Smoking curbs clear hurdle in home of Marlboro man (Virginia)

[underpants]

Source: AP

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — In a sign of how vilified smoking has become, lawmakers in Virginia — where the world's largest cigarette factory churns out Marlboros — passed curbs on smoking in restaurants.

Monday's 59-39 vote in the House of Delegates approved a watered-down bill that allows smoking only in private clubs, outdoor cafes, designated smoking rooms and establishments that are off-limits to minors.

And the proposed penalties are hardly draconian: a maximum civil fine of $25 for smokers or restaurateurs who defy the law.

Still, the measure is a step beyond anything yet contemplated in Virginia. Year after year, more ambitious smoking bans have failed miserably before a legislature that meets in a Capitol where frescoes of golden tobacco leaves adorn the rotunda's ceiling.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iau7na-4Js_ygSXGlfgOvGJQdq4QD968G4F00

---

And among other Republican amendments, a requirement that smoking areas be separated by a door and separate ventilation was weakened to require either a door or an independent air system, not both.

Restaurant industry lobbyist Tom Lisk noted that nearly 70 percent of the state's restaurants have already banned smoking, and that business improved because of it. He also said requiring restaurants to establish smoking-only cocoons with separate heating and cooling systems could put hundreds of small establishments out of business.

[skypilot]

1. I'm a smoker and frankly...

...it surprises me that there are any restaurants left that still allow smoking. I haven't smoked in a restaurant in over twenty years. I'd thought they'd all gone nonsmoking by now.

[K8-EEE]

2. Thank you SkyPilot

Threads like these invariably bring out the"I'LL SMOKE WHEREEVER I WANT DAMN IT" brigade -- nice to know there are still polite smokers out there.

I know when I smoked, I NEVER would dream of not asking people if they minded before light up. And I quit when I was 25, over 20 years ago! I don't know what happened to smoking etiquette.

[underpants]

3. This is Richmond

I don't know if they still do it but it used to be that you could take a 30 minute tour at Phillip Morris and get a free pack of smokes at the end.

I went there TWICE on field trips in elementary school-we got a Phillip Morris ink pen :-)

Personally I think that restaurants should display their health inspection score (I've seen that in NJ on the Food Channel/Bourdain) AND what their smoking situation is. If I am with my buddies (who smoke) and we are having beers and maybe eating we would probably opt for some smoking option-if we have the choice. With my family--no smoking of any kind if that is possible....we do go a few places with smoking at the bar but we are pretty far removed from it.

[LostinVA]

7. You have to display your health code score in NC, too

Plus, in NC, they publish ALL the area ratings in the newspaper once or twice a year. Nice to know where the B and C places are!

[underpants]

9. Exactly

information is power

[LostinVA]

5. Phillip Morris used to OWN Richmond, and thus teh Delegates

They still do, but public opinion is eroding that strangelhold bit by bit.

Good!

[underpants]

8. Bliley ---> Cantor

Bliley introduced Cantor to the Richmond crowd (he was on his staff) and gave him the "He's okay he will protect you" thumbsup

I am told that physicians HATE Cantor (exact opposite of the AMA supporting Repubs elsewhere) because he works to stop every single thing they try to push through directly or indirectly.

[LostinVA]

I believe it!

[LostinVA]

10. I believe it!

[Winterblues]

4. already banned smoking, and that business improved because of it.

That has proved to be the case in Anchorage Alaska as well. In Juneau Alaska a ban on smoking even in bars was passed Jan 2008 and bar owners complained all year about losing business but at the end of the year alcohol tax revenues had increased dramatically. The city said they had expected a $20,000. decline in revenues from alcohol sales and were actually shocked when the figures came out and revenues were actually $86,000. higher..

[underpants]

6. The other thing that is never mentioned here is lower health premiums

for anyone buying health insurance within a jurisdiction with smoking regulations

also there are much lower health COSTS for the localities-which everyone in it pays in one way or the other