VI Smoking Ban In Restaurants Should Result In Health Care Savings

I agree with you Alana. There are literally thousands of places to go that have firm no smoking stances. Why is it so very difficult for non smokers to just let us have a couple of places that they are free to stay away from.

What makes the non smokers the only ones to set the rules? We smokers should also have our places to enjoy ourselves without harassment.

What makes the non smokers the only ones to set the rules? We smokers should also have our places to enjoy ourselves without harassment.

It is a public health issue. 46,000 non-smokers killed by smokers each year. Isn't that a good reason.

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/

Exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and can cause coronary heart disease.
•Secondhand smoke causes an estimated 46,000 premature deaths from heart disease each year in the United States among nonsmokers.
•Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30%.

If there is proof that strong perfume is also killing a similar number of people then it should be banned as well.

"46,000 non-smokers killed by smokers each year"

Funny how back in the 50's and sixties there was not one death...and now there are 46K/year? Or is it 60K? Or 600K? My opinion is that there are some incorrect figures out there...ever met someone who died from second hand smoke? No? Me, either...nor has anyone else:

Death by second hand smoke

There is no proof that anyone on this planet ever died from second hand smoke...let alone a perfume...

Smoking doesn't bother me...ya wanna smoke, go ahead...

I'm not sure why this is segueing into the smoking/no smoking debate which has been hashed out for years. There are points to be made on both sides of the fence but the bottom line is that if you choose to live in a community where a smoking ban is in effect in certain areas then it behooves you to adapt accordingly. If you're honed up on the USVI smoking law and you believe that an establishment is flagrantly disobeying that law then you have actionable recourse. It's that simple.

http://www.healthvi.org/smokefree/about.html

Anyone know who I should report a restaurant to that allows everyone to smoke - at the bar in the restaurant - smoke is so thick at times you can't see (restaurant is on St John)

Thanks

Pia

I smoke so am always looking for a nice place to enjoy a drink and a smoke. Where's that place again?

I am grateful that there are places that have exemptions to the ban.
Then there are always "the smoking police" out to give you or the places that have the exemptions a hard time.
Smokers have too few places to enjoy so Please let us do so in peace.
Like'd your humor eiplanner
But if it bothers you that much, Piaa, why do you go there?
There are certainly hundreds, if not thousands, of other places that you can go where you won't be bothered.

Jeeze, whose strong perfume of aftershave just about knocked me over?

I have very strong feelings on this. I was living in Paris in 1994 when California banned smoking in all restaurants. This was 18 years ago. I came home for Christmas and since I was not up to date on local news I asked for an ashtray and was flabergasted that I could not smoke. Especially while living in Paris and smoking in banks and everywhere else.

Well I moved back to CA and I got used to it. I hated it but after a while you don't even think about it any more as it is the law.

I quit smoking in 2005 and boy oh boy do I appreciate it now. As a smoker it was inconvenient for my habit but now as a non-smoker having smoke in my face while eating is outright offensive. I am quite surprised that the USVI outlawed it so recently.

Even living in Puerto Rico it was a very pleasant surprise as to how FEW people smoked. I was expecting a lot more and really no one smokes. All the restauants are smoke free as well. And there are no loop holes. There is no smoking so people don't smoke. Step outside if you want to smoke at least you don't have to deal with harsh temperatures in the Caribbean you can comfortably smoke outside 365 days a year.

Sorry end of rant.

I am quite surprised that the USVI outlawed it so recently.

Well, two years ago and it was only five years ago that PR put their no smoking laws into effect. Island time ... !!!

The Iggies owner said they allowed smoking because they didn't have "three substantial walls." I'm not an expert on the law, I'm just reporting the apparent reason that some restaurants have smoking.

I guess it is like all other laws, they don't get addressed until someone reports the violation. And many businesses avoid confrontation by not enforcing the law.

I smoke so am always looking for a nice place to enjoy a drink and a smoke. Where's that place again?

In the privacy of your own home or those of your friends who smoke.

Public places are subject to the rules of the Health Dept.

Smoking police are out in full force, I see!
I can also go to those open air places that are exempt. Thank you.

The Iggies owner said they allowed smoking because they didn't have "three substantial walls." I'm not an expert on the law, I'm just reporting the apparent reason that some restaurants have smoking.

I guess it is like all other laws, they don't get addressed until someone reports the violation. And many businesses avoid confrontation by not enforcing the law.

I smoke so am always looking for a nice place to enjoy a drink and a smoke. Where's that place again?

In the privacy of your own home or those of your friends who smoke.

Public places are subject to the rules of the Health Dept.

Smoking Police are out in full force, I see.
Good thing I can also smoke where it is legal to do so in those open air places that are exempt. Thank you.
Just stay up wind..........STXBob.
Doubt my smoking in STT shall bother you all the way over in STX.

"Especially while living in Paris and smoking in banks and everywhere else."
Thank Goodness for the French OUI??

"Especially while living in Paris and smoking in banks and everywhere else."
Thank Goodness for the French OUI??

The weirdest smoking story comes from France. I broke my leg snow boarding in the French Alps. I was in a small villiage and everything was a little make shift until I got back to Paris.

So while in the hospital in Paris getting a cast the nurse was smoking? What?! Even in 1994/1995 it was very strange to have someone smoking in the hospital. I asked if she was allowed and she said no she was breaking the rules but it was still weird. SHe was smoking while attending to me in the hospital. Very odd.

In 1997 I was in Cuba and I was mugged. My tendon was severed and I had wounds up and down my right leg. I spent almost two weeks in the hospital. I was allowed to smoke and watch cable TV. I found out later the cable box was the staff cable for their break room but they were treating me like a celebrity. I also found out when I was dismissed that the hospital is 100% smoke free but they let me smoke.

It was all kind of a weird experience and I had at least a dozen visitors every day from other travelers from the hotel or friends of travelers, the police, doctors from other floors. The whole experience was odd.

Um, the actor Chad Everett just died of lung cancer at 72. Was he a smoker? Have you seen the movie "Buena Vista Social Club"? All the musicians smoke cigars, and they were active and alive into their 70s.

There are so many factors that contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. I'm convinced that DRIVING is more detrimental to your health, because it discourages people from walking even short distances. I was at my heaviest when I had to drive to work every day. When I went back to walking, I dropped those excess pounds without any effort, and have kept the weight off whenever I'm in a situation to walk regularly. People in other countries eat high fat diets and are thinner than most Americans because they walk more.

I just came back from Trinidad where the government encourages the residents to hike as an affordable family activity that gets them moving. Saw very few obese Trinidadians.

You can't just place the blame on one product or activity. It's usually a combination of choices.