responses
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I think it should be the way it is. There is nothing more sickening than walking into someone’s smoke. I hate it. I hate it. It makes me want to puke. If the school has that policy, start using it!!! Not everyone is going by the policy, especially coaches and their helpers. They are still chewing on the sideline. As for the hospital, why are they still being allowed to smoke at the emergeny entrance? And not only there, but at the side door? Stop them now. If you put something in place, do what you say you will do. It is my right as a non-smoker to not smoke in my lungs. You invade my body when you do it. And on top of that, nothing makes me more mad than to see a mother in a car “smoking” with her new baby or children TRAPPED in the car!!! What are you doing to them??? Killing them!!!!
Oh…and by the way, NO WE ARE NOT GOING TOO FAR!!!! I HATE SMOKING!!!
AND ALSO…HOW ABOUT KEEPING YOUR CIGARETTE BUTTS IN YOUR CAR!!!! I HATE THAT TOO!!!
If people want to do use tobacco products that’s their right. If a business wants to enforce a tobacco ban again it’s their right (and a generally wise business decision). If the government wants to enforce a public ban on tobacco, as much as I might agree with them, I doubt I would support it. It simply isn’t the government’s place to run people’s lives – even if it is for their own good. I think we’ve had enough of our civil rights eroded away in the name of “security” and “the public good”
While I personally find tobacco use disgusting, both my parents have been smokers and I have numerous friends that use tobacco. It’s something you just deal with, ask they to stop, go upwind or go away no one is forcing you to breath in their smoke. While there’s a lot of good science on why second hand smoke is bad, there are so many pollutants and carcinogens in the air we breathe the difference second hand smoke makes to a non-smoker or someone from a non-smoking house is pretty trivial.
I’m glad to hear that Surry Community College is considering in becoming tobacco free. Not becoming tobacco free usually means standing in or near entranceways, parking lots and other areas where non-smokers have to pass though. Secondhand smoke IS a health risk As far as the college goes, remember – it also shares the campus with a high school.
I will continue to rant.
When I am forced to inhale second-hand smoke, does this not violate my civil rights? I choose NOT to smoke yet I am taking in toxins from this smoke that could endanger my health. When someone drinks a beer, I am not forced to share that beer with them. But when someone smokes, they share it with everyone around them. Like someone said in the other topic…Smoke doesn’t know how to read and stay on the smoking side of a restaurant.
What about smokers’ children? I grew up in a smoking household and suffered for years as my parents lit up around us. Sore throats, allergies, asthma, not to mention the STENCH!
It’s obvious to the world that smoking, whether first hand or second hand is detrimental to our health. Parents who put their children at risk by exposing them to cigarette smoke…are they not willingly endangering their children’s health? If a parent forced their under-age child to drink alcohol, it would be an issue of abuse/neglect. Why shouldn’t smoking around them be classified as some form of abuse? It makes no sense to me.
I will continue to rant on this subject and I will continue to call you smokers out in public who lack common courtesy and decency when you expose my children to your nasty habit.
If cigarette smoking ONLY affected the individual who smokes the cigarette then the situation would be different. But when you smoke you endanger us all.
Curious…have you guys seen the list of toxins found in cigarettes/smoke? Let me go see if I can find it!
Here are eleven of the
most toxic.
Acetone – A flammable, colorless liquid used as a
solvent. It’s one of the active ingredients in nail polish
remover. The tobacco industry refuses to say how
acetone gets into cigarettes.
Ammonia – A colorless, pungent gas. The tobacco
industry says that it adds flavor, but scientists have
discovered that ammonia helps you absorb more
nicotine – keeping you hooked on smoking.
Arsenic – A silvery-white very poisonous chemical
element. This deadly poison is used to make
insecticides, and it is also used to kill gophers and rats.
Benzene – A flammable liquid obtained from coal tar
and used as a solvent. This cancer-causing chemical is
used to make everything from pesticides to detergent to
gasoline.
Benzoapyrene – A yellow crystalline carcinogenic
hydrocarbon found in coal tar and cigarette smoke. It’s
one of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals in the
world.
Butane – A hydrocarbon used as a fuel. Highly
flammable butane is one of the key ingredients in
gasoline.
Cadmium – A metallic chemical element used in alloys.
This toxic metal causes damage to the liver, kidneys,
and the brain; and stays in your body for years.
Formaldehyde – A colorless pungent gas used in
solution as a disinfectant and preservative. It causes
cancer; damages your lungs, skin and digestive system.
Embalmers use it to preserve dead bodies.
Lead – A heavy bluish-gray metallic chemical element.
This toxic heavy metal causes lead poisoning, which
stunts your growth, and damages your brain. It can
easily kill you.
Propylene Glycol – A sweet hygroscopic viscous liquid
used as antifreeze and as a solvent in brake fluid. The
tobacco industry claims they add it to keep cheap
“reconstituted tobacco” from drying out, but scientists
say it aids in the delivery of nicotine (tobaccos active
drug) to the brain.
Turpentine – A colorless volatile oil. Turpentine is very
toxic and is commonly used as a paint thinner.
courtesy of: http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=4&db=12&C0=1
I don’t think that anyone can successfully argue the fact that cigarette smoking isn’t hazardous to one’s health; both, the smoker as well as the victim from second-hand smoke. But, let’s look at this now from merely a business perspective. Nonsmoking customers/patrons/clients, who have to walk through the clouds to get inside the door, isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. Also, it could become stressful among the employees themselves. Have you ever worked at a place where the smokers seemed to think they deserve extended breaks just because they smoked? Personally, a no smoking environment in my opinion is a positive thing all around.
People gripe about people who smoke but they don’t mind taking the taxes that smokers have to pay. If a person wants to smoke that’s their right. Seems to me that the smoker has no rights because of whiners who don’t. When the goverment has taxed the smokers to death and they begin to hit the drunks and the makers of alcohol products will the drunks scream foul play, guess we’ll have to wait and see who sceams the loudest then.
Wilma, I can completely understand that you feel that you should be able to smoke anywhere, and that it’s your right to do so. Right? The problem comes in when YOUR right interferes with MY right to breathe clean air. Seriously, when I am around cigarette smoke, I have a very difficult time and I know there are others who would agree. As I mentioned previously, often smokers gather in front of the main entrances (where it’s still allowed) to have their smoke. Restaurants where it’s still allowed often separate the smoking and non-smoking section by one table. If it were in a different room across the way, I wouldn’t mind. The above are in regards to the health issues. I realize that there are smokers who don’t feel that second hand smoke IS a health risk. What if I don’t wish to take the chance? Should I be made to have to?
Seems like you people just have nothing to do except to try to start fights among youselves besides your opinions are the only ones that matter anyway. No matter what anyone says jevers seems to think his opinion trumps all the others. I have a suggestion, why don’t you give it a rest and go outside and breathe and try not to pick on the birds and bees.
Silver Kitten,
“Rant on” has three entries on this subject…the same as I do. Cleanairforall is behind me with two. This is what the blog is for – to state opinions. The blog allows folks to learn more about how the other side feels about an issue. I think that’s a good thing. Thank you for your time.
jEVERS…I enjoy your opinion. Keep on blogging….it’s not about the argue…it is fine.
Thank you “Rant on”. I’ll continue to rant on too! :o)
Please do!!!
LOL, you know me!