The Hong Kong government has finally had the balls to push for a smoking ban scheduled to start in January 2007. As far as I know, all restaurants and bars that are open to minors will ban smoking. Naturally, places where minors are not allowed such as night clubs and discos will still allow smoking until a further ban in 2009. That's fine with me cause I never go to those places anyways. If all goes well, all the places that I do go to eat an drink will be smoke free.It looks like they are still debating over this issue. I continue to find it unbelievable. I was watching part of the debate they were having on TV the other day:
There's the pro smoking ban side that mostly consists of doctors, health professionals, and rights groups. Their reasoning is pretty obvious. Second hand smoke kills the customer, and even more so, the employee. A workplace with second hand smoke is a hazardous work environment. A deeper issue is that the large number of lung cancer patients is costing a lot of money to treat. The numbers indeed show that a good portion of the patients are ex-workers from smokey restaurants or bars.
The other side that is against the smoking ban is made up of restaurant owners and employees. They worry that with the smoking ban in place, the will lose all their business and with that, their jobs. Yeah... uh-huh... its soooo obvious that once smoking is not allowed, smokers will stop going out to eat, stop getting massages, and stop consuming alcohol. I'm sure they'll all hide in their homes and puff away there out of bitterness, blah blah... Don't give me that shit.
Why is Hong Kong so behind in the times?! Can't we be a pioneer for once? It took us years to start using unleaded fuel. It took us forever before we started recycling. Hong Kong is one of the most modern cities in the world, yet it can't join the rest of the civilized world and ban such an ugly and outdated habit.
16 comments:
Awesome! Personally I don't have anything against smokers. But I do agree banning smoking in indoor public area is a good idea.
Fear of revenue lost in business is very understandable. But people will need to take a step back and look at the big picture. The cost of medical treatment for smoking related illness is a hell lot higher than losing some regular customers.
Look at upstate New York as an example, smoking ban had been in effect for over 2 years. And most of the bars are still in business.
Bottom line is I think people are just too afraid to change. A change that will provide everyone including kids a nicer safer environment.
HUm... As I said before, I like TO have a Somking section that Would not Effect the Non- smokers on the other side, where is the Human rights in that?
Oh well, It is not a Perfect world. as 長毛 said, "煙民係病人, 煙係佢地o的藥, 你沒理由唔畀佢地食藥o家~" that is BTW very Bullshit.
re: arthur
Again, the main concern here is people who try to make a living need to be able to do it in a safe environment (i.e. without having to risk getting lung cancer). Look at the smoking rooms in airports. Those are do-able because there is no waiter or busboy in that room. Everyone in airport smoking lounges are virtually there on their own free will. So unfortunately, for restaurants, a smoking section doesn't work.
Furthermore, I don't see what's the big deal. The government isn't taking away your right to smoke. Its just saying that you can't do it in certain areas. That shit happens all the time. Its like them saying you can't drive on a certain street at a certain time because its reserved for pedestrians. Or its like saying you can't walk around naked in the street. You can walk around naked in your home, but not on the street. I just don't see why this minor change has to be such a huge issue.
In my perfect world, smoking would be illegal. We know its bad for you, we know it causes cancer, we know lung cancer costs a lot of money, and we know that smoking is only around so that fat cat tobacco companies can make their billions. But that's another blog entry altogether.
長毛 is right in the sense that smoking is a disease, but he is wrong because cigarettes are not the "medicine" that smokers need.
AH~hum...I think you mis- understood what I meant for Very bullshit~ 長毛 reasoning is very Bullshit.
I do think Banning smoking indoor is not going hurt the market that much... MIght for the first couple of Weeks, but I think the HK ppl Will get used to it.
Well, How about self served cafe House? or something like that... Get your Drinks/ food, and Bus your Own Trays. Less workers and all.. Some thing as the Smoking room at the airport~ But the gov. still bang that Forget about it, Different veiws in Different things. As I Said, I liked to HAVE a smoking Section that WOuld not effect the Non Smokers. Is that too much to Ask? Forget about it.
Posioning Others is one thing, I am just killing myself. Slowly and willingly. ah... Just not ready to quit.
re: ahsir
Is a non-smoking section too much to ask? When you take everything into consideration, I'm afraid it is.
I believe that I've explained this before somewhere along the line, so I won't really get into it. Anyways, the conclusion is that smoking rooms cost money to maintain. Plus, it is difficult to create smoking rooms that don't affect other areas of a restaurant. Take Cafe de Coral for example. Their smoking section is not bad. The smokers are isolated with panes of glass and a glass door. But once that door opens, I can smell smoke immediately. They've put in the extra dough to create a smoking room, but still it doesn't work that well. There is not much incentive to have a smoking room.
A smoking room is somewhat backward thinking. For the government to support having smoking sections is basically saying that they support a habit that is universally known to be deadly and costly. I'm sure they didn't just decide to go through with the ban without careful consideration. Bottom line is that smoking brings no value to society. Whatever economic value it brings is offset by the money it costs to treat lung cancer patients years later.
Look at the side that is against a smoking ban. Look at their argument: fear of revenue loss. They have no choice but to use this to base their argument because there is absolutely no other reason to not ban smoking. Smoking is bad, and it is no secret. Smoking rooms have no value. I know I am biased, but if I were a restaurant owner, looking at it from an economic standpoint, a smoking room is just not a sound decision.
