The anti-smoking nazis are at it again. This time in the armpit of America, the shitty ass state of New Jersey. As if I needed another reason not to go to the cesspool which is New Jersey, now they have banned consuming a legal substance inside bars and restaurants.
Banned in JerseyWhen it starts:12:01 a.m. tomorrow.
What it affects: Restaurants and bars; public transit areas; all public schools and school grounds; sports facilities, including racetracks and bowling alleys; health-care facilities; parking areas; lobbies; bingo parlors; malls; theaters; clubs; concert halls; museums; and libraries.
The state has proposed banning smoking within 25 feet of smoke-free buildings, but that rule could be amended.
Where smoking is allowed:Casino floors, cigar bars, tobacco retailers, private homes and cars. Hotels and motels may permit smoking in 20 percent of their rooms.
Penalties:Fines of $250 to $1,000 could be levied against patrons who smoke and establishments that allow smoking. Local health officials are the primary enforcers, but officials expect that business owners and customers will largely police the ban. If a patron violates the law, police can be called to issue a summons.
What I find ironic is that a lot of these anti smoking groups, most notable The Truth gets their money directly from tobacco companies or from taxes from tobacco sales.
They owe their livlihoods to the very tobacco companies they want to put out of business. Deep down they don't want tobacco companies to go out of business, becasue that would mean they would have to get real jobs. They just want to inconvenience smokers.
If a restaurant owner wants to have a nice establishment where someone can enjoy a nice cigar with their scotch, then why can't they do that?
Listen to my words, the next step will be an outright ban on somking, and then they will go after other things they deem as dangerous. Maybe they'll tax if you are fat, or give you a ticket for feeding your kid fattening food. Anything these no nothing dogooders don't like you to do, they will attack.
Posted by psugrad98 at April 14, 2006 07:47 AM | TrackBackThis is one issue that I disagree with you on. As a non-smoker, smelling smoke while I eat or even when I am out drinking, smoke kinda ruins my experience.
Many people say that smoking and non-smoking sections are the solution in many establishments. To me, that is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
Don't get me wrong, you can smoke all you want...just as long as I don't have to choke on it.
Posted by: mike Sassman at April 14, 2006 10:13 PMWhat if they had restaurants that catered to non-smokers. There are plenty of them, and I frequent them often.
But what about a restaurant that wanted to cater to smokers, after all it is a legal substance, why can't this person who owns his own establishment, pays taxes, and employs people, choose what type of place he wants to operate. Then, as a consumer you and I can either choose to go there, or choose not to go there.
That way, if you want to breathe easy, you can go one place, and if I want to enjoy my La Flor Dominicana with a scotch and water, I can go to where I would like to go.
Posted by: Tom at April 16, 2006 06:11 AMNow THAT I agree with.
Posted by: Mike Sassman at April 16, 2006 04:34 PM
