Focus | Kaine marks beginning of smoking ban
December 1, 2009 by afp
Filed under *VirginiaPoliticsToday.com
Three-year effort leads to statewide ban
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
With AFP Video
A multiyear effort that began with Gov. Tim Kaine signing in 2006 an executive order banning smoking in state buildings was realized today with the implementation of a statewide ban on smoking in most restaurants and bars.
Kaine said today in Staunton that the ban is “one of the strongest” in the country with impacts on patrons and employees at restaurants and bars across the Commonwealth.
“Virginia has become a leader nationally in our economic indicators, we’ve become a leader educationally, but frankly, in too many of our health indicators we’ve not been a leader, whether it’s in the way we treat mental health, whether it’s other issues, like infant mortality, obesity, smoking, we’ve not been a leader. So today is a big step forward for health,” Kaine said.
________________________________________________
AFP Video: Gov. Tim Kaine talks about the smoking ban
________________________________________________
Kaine crisscrossed the state to mark the implementation of the ban, which was approved by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year. The narrow exceptions to the ban allow smoking in private clubs and restaurants with designated smoking rooms that are structurally separate and separately vented from non-smoking dining rooms.
Many restaurants had already gone smoke-free in anticipation of the Dec. 1 implementation date.
Secondhand smoke is responsible for as many as 1,040 adult deaths per year in Virginia, according to the state health department. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that the state spends $105.3 million a year on health care related to exposure to secondhand smoke.
Twenty-seven other states and the District of Columbia have also enacted similar smoking bans.
NoTobaccoNet on Tue, 1st Dec 2009 9:26 pm
There is a simple solution to all of this!
If smokers embrace electronic cigarettes, then the issue of smoking bans will be mute. There is no second-hand smoke, no odor, no carcinogens, no CO2, and no mess like ashes, butts, etc. from electronic cigarettes. If smokers of tobacco cigarettes would switch their habit to a non-tobacco electronic cigarette, we would have no further need to further infringe on the personal freedoms of any one group.
If you are smoker, consider it as an option.You won’t be inhaling all the chemicals and carcinogens that you currently do from your tobacco cigarette. If you are a non-smoker, learn about the technology, and pass the information on to your friends who are smokers. The electronic cigarette is a win-win in so many ways.
You can learn all about this technology including the contents of electronic cigarette vapor and other information such as scientific studies fully documented at my informational website, http://www.NoTobacco.net/Blog
Thank you
Lucke Strike electronic cigarette on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 11:11 am
While e-cigarettes are not perfect it is hard to argue that they are not a better alternative to tobacco.
Dave smokeless cigarettes on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 11:13 am
Electronic cigarettes are positioned to be a big hit this holiday season e-cigarettes are a very unique gift for any smoker because of all the benefits. They are a Healthier, Cheaper and more Sociably Acceptable alternative to tobacco cigarettes.
They are the gift that keeps on giving.
Todd on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 1:11 pm
I lived in Florida for the past several years and they have a smoking ban in public buildings there. I’m so pleased that they are doing the same here.
It’ll be nice enjoying a meal without the second-hand smoke.
Baja K on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 10:08 pm
Criminalize the victims. Let the perpetrators do what they want.
Ah…what nice “concerned” cigarette bans. But cigarette makers will still face no bans on secretly contaminating typical cigarettes with residues of any of about 450 tobacco pesticides, dioxin from chlorine pesticides and bleached paper, cancer-causing radiation from still legal phosphate fertilizers, any of about 1400 untested and often toxic or carcinogenic non-tobacco additives, burn accelerants that lead to so many fires and deaths, addiction-enhancing additives, and kid-attracting sweet and flavorful and soothing additives.
Smoke ban laws are fake pretenses of being “concerned” for health, while they actually work to protect the cigarette industry…including those adulterant suppliers, and all of their insurers and investors.
Google up “Fauxbacco” for more. Or try “Smoke and Illusion Bill Drake” for the whole—unreported—story. It’s good to know what we’re talking about.
partheparthe on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 3:14 am
ok I do agree on the e-cig front with commenter number 1, but what about the negative effects:
http://electroniccigaretteinformation.org/2009/11/26/negative-health-effects-of-electronic-cigarettes/
you have to be careful there hasnt been enough studies yet!
I do trust brands like this one that are made in the US though:
http://electroniccigaretteinformation.org/smokestik/