smoking ban redux

[waider]

Before the smoking ban came in, I was pretty laid back about the whole thing; I didn't mind the fact that the air in my local made other, more sensitive peoples' eyes water, or that I'd have to toss everything in the laundry pretty much immediately after a night out. Now that the ban's in place, I'm feeling more and more peeved at people who insist that screwing up my health and my clothing - and, more to the point, the health of the barstaff - is some sort of right that has been removed from them. One of my barmen tells me that there's a high court challenge, and a politican is calling for the Vintners Federation and whoever else to get together and sponsor a consitutional challenge. Where the hell does it say in the constitution that you can wilfully endanger others just to satisfy your own addiction? Is it under the bit that says you have to drink Guinness in order to qualify for citizenship?

Comments

[candice.livejournal.com]

I still have problems with legislating behavior that is inherently personal. I really, really don't want to worry about say, french fries being illegal because they make people fat, and the slippery slope that goes downhill from there. I know, yes, you smell smoky after going out here. Most of the time at least. I'd probably be happier with it with a smoking-sections sort of deal. Being that I used to smoke in really inhospitable climates, having somewhere, anywhere, besides one's house which is gross, to smoke is nice.

I could so never move to california.

[waider.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, mostly I'm in favour of less legislation, more common sense and politeness and that sort of thing. Live and let live, do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. But I think that looking for constitutional protection for the right to endanger the health of those around you is kinda going overboard.

And let's face it, common sense and politeness aren't exactly all the rage in modern society.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I had the same reaction here after our ban. It's similar to the way i felt after i quit smoking. Telling, that.

[waider.livejournal.com]

Telling, that.

Heh. Hadn't thought of it that way. Still, though, as I said in response to candice above, what's irritating me most is the attitude of the dispossessed - not that they want to smoke in my space again, but that they think it's their right to do so. Heck, if they asked me politely, I might well let 'em get on with it.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's the same bullshit over here, too. It's just like going to a friend's house and the friend tells you that you can't smoke there — are you going to whine that your friend is stomping on your rights? Of course not.