Fortunately, so far, my smokers have been nice enough to go outside. They are conditioned to do so here I think. Poor smokers are not allowed to smoke anywhere - not even in a casino or a bar here. I am not and never have been a smoker but I really do not like the way they are being treated considering ALL the governments - state and Fed - want the tax money they bleed from the smokers and drinkers. Want to raise a tax - raise the "SIN" tax!
I think if a bar is a Smoking bar the non-smokers can easily go to a non-smoking bar rather than demand the smoking bar be forced to ban smoking. As long as it is known up front - no surprises - let them alone. As for the workers? If you are a non-smoker, apply at a non-smoking establishment..
Same as you, I've never smoked but banning it totally in bars seems a step too far. Surely it should be the owners choice if a bar is smoking or non-smoking and then the public can decide for themselves if they wish to drink in there or not. Nanny state again, or is it that people are incapable of accepting responsibility for their own choices.
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Like Eric, it was done here more for the employees than anything else. Sure you could say that only smokers should then go and work at a bar or restaurant, but that eliminates a lot of job opportunities. I actually opted to share an office with a guy who smoked rather than a woman who talked. The guy went outside to smoke (because he was courteous, not because he was required to) but the woman never shut up.
Banning smoking in the work place was an excellent idea. It is not countrywide here and you can still go into places where they have 'separate' non-smoking sections way in the back and you have to walk thru the smoking section to get there. The distinction? Merely a designated table for non-smokers, the smoke can't read the tent card tho.
Before smoking was banned from the workplace your clothing that you bought brand new smelled from cig smoke from people smoking in the stores! It was ubiquitous so you couldn't find a place to work where you could be smoke free.
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