North Carolina Is Latest State To Ban Smoking In Public Places
July 3, 2009
North Carolina has joined the growing number of states imposing strict limits on smoking in public places and places of employment. The new statute prohibits smoking in state government buildings and state owned motor vehicles. It also bans smoking in state psychiatric hospitals. In addition, smoking is now prohibited in all “enclosed areas” of restaurants and bars. The statute allows smoking in “designated smoking” guest rooms hotels, motels, or other “lodging establishments.” However, no more than 20% of the rooms may be designated as smoking rooms. Smoking is also permitted in “cigar bars” so long as the cigar bars are freestanding and the smoke from the bar does not migrate into areas where smoking is prohibited. The term “cigar bar” is clearly defined as an establishment that generates at least 60% of its revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages and 25% from the sale of cigars. It must have a humidor on the premises and prohibit entry to anyone under age 21. Cigar bars will be required to make quarterly reports to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services regarding their revenues. Smoking is also permitted in private clubs. Persons managing restaurants and bars where smoking is prohibited are required to post no smoking signs, remove indoor ashtrays, and to require anyone who smokes to extinguish his or her tobacco product. If a patron continues to smoke after being advised to stop doing so is subject to a fine of up to $50.00. Local governments may elect to impose more re-strictive guidelines, so long as they do not conflict with the state statute. Local guidelines may include modestly higher penalties for repeat offenders. The new law becomes effective January 1, 2010.
July 3, 2009 at 10:00 pm
An alternate to smoking bans
Separation of smokers from non-smokers combined with
air exchange technology is the best solution to this largely
artificial problem. Authorities should set reasonable standards
for indoor air quality with technology and monitoring doing the
rest.
Such standards are common in industrial and environmental
contexts but, to date, no country in the world has set them for
smoking areas. It’s clear that the reasons are not scientific,
nor are they economic or technical: they are political.
As to the annoyance of smoking, it is easily dealt with by the free
market’s providing what its customers demand. Proper ventilation
can easily create a comfortable environment that removes not just
passive smoke, but also and especially the potentially serious
contaminants that build up, independent from smoking and
unnoticed, in smoke-banned environments.
Two good information sources:
http://smokersclubinc.com
http://pasan.thetruthisalie.com
July 4, 2009 at 11:48 am
Since these bans are all about health, they should be required to put the Chantix and Zyban warning on all of the government issued “No smoking” signs to prevent lawsuits by forcefully coercing residents into using a dangerous product.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fda-orders-harsher-warnings-on-zyban-chantix-2009711538360
July 16, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Awesome!