State of WA to go smoke-free as of 12:01 am Dec 8

[lindisfarne]

A minute after midnight, the statewide smoking ban that voters approved last month goes into effect, and Wedgwood Broiler's lounge — along with every other bar in Washington — must go smoke-free.

The ban applies to all workplaces and public places, including restaurants, bowling alleys, skating rinks, nontribal casinos, private clubs and reception areas. Even cigar rooms and hookah bars are affected. Smoking within 25 feet of doorways also will be banned.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002669007_smoking07m.html

[noahmijo]

1. Hookah bars?? they actually have those??? only in Vegas I thought!?

That's it I'm movin to Seattle :)

[FVZA_Colonel]

3. They have one near my school, Seattle University.

Kids from SU go to it all the time, and have always had a blast. We even did an article in our school paper about how this new law will effect hookah bars. A lot of people here are really pissed off.

[lindisfarne]

5. Just how will it affect hookah bars? Will they be able to hook the hookah

up to some pipe that carries the smoke outdoors? or will it be a non-smoking hookah bar?

[newscott]

19. This is too funny I'm from Massachusetts and I thought you meant

a bar that prostitutes hang out. You know, a hookah bah.

[AntiCoup2K4]

25. Bring 25 ft of surgical tubing with you and plug it in?

That would be in compliance with the law.

[meganmonkey]

8. We have one in Ann Arbor too

I think they're gettting trendy or something

[darkism]

2. Good to see, but...

...applying it to establishments DEDICATED TO SMOKING doesn't exactly make sense.

[jannyk]

4. We've had the ban here in California

for years. I'm a smoker and haven't been in a bar for as long. Even 'Arnold' had to set up a tent in Sacramento so he could puff on his cigars. We spend a lot of time in BC (Vancouver) too and they instituted the same provincewide ban a few years ago.

Don't see how you can have a 'Cigar Bar' under the ban tho', sounds bizarre.

[MisterP]

7. oddly enough, AHNULD's smoking tent blocked several drains,

flooding several offices last year when it rained

[Beaverhausen]

12. And CA taxpayers paid $300,000 for it

:mad:

[stepnw1f]

6. I Don't Agree with This

Private biz should be able to allow smoking if they want to. Especially if they alreadt cater to smokers only!

And I used to smoke so there... nya.

[progressivebydesign]

9. I'm doin' the happy dance!!

As the wife of a working musician in Washington State, I can only say thanks to the majority who voted this to law. I thank you, my husband's kids thank you... And as someone who is extremely allergic to cigarette smoke, I thank them on my behalf, as well.

From our experience living in the city that first banned smoking in California, I can say (and the local chamber of commerce concurs) that business IMPROVED for restaurants and bars after the ban... so much so that neighboring cities had to enact their own bans to win back customers that fled for smoke free eating and drinking establishments... AND more people in those areas quit, and less started.

[High Plains]

14. I hope for your husband's sake you are right about the economic

consequences. I, for one, will not be paying a cover charge to go see him at a bar where I cannot smoke.

[mntleo2]

17. Me Neither!

And since smokers are one of the biggest tax bases for Washington State, they ought to get together and begin boycotting. Over half if the state's income is from regressive taxes and guess which on is the heaviest taxed??? Boycott everyone beginning with the politicians who sponsored this petition as well as every person and business who supported it.

This person's husband could have just worked in nonsmoking places, nobody's holding any gun to anyone's head and making him work there. Sheesh.

My 2 cents

Cat In Seattle <---who DETESTS moral nannies!

[Beaverhausen]

18. As a singer/musician myself I agree. It is much better

When they banned smoking inside in California, smokers whined a bit at first then they just get used to going outside. and I don't have to try and sing while breathing smoky air.

[mntleo2]

10. It "Passed" Along with The Messed Up

...voting issues in WA. As A WA citizen I wanted to ask, if they could not even count the governor's race right, and this issue was also on the same kind of ballot procedure, why is it that none of the other votes are not messed up as well?

It is a ridiculous law IMO put out by a bunch of moral nannies who are so busy looking over other people's shoulders, they do not see their own problems. I detest moral nannies!

Cat In Seattle

Edited for mistakes

[lindisfarne]

11. No one's saying you can't smoke in your private home/car. They're just

saying you can't endanger the health of others (except for your children/spouse) with your second-hand smoke. I'm all for making it illegal to smoke in the presence of children ANYWHERE.

[mntleo2]

15. Then You Should Also Not Drink, Dress, Spank, Or Allow

...children into the bathroom or your bedroom when you are dressing or doing your business, as these things have also been considered to damage them. As a matter of fact, perhaps you should not have sex with your spouse in your home because the kids might walk in...

I am sorry but if a business wants to allow smokers, then nonsmokers can go somewhere else. Nobody is holding a gun to non-smoker's heads to go in to such places, anymore than it is for smokers when they patronize a non-smoking place. It should be a matter of choice.

