New York's outdoor smoking ban: Will the world follow?

[Gerald]

Smoking has been banned in many outdoor public areas in New York, including beaches, municipal parks and even Times Square.

City officials say the ban is designed to curb people's exposure to second hand smoke and reduce litter. It is a city heralded for attracting incomers from around the world, but New York has just become less hospitable to one group - smokers.

Under measures approved by local authorities, swathes of outdoor public places including beaches, municipal parks and even Times Square have become tobacco-free.

And with smoking legislations, as with so much else, where New York leads, the rest of the world can find itself following.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13538166

Note: 25 May 2011 Last updated at 07:04 GMT

[AVGWarhawk]

Here in Maryland smoking in many public places has been banned. Really nothing new to be sure. Being a smoker who has quit I can understand the second hand smoke and filters left behind smashed on the ground as being a nuisance. Certainly, the smokers days are numbered when it comes to public places.

[Gerald]

Here in Maryland smoking in many public places has been banned. Really nothing new to be sure. Being a smoker who has quit I can understand the second hand smoke and filters left behind smashed on the ground as being a nuisance. Certainly, the smokers days are numbered when it comes to public places. I think so too, :yep:

[TheSatyr]

Ah yes...the second hand smoke myth. The LA Times ran an article years ago by someone involved in the original Government research on it.

Some studies said second hand smoke was bad for you,some even said it was beneficial in some ways,but the majority of the studies showed that second hand smoke had zero effect.

The Government chose to go with the worst case scenario,even though the majority of the researchers involved disagreed with the Governments decision.

Ah well,smokers are the one minority group that people are encouraged to discriminate against.

[AVGWarhawk]

Ah yes...the second hand smoke myth. The LA Times ran an article years ago by someone involved in the original Government research on it.

Some studies said second hand smoke was bad for you,some even said it was beneficial in some ways,but the majority of the studies showed that second hand smoke had zero effect.

The Government chose to go with the worst case scenario,even though the majority of the researchers involved disagreed with the Governments decision.

Ah well,smokers are the one minority group that people are encouraged to discriminate against.

Me being on both sides of the fence...the second hand smoke "myth" you speak of is not really a myth. It is second hand. It affects those with lung problems such as asthma. No myth there. Furthermore, it stinks. It covers everything in the room with brownish tar substance. The filters are left on the streets to last for quite sometime. As far as discrimination...how so? Because someone would like to breath air minus particulate matter emitted by someone elses habit? I do not see banning smoking in public places as discrimination. I have experiened both worlds. Smoke free is simply better.

[August]

I've said since years that eventually people will be buying their tobacco in rolled up baggies. :DL