Germany, Lower Saxony: Restaurant owner, Michael Windisch has managed to avoid the indoor smoking ban, introduced in August, by placing three holes into the side of his building allowing his patrons to technically smoke outside.
The three holes allow the patron to stick his/her head and hands through the wall so that they may smoke without leaving the inn.
The ban which inspired the ‘Smoking Point’ is expected to raise in popularity as more smoking bans are introduced in Germany on January 1st, 2008.
the offence is smoking inside, and "outside" is defined as not being "significantly enclosed". Therefore, the holes in the side of the building in the England and Wales would have to be >50% of the structure not to be illegal.
I for one welcome the opportunity to eat in a restaurant without the food being contaminated by thoughtless t**ts ciagrette smoke.
I wonder if anyone realizes that aside the health industry (that just needs something to blame every decade) hailing smoking as the next plague it didn't actually affect the so called second hand smokers (unless those were continuously in unventilated and heavily smoked in areas) any more than say someone sitting next to you in a restaurant wearing some heavy perfume. Sniffing perfume is not healthy either: let's ban that! Although many believe that smoking is bad, the fact of the matter is, there were laws in place previous to these bans that required various food establishments to have a smoking and non- smoking areas. Before anyone yells that non- smoking areas were still somehow affected by smoke, let me say that many asthmatics (who otherwise react to smoke sharply) attested to the opposite (if properly ventilated). Of course, it's easier for a majority to just claim that since it's a choice a minority makes... well, no one really cares that you now have to go stand outside well away from any entrances in all weather if you (still, despite all the self righteous fury of non-smokers) want to have a smoke. It's not like any of us indulge in anything "bad" for health otherwise, right?
Teh points I was trying to convey is: 1. Those who didn't smoke, weren't affected by smokers all that much unless they chose to go to bars where a vast majority smoked. 2. Just because you're convinced that smoking is bad, should not give you an excuse to force your opinion on others via retarded laws.
*retarded because they don't protect those who don't smoke, and infringe of others freedom of choice.
I do believe that smoking bans also keep in mind the safety of employees who are exposed to dangerous 2nd hand smoke over extended periods of time. As a former waiter, I KNOW that working in a place that allowed smoking was hurting me and I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT MY HAZARDOUS WORK ENVIRONMENT AS IT WAS, OR QUIT... which I did.
True enough, I do have to agree on that point. ...on the other hand, it isn't the only on-the-job hazard there is. There are a lot of jobs that come with worse (won't bring up police and firefighters): anyone who works with glues or paint has to smell those; anyone whose job is outdoors has to be in all weather (even when it's -40F); anyone who stares at a computer screen all day ruins their sight quickly. besides, somehow I don't believe it was the waiters that petitioned these laws or that it was passed simply to protect them. Again, I'm just a biased smoker who can't enjoy a coffee and a smoke anymore. :)
Ok, why wouldn't I just walk outside? It would definitely make me feel uncomfortable to have my hands and head on one side of a wall and my backside on the other with a room full of drunks. I give this idea an F.
"Do people really have to smoke while eating? I mean you only eat for around 30 minutes to an hour. You can't go that long without a smoke.
I'm glad for bans of resteraunt smoking"
Do you really have to vote? I mean, there millions of other people who do. Do the police REALLY need a conviction to send people to jail, I mean, they know who's guilty.
Do you really need a computer, electricity and central heating, people did fine before those things. I've never eaten in a restaurant that allows smoking, I honestly cant think of any that ever did. If I went to a restaurant that allowed smoking, I'd go elsewhere, dead simple, doesnt require me to force my will upon others at diown the barrel of a gun.
@Tib Me too, know what I did? I quit. I decided that bthe pay I received was inadequate for the job I did and the risks I took and so found another.
I think you know there is a big difference between something like smoking at a certain time and sending people to prison. What is meant is why do smokers choose to smoke during the meal, instead of before or after? (Not only ruining the taste, but generally being bad manners).
@arhaic - all those other jobs you mentioned have several things going for them - hazard pay, laws protecting the rights of the employee, hazard protection clothing etc.
So in order for bar staff to safely work in a smoke filled bar they will need ventilation, breathing equipment and better pay. All of which will come at the expense of the tax paying smoker.
I think for all concerned it is better to just ban smoking indoors.
On a personal note I think smoking should be banned in and around places of work (In fact just banned in general) because the outside smoking areas just mean non-smokers have to go through all the smokers. This may or may not be unhealthy (Hasn't really been proved either way, no matter how much each side want to argue) but is unpleasent no matter what you say.
"What is meant is why do smokers choose to smoke during the meal, instead of before or after? (Not only ruining the taste, but generally being bad manners)."
Because they want to? Why do they have to play that song so loud Because they want to?
As I've said, I would refuse to eat in a restaurant that allows smoking, I dont support smoking whilst eating, but if a person wants to do it, and a restaurant wants to let them, thats fine by me. I wont eat there, but I see no reason to stop anyone else who choses to.
"On a personal note I think smoking should be banned in and around places of work "
And again, I simply wouldnt work there in the first place