As for smoking out in the open air, sorry, the smog generated by most of these busybody's cars makes the air far worse. Just take a look at any city skyline and you can bet your life it is *not* cigarette smoke causing the smog hanging over it.

How about all the chemicals these blatherskites dump from their toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines every day into the drinking water that damage people? How about all the garbage they generate that pollutes the land around them? It goes on and on.... With such thinking as making it illegal to smoke in your own home, someone should take this stooooooopid law and use it as well to start going after private citizens to make sure NO pollution happens as well!!!!! Then watch these same people squeal like pigs.

This law is just another moral nannyism that tries to dictate what adults can and cannot do with their own bodies. What a bunch of bunk!

cat In Seattle

[Cascadian]

21. I have to agree.

I am asking myself what the hell is next?






John

[lindisfarne]

24. Smoking around children is quite different from all of the above. Studies

have shown that children who grow up in households where someone smokes tend to have smaller lungs than children who grow up in households where noone smokes. There are other serious health issues for children who grow up in smoking households as well.

For example "Children's lungs and respiratory tracts: Exposure to ETS decreases lung efficiency and impairs lung function in children of all ages. It increases both the frequency and severity of childhood asthma. Secondhand smoke can aggravate sinusitis, rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic respiratory problems such as cough and postnasal drip. It also increases the number of children's colds and sore throats. In children under two years of age, ETS exposure increases the likelihood of bronchitis and pneumonia. In fact, a 1992 study by the Environmental Protection Agency says ETS causes 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections each year in infants and children under 18 months of age. These illnesses result in as many as 15,000 hospitalizations. Children of parents who smoke half a pack a day or more are at nearly double the risk of hospitalization for a respiratory illness.

The Ears: Exposure to ETS increases both the number of ear infections a child will experience, and the duration of the illness. Inhaled smoke irritates the eustachian tube, which connects the back of the nose with the middle ear. This causes swelling and obstruction which interferes with pressure equalization in the middle ear, leading to pain, fluid and infection. Ear infections are the most common cause of children's hearing loss. When they do not respond to medical treatment, the surgical insertion of tubes into the ears is often required.

The Brain: Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to suffer behavioral problems such as hyperactivity than children of non-smoking mothers. Modest impairment in school performance and intellectual achievement have also been demonstrated."

I frankly have no respect for anyone who would smoke in a house where there are children, or in any venue where children are allowed. If anyone caused the above health problems to children in some way other than smoking, we'd consider them to be negligent or abusive parents.

[eridani]

26. I'd call 0.01% agreement between 2 machine counts and one

--hand count as close to right as you can ever get. And the hand count added votes to all three candidates' totals, exactly as predicted from the known tendency of opticanners to slightly undercount.

[High Plains]

13. I hear they have nice bars and restaurants in Idaho...

Sorry, Washington. You're a nice state, but I'll take my business elsewhere. And I won't be staying at the Westin Hotel, either.

[mntleo2]

16. Make Sure And Write The Westin And Tell Them!!!! n/t

[Cascadian]

22. It also looks like Oregon is going to be a very happenin' place.

Seattle's loss is going to be Portland's gain....for the time being anyway.

In Portland....

1. Last call is 2:30 AM.

2. You can drink booze at the strip clubs and even lap dances are allowed. Unlike Seattle!

3. You can also STILL light up at the bars too!

I know where I am going to visit the next time I am able ot take a road trip!

[lindisfarne]

27. Yes, Portland will attract those in Southern WA who want to smoke but will

it lose those from OR who prefer the non-smoking environment of WA?

[Little Star]

20. A little off topic but I have to ask

I clicked on this thread in LBN and saw that it was moved to WA forum. Why is the thread below it about 50 Black Bears killed in NJ still in LBN? Did you WA guys do sumptin bad???? LOL

Was a waitress for many years. Establishments back then had special ventilation and you really could not even smell a hint of smoke. The smoke went up to the ceiling so fast you couldn't have breathed it in if you tried. This is what is wrong in public establishments today. Makes me wonder what kinda germs you can't smell that are spread in these places today. Health conscious people should be worried about stuff they can't see or smell so easily. Everyone should be screaming for top of the line ventilation in all public places including those windowless hotels they are trying to kill us in, talk about a germ infested environment.

I live in MA and we have been in the 'no smoking police state' for quite a few years. I now smoke and no longer go out to eat or have a drink. If I have no choice but to grab a bite out I choose fast food in my car. Westin is off my list of hotels also. Peace.

[lindisfarne]

23. I'm not sure why it was moved.

I expect that the moderator will also move "Florida House rejects amendment to require lawmakers report gifts" to Florida, CNN: Sources: Menendez tapped for U.S. Senate seat (New Jersey) to New Jersey; and so on. Otherwise, the moderator would be being inconsistent. The issue of banning smoking is not just a Washington-state thing.