smoking-free environment

I heared that the British parliament voted yesterday a new law that prohibits smoking in all pubs and clubs in England and Wales from 2007. Other countries also did that in the past. Though I know this will be a great problem for the smokers, I think this could be a big step towards a smoking-free environment.

I used to eat at a restaurant that has separate tables for non-smokers. But the separation was done only by placing 4 tables in a corner where in the spring and summer a window can be opened to get the smoke out. So basically, each time I ate there, I also pasively smoked one or two cigarettes. It's the same all over the places in my country. And not only in restaurants, pubs, clubs. For non-smokers this is a big problem. And let's face it, whether the people that smoke acknowledge it or not, smoking is only bad for their health.

So, what I'm asking here, is do you think smoking should be banned from all public places?

I voted "Yes".

Unlike in Romania, most eating / drinking joints in Germany don't even have a separate section for smokers. So, every time I visit a restaurant, bar or a pub, I actually return home with my clothes reeking of cigarette smoke.

I am all for banning smokers from forcing their exhaust into my lungs and from spoiling my clothes.

I voted yes too. Staying in California, where it is banned indoors where people collect in public, I know how good it feels not to be inhaling smoke..

As a matter of fact, recently, quite a few cities have started the trend of banning smoking in beaches too ( a stronger reason for banning smoking in beaches being the awful amount of cigarette butts left behind )

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As a matter of fact, recently, quite a few cities have started the trend of banning smoking in beaches too ( a stronger reason for banning smoking in beaches being the awful amount of cigarette butts left behind )

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Really? That's very interesing. :thumb:

I voted yes.

Most restaurant in Philippines are non-smoking. And there are already a lot of pub/bars/disco that also implement this ( in my city that is ).

It would be great if this will be an international law ;) "NO SMOKING" in public areas

In Japan, almost all restaurant have smoking area even McDonalds:(

Voted 'Yes'.

In Malaysia its already a law that public and closed places like restaurant/shopping complx/gov offices/schools or indoor outlets is a non smoking area. But I don't see much difference, people still runs into the public toilet to smoke, but its a lot better now than before the law. I see small but good changes.;):thumb:

Voted 'Yes'.

Same here in Singapore.

Well... what if an establishment caters to smokers only - like a bar/restaurant ? You have to be of age to enter, and there are signs clearly visible to everyone who might choose to go in that it's for smokers. If a non-smoker tries to sneak in, then the owner chases the guy out with a big stick. It's one thing to protect the "innocent", it's quite another when governments try to make smokers 2nd-class citizens. Anyway, I've always believed that government officials are better behaved when they have a good nicotine buzz on. Smoke-free societies are an untested and dangerous idea, although I am thoroughly convinced I don't have the typical run-of-the-mill cold. :p

if it's for SOME public places, yes..
but it's a big no-no to ban smoking at ALL public places...

can't smoke at the beach?...that's a torture:D...they should ban people from eating too at the beach because unlike the food wrapper, cig buds is bio-degradable...

if they're so concern about the smoke, they should ban the oil-fueled vehicles on the public area too...and the factories also...:D...

I voted "Yes". Why do the smokers always forget that there are many ppl around them who dont like the smoke and the smell. In fact govts should make public smoke areas like public toilets (may be just next to them :lol: ) so that those who have urgent need to smoke go there are enjoy their ciggy, along with other smokers.

Although I am trying to quit for the N-th time.. but still i think "No".. dont treat smokers as criminals my friends.. :D

I voted 'Yes'. Reason for this is that here in Poland pubs or clubs do not have separate area for smokers and every time I want to have a beer, I have to wash all my clothes next day. I probably would not care, if there were separate rooms for smokers (or if cigarette smoke did not stink).

And I also live in town which is located over the sea and cigarette butts in sand are really annoying thing. You try to build a castle, dig in sand, and... yuck. and yuck again. and once more. Smoking should be prohibited at beaches too.

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Originally Posted by exterminator

Although I am trying to quit for the N-th time.. but still i think "No".. dont treat smokers as criminals my friends..

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Heh I do not treat smokersas criminals, they smoke because they are forced to. But just imagine that I am forced to eat a lot of beans, peas or cabbage (lets say that doctor told me that I need such a diet), so first I eat my lunch, and after that go to pub and being there keep farting, until all people's clothes start to stink... YUCK

Hob

I voted 'no'.
Speaking from a South African smoker's point of view:
We get fines if we smoke in our cars :eek:
We aren't allowed to stand on the sidewalk, in front of a building entrance
Cigarette adverts are banned
Cigarrette prices increase every 2 months, yesterday, it went up 51 cents.
So basically we get treated like criminals, while drunk drivers get away with so much. :sick:

I voted yes. I'm waiting for smoke free and cell phone free zones.

Lets make people who drive and talk on the phone second class citizens too.

the one I talked on the phone years ago was a MAN not a woman, now iam really confused how come the guy became the gal :confused:

i life in austria - we dont have laws against smoking in the public in generel but in some restaurants and public buildings we do have a smoking ban.
i stopped smoking abd i am against a generel Ban - because people would get crazy *g*
(of course - my clothes suck too... )

in Italy ( neighbor and loved summer Holiday Location) they banned smoking in bars - so many of my friends don't want to go to italy for holiday because of that.

yeah i hear of that too, you should NEVER go there, i highly advise, some of my friends got stuck there can't leave because of some things they can't tell me, but after things are through, heck, see them no more, blah blah blah

Here in New York they have passed a law that prohibited smoking in public buildings, the owners could pay to get a smoking licence if they really want one. I do agree with this though, I myself do smoke but for the sake of the people that do not I think that they should be entitled to go out and not get smoke blown in their face.

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Originally Posted by Hobson

Heh I do not treat smokersas criminals, they smoke because they are forced to. But just imagine that I am forced to eat a lot of beans, peas or cabbage (lets say that doctor told me that I need such a diet), so first I eat my lunch, and after that go to pub and being there keep farting, until all people's clothes start to stink... YUCK

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Really.. yucks.. :D

Yeah.. I agree there should be seperate... and even banned so that no youngster catches that habit.. i find it so terrible and not-quittable... :(

I voted yes too. Since January, smoking is forbidden in public places and thee workplace in Spain and I think it's a good thing. I smoke, but I also enjoy being in a place where my eyes don't sting and everything doesn't smell stale.

I voted yes too. I fully agree with Hobson. I usually use the same argument when I'm trying to convice someone not to smoke in close aproximity of other persons.

Krzemo.

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Originally Posted by Tom Frohman

I voted yes. I'm waiting for smoke free and cell phone free zones.

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Sure.. I mean , how many offices have made regulations to silence their cell phone ringers in office ( just like they do in cinema theaters etc.. ).. It's so annoying.. Would my whistling a tune loud within office be acceptable ?

I don't think this is about treating some one as criminals or such.. it just shows how people take their liberties for granted and make a mess of the whole thing when they could have been a bit more aware of the annoyances and harm caused to others in the first place.

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Originally Posted by Tom82

i life in austria - we dont have laws against smoking in the public in generel but in some restaurants and public buildings we do have a smoking ban.
i stopped smoking abd i am against a generel Ban - because people would get crazy *g*
(of course - my clothes suck too... )

in Italy ( neighbor and loved summer Holiday Location) they banned smoking in bars - so many of my friends don't want to go to italy for holiday because of that.

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I agree with you. Although I appreciate restaurants for example with a smoke ban since I think smoke around me makes eating generally really disgusting. I have nothing against a smoke prohibition on public places. On some public places it is forbidn already, like schools or bureaus.

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Originally Posted by HanneSThEGreaT

We get fines if we smoke in our cars :eek:

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That is completely rediculous, what next banned from smoking in your own backyard? :ehh:

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Originally Posted by HanneSThEGreaT

So basically we get treated like criminals, while drunk drivers get away with so much. :sick:

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Yes, it is totally okay to drive while your brain cells are being killed and making your judgement severely impared, but it is not okay to smoke, almost every accident I've seen about, it wasn't the drunk driver that was killed or hurt, it was some innocent person driving(or walking). Heres a story:

This past december 2005, christmas eve, a man waslking down the road was hit and killed by a drunk driver, that made me was very sad when I read that, not only because he got killed, but it was on christmas eve, and I used to live by him, so I sort of knew him, and he never did anything bad to anyone, he didn't deserve that, I think that driver should be castrated. :mad:

What is wrong with this world?

I voted yes.
I really dislike it when I'm in a restaurant and someone is smoking at a table next to me.

Being around smoke makes me lose my appetite,lol kind of ironic and weird. I don't understand how people can smoke while eating, its either one or the other for me.

I'm not sure people are aware of how overwhelming colognes and perfumes can be. Whether at a restaurant or especially in elevators, they make me woozy. I can understand not wanting to smell smoke during a meal, but some of the no-smoking laws are just too much.

yip!...perfumes kill me...I rather smell the cigs smoke than inhaling the higly inflamable toxic perfume:D...

while I can accept banning in certain public places, I don't agree with the banning at all public places...like at beach...it's funny they think the cigs buds are irritating while the plastic wrappers, cans, etc is nothing to them...just don't let anyone littering at beach will do...;)

nobody is saying that smokers are 2nd class citizen