Smoking ban in Philadelphia approved

[Tomahawk]

what ever happened to having the choice to go to a place that allows smoking or to a place that doesn't, seems pretty simple actually. 

Because any business, recognizing how much cooler smokers are than non, would not ban smoking without government intervention.

[QB Eagles]

Another thing I've noticed is that some concerts have music playing very loudly. It can't be good for the people who work at concert venues to be exposed to those decibel levels so often. So I hereby propose a new law stipulating that concerts and clubs may not play music loud enough to be have any detectable effects on the hearing ability of anyone who attends them every night.

[QB Eagles]

what ever happened to having the choice to go to a place that allows smoking or to a place that doesn't, seems pretty simple actually. 

Because any business, recognizing how much cooler smokers are than non, would not ban smoking without government intervention.

I'm not buying that. Black people are way cooler than white people, and yet a lot of places banned black people for years.

[General_Failure]

Nobody ever told bar owners that they couldn't smoke because of who their parents were.

[SD_Eagle5]

Ban to take effect starting Monday, I figured they'd wait till the New Year:

Philadelphia smoking ban begins MondayBy Natalie Pompilio
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
A law that bans cigarette smoking in bars and restaurants will go into effect on Monday, Philadelphia officials said today.

The legislation - passed by City Council in June but not signed by Mayor Street until September - prohibits smoking in all city workplaces, including galleries, sports facilities, restaurants and most bars. People who smoke in these places and business operators who allow smoking can be fined up to $300.

The law will be enforced by the city's Health Department and two new inspectors have been hired for this purpose, City Solicitor Romulo Diaz said. First time violators will be let off with a warning.

Members of the public who know of smoking violations can make a call to the Health Department at 215-685-7495 or send an email to healthdept@phila.gov.

Complaints received during normal working hours will be addressed immediately, Diaz said. Complaints received during non-working hours - like a Friday or Saturday night - will be serviced on the next business day. Diaz said inspectors would also be making spot checks on businesses during non-working hours.

To inform the public of the law, the city plans to have fact sheets available to businesses and residents by next Friday, Diaz said. The city will initiate a public service announcement campaign in October.

Diaz acknowledged that the legislation had several internal inconsistencies and needed some clarifications. City Council will address some of these issues when they take up a companion bill on Wednesday. That bill could also change the law's effective date to Jan. 8, 2007.

[ice grillin you]

perfect timing as i will be in philly for three out of the next five weekends

have fun on the sidewalks cancer givers

[Diomedes]

eat shtein and die, weakling

[mussa]

classic

[The BIGSTUD]

perfect timing as i will be in philly for three out of the next five weekends

have fun on the sidewalks cancer givers

 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

perfect timing as i will be in philly for three out of the next five weekends

have fun on the sidewalks cancer givers

 

You have nothing to contribute.  Please ban yourself.  That is incredibly accurate.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Welcome back to Government Intrusion 101

[rjs246]

Unbelieveable.

You know, other countries seem to be perfectly capable of functioning and being healthy without laws banning the ingredients to food. Americans are fat because a)we're rich and b)because we're rich we've become lazy as shtein. Banning fat isn't going to change that. We'll find new and amazing ways of expanding our fat asses. We're resilient like that. Put a hurdle in front of us and we'll find a way around it. It's what makes America great.

[General_Failure]

Can we get a ban on corn syrup?

[Munson]

Smoking is stupid, unhealthy, and a waste of money.

Go kill your lungs outside, I'm busy trying to breathe O2 while I'm eating. Delaware's had this ban in place since last May, and I love it.

Stop whining. If smoking's that important to you, then it shouldn't be a problem to walk outside and do it.

[rjs246]

Smoking is stupid, unhealthy, and a waste of money.

Lots of things are stupid, unhealthy and a waste of money. Beer, SUVs, $60 steaks from Mortons. Are you going to cheer and strut and get up on your high horse when the government outlaws all of those?

Idiot. I don't smoke and I hate this law. It sets a presedence that says its ok for a government to dictate to its people how they should live. That individual rights can be pushed aside when people whine enough about how smelly their clothes are.

You want the government mandating how you should live your life? No, you just want them to mandate how others live theirs. As soon as one of these 'for your own good' laws affects you you'll be singing a different tune. Of course you're probably too stupid to even recognize those laws and by the time your miniscule brain realizes what's happening it will be too late. Some of us have foresight and understand cause and effect. Clearly you, and every other whiney assfarg who complains about people smoking and applauds these laws, don't.

Not that I'm surprised by your simplistic outlook here. You've proven time and again that the notion of cause and effect escapes you. But I like taking these little opportunities to point out your idiocy and ridicule you accordingly.