I just read an article in the newspaper about a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal concerning a smoking ban in Toronto. For 10 years a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants has been in effect.
Rates of hospitalization for heart disease have dropped.
17.4 % for heart attacks.
39 % cardiovascular conditions overall.
33% in hospital admissions for respiratory conditions such as asthma,emphysema or pneumonia.

Some experts say this sounds too good to be true. I think it sounds pretty optimistic also but even if the numbers are a bit skewed it stills gives credibility to bans on smoking.
I heartily support smoking bans in all public places as well as work places.
I do not allow smoking in any of the houses I build at any stage of construction. Smokers must go to the parking areas to smoke.

I admit I am an ex-smoker. I smoked from when I was fifteen until twenty-four. There wasn't the same stigma attached to smoking way back then. When I was first old enough to take a girl on a date to the movies the theaters still had the little ashtrays at every seat arm

Nowadays people with nicotine addictions are more frequently being viewed as being flawed in some way, at least in my neck of the woods. No longer being a slave to the tobacco companies lets me snicker at the poor souls who have endure the winter weather (at least 15 meters from the door) to get their fix.

What about your State or home town, is smoking banned there as well ?

 

Smoking has been banned in MA for several years. It was done in stages.

When we travel to places that allow smoking in restaurant or bars we +1 is a former smoker, I never indulged.

 

I believe we were one of the first places to ban smoking in bars. I don't miss the stink of cigarettes on my clothes when getting home from a night out. I remember going to a favorite bar on the day after the ban went into effect, and being amazed that I could see clearly to the other end of the bar.

 

FL has had a ban on smoking for several years now. So, when I go out of state and smoking is allowed it is strange. Though I have quit for over 30 years, I still can't stand the smell of smoke or stand the second hand smoke.

 

After just returning from a long weekend in Toronto, I can report I loved it. It didn't even dawn on me until we returned to Michigan and stopped to eat on the way home, and got asked the question - smoking or non-smoking section? Thankfully, that all ends May 1 in MI when our new ban goes into effect.

Footnote: I was 3 packs/day until 21 years ago when both my wife and I decided to quit cold turkey. One of the best decisions we ever made.

 

The culture has definitely undergone a radical change since the smoking bans have been in effect. I remember having college professors who lit up while lecturing, actors that used cigarettes as props, (great gfs that I dumped because I couldn't take the smell), the aura and odor of stale cigarette smoke in rooms, curtains, automobiles, etc.

I never really smoked, but we all breathed in a lot of second-hand, visible air.

 

The +1 says the smoking ban on submarines will be interesting (he anticipates problems). He commanded a nuclear sub.

 

My wife's a doctor, and in her patient note template at the VA--where she inputs the tests, labs, treatment plan etc, there is an optional template section for "Tobacco Use Disorder."

 

^ Welcome ace123! Haven't seen you post in Vintage before.

 

[QUOTE=dlq04,Apr 14 2010, 09:50 AM] Footnote: I was 3 packs/day until 21 years ago when both my wife and I decided to quit cold turkey.