Banning smoking is a sign of progress, and I'm glad Hong Kong is taking this very civilized step.
Just smoke at home, or outside lor...
Hum~NON smoking section to much to Ask ~ah u have the whole Resturants now.
A couple places I actually Like to have non smoking rooms~ KTV,Bars, Clubs, Cos.. I just Don;t want to stink up my clothes~ Even that I am a Smoker, being in a room for 3 hours and it is Filled with Smoke~ that is just too much...
HUm.. You Know how much it cost to create a smoking section? Not Much at all, It is just a room With a Ion- filter ( Which is a Low Maintance filter)+ a Couple doors. You See, the Smoking section in the Cafe del Coral is isolated, always at the back of the Store or Away from the Non Smkoing Section. So when the door swings open~ the SMELL should not travel that far to disgust the Others. And having a smoking room is a Backaward think? I think having a Smoking room is just maintain the Smoker's rights. also, I think just More giving Ppl the right choose, NOT making the decision for them. It is a Bad habit, and I think All the Smokers KNOWS that.
What do You see outside the NYC public area and Japan JR stations~ All cigarettes Butts~
Hey, I do think ban smoking in Resturants is an good idea~ and I believe that seperating the Smokers and Non Smokers should be done~
Alright~ Alright ~ forget about it. I see your point and I see that YOu think my points are just Non-sense~ So I am going to leave it at that.
Its cheap to create a half-assed semi-functional smoking room like the one you described, but as far as non-smokers are concerned, those rooms don't really work. A few large, powerful (read: expensive) exhaust fans might help the situation.
Cigarette butts are on the ground because irresponsible people don't dispose of them correctly. It is not the end result of a smoking ban.
A smoking room is backward thinking because SMOKING IS BACKWARDS! Back when smoking was considered new and trendy, no one knew the ill effects of cigars and cigarettes. However, in the 21st century, there is absolutely no excuse. Even 3 year old kids know that smoking kills! Even with all the knowledge mankind has about the disbenefits of smoking, some stubbornly continue to do it. No matter how you look at it, smoking is an ill of society. In my opinion, no one should have the right to do it.
Well, smokers still have the right to smoke outside, so I don't see what all the fuss is about.
Not only HK, DC is so backward in the smoking ban too. Right now, you can still smoke in DC restaurants, clubs and bars. It sucks to have your clothes smell like an ashtray after going clubbing.
I support the smoking ban.
Smoker will soon NOT have the Rights to Smoke outside~ The walking district of Toyko.. ( Man, I forgot the Name of the place.) and the First smoke free country is Bhutan.
and I am going to leave it at that.
NO more fighting this Thing with you.
re: henry
Time to move to Boston or New York!
re: ahsir
I didn't mean to upset you, but I do feel strongly about this subject. As a friend, I also urge you to quit for your own sake. =)
I think the issue goes beyond economics and health... it's a question of how far does government go into controlling our lives. Just how far do we really need to be "governed"? For the legitimate health concerns of 2nd hand smoke -- agree, legit for bars & restaurants (enclosed areas) to ban, but outside???? makes me mad.... Government should focus on the root of the problem (e.g. educated youth from starting, etc) and stop tinkering w/the freedoms of choice of those already doomed w/this curse.
Re: Anonymous
I agree in that the educating the public (namely society's youth) is the right direction. But when is the last time kids actually listened to the detrimental effects of cigarettes when told to them by a figure of authority?
So do you think that the government should allow kids under 18 to purchase cigarettes, and just hope that they won't buy them having learned the ill effects of tobacco in school?
In a perfect world, education would be the way to go. Unfortunately, the effects of cigarette smoking has become just too devastating to our society. The silly side story is that the government won't do anything to deter big business from producing and selling this poison to our people. So what exactly is the best approach? Should smoking be banned, or should tobacco companies be shut down? Should kids be allowed to buy cigarettes while being told that cigarettes kill?
From a personal view, I feel that smokers can smoke all they want, as long as it doesn't affect others. Unfortunately, the nature of cigarettes makes it very difficult for people to smoke without affecting those around them. Its not like taking a pill or drinking booze. Cigarette smoke travels quite easily into the lungs of innocent bystanders. As much as I would like to uphold the rights of all citizens, I would like even more to uphold the right of non-smokers to live without having to inhale second hand smoke.
You do make alot of good points. Smokers who blow smoke in my face really bug me too... heck, if I wanted the smoke then and there I would've lit up myself! :) I don't know what the answer is, but I do wish I never started in the first place. And I definitely do not smoke in front of children or teens. In the meantime, I'll continue to try to respect the air for the Non-Smokers. Thanks for your thoughts!
re: Anonymous
First of all, thanks for your comments! Though you choose not to reveal yourself =) I really appreciate your comments.
I also have no solution to this problem. In a perfect situation, everyone would be able to do as they please while not affecting others. I have plenty of friends that smoke, and though I urge them to quit, I also want to respect their right to do as they please.
As to how much the government should butt in to our lives is another important topic. I once knew a guy who felt the government shouldn't make us wear seatbelts. Its not whether you should or shouldn't do it, but its having the right to choose whether you want to do it or not.
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