Its on its way... Public Smoking ban?

[Brynn]

[QUOTE=fable]But in Budapest, with it's "non-smoking areas," just how do you avoid being covered outside and inside with cigarette fallout?[/quote]
There's no way to avoid it

[Quote=Fable] Smoking is a favorite passtime, and smoke doesn't stay on its appropriate side of the restaurant. This has been a regular problem for us whenever we visited the beautiful city--though to be fair, the Netherlands and especially Germany were worse.[/QUOTE]
I just don't understand why it's still a question, smoking in restaurants. OK, let them smoke in the street if they want, most of the time I can keep a safe distance, but smoking when others are trying to eat is just so disgusting

I think smoking should be banned from all closed areas.

[jopperm2]

@VD, I don't know why I didn't think of that. You're right there, better health does mean better productivity. I don't think health care is a big issue though as most bar and restaurant employees have none. It's mostly sich days and general employee morale I would be interested in. I should know, I was a restaurant manager for about 4 of my 9 years in the workforce.

[Shadow Sandrock]

I'm actually quite happy about the smoking ban in Rhode Island.

I can finally go to concerts without having an asthma attack! And I go to a lot of those, that's where all me money goes

[Yshania]

Grr. Too many posts and too little patience to quote. Rob! I am with you at least!

I am a smoker, I roll my own - not that it is better for me, or easier on those around me - it is cheaper and actually more "pleasant" to me. That does not make me any more or less considerate as a smoker, I observe no smoking rules where reasonable, or I avoid the areas.

I never smoked whilst pregnant, and I don't smoke around my kids (or anyone elses) in confined, unventilated spaces.

I think it ridiculous that smoking should be banned in open air, though I agree wholeheartedly it should be banned in restaurants, though I do not buy into the "protect the staff" I have worked in the service industry - by choice!

I am getting pig sick of do gooders, not just on this issue, but many others that lend theirselves to being good for the majority.

Remember that - at least in the UK - 30% of people smoke, more drink, most drive. If all of these sinners were to drop their habits - the economy would collapse. UNLESS!! We started to sup fuel too, that would bolster the tax revenue for a while...smoking it might cause a few fireworks though, especially if partaken at the same time. Hmmm...then our national health system would collapse completely. Maybe the UK should legalise brothels and cannabis fully, that way we might find a balance controlling the underground habits.

OOPS!!

I forget! Our new victim is the driver - speed cameras everywhere! Catch the good guys - they pay up! Heh! Catch the guy smoking at the wheel and hit him with three points for not being in control of his vehicle...that tapped with being 3 MPH over the limit and you have him half way to losing his license. Tidy! Woah! If he takes a sip of water from a bottle *eek* he has nigh on lost his license...he daren't change gear now, he might have to take his hands of the wheel!

It does my head in.

It has been illegal in Dublin for a couple of years now, but I hear the bars provide covered areas outside. I don't mind going "outside" for a smoke, so long as the guy standing next to me doesn't mind going outside for a fart

A few years ago I was diagnosed with active TB. For nigh on a year of chest xrays, my chest consultant was unable to fully determine whether I smoked or not (I lied) That same year, I had a guy come around to "fix" my pc - he was able to determine (by the "type of dust" in my pc) that I was a smoker. Amazing.

I have my poisons, they are mine, and I guess I am the typical addict for ranting. I don't rant at anyone about where I believe they could better spend their money, health and time. I don't tell my neighbour that jogging is good for him - since I know it adds five years to his life - but he spends three of them running. Running is cheaper than affording gym fees.

Too many left wing bleeding hearts and little long term logic. I accept FULLY the risks of passive smoking, but don't expect I will accept your rants as completely justified. If I can live with you non-smokers, you can accommodate us. I am happy with an ashtray outside a building, all you need to do is put it there. I am happier to find a bar that does not serve food, then the choice is yours - if you want a beer with me, then join me. If not, I will pop into the nonsmoking area once in a while to say hello.

Yours sincerely

Social Pariah.

[jopperm2]

Yeah, i don't like do gooders either. And I'm with ya on the cameras thing. We don't have them here though except at toll booths. I'm okay with those.

One thing I can't stand is someone who wants to save the world.

[Magrus]

We have those camera's here in NY now, and they're phasing out the old license plates to get new ones with barcodes so the camera's can scan the license plate, send the data in and mail you a ticket.

I've got no problem with just actual dried tobacco if people want to smoke it in a place it won't affect those that don't smoke. But the ratio of those who roll their own compared to those who buy the crap in packs put out by most companies is so far off balance in the favor of those packs with all the junk in them, I don't see everyone switching over for health reasons.

I mean, my cat...my CAT, is addicted to menthol cigarettes because she loved the minty taste in them and decided to keep stealing my mother's cigarette's and chewing on them. I'm not trying to save the world, but wandering around and all of the sudden getting a face full of smoke and having to stagger and gag and wonder whether I'm going to have an asthma attack from walking past a building or something in town, or at a party or whatever, has REALLY turned me off to smoking in general.

[fable]

[QUOTE=Brynn]There's no way to avoid it


I just don't understand why it's still a question, smoking in restaurants. OK, let them smoke in the street if they want, most of the time I can keep a safe distance, but smoking when others are trying to eat is just so disgusting

I think smoking should be banned from all closed areas.[/QUOTE]

Brynn, I suspect this will happen as more tourists arrive from areas with a low smoke tolerance and a strong knowledge of the effects of smoking. But it's unlikely to be a uniform thing, since Hungarians like their cigarettes, and no government wants to push through a measure that will seem dictatorial. But you probably have a much better understanding of your government's inner workings than me.

In any case, if it happens gradually, Budapest will be the first to jump. Typically, my wife and I eat dinner a lot earlier than usual when in Hungary, simply to escape the smoke; then, later, if hungry, we find a dessert shop. This strategy really paid off the last time we booked a table at the Owl's Castle, because it was nearly empty when we arrived; but a large party of Germans (with ashtrays thoughtfully arranged alongside every chair!) were expected by 7 PM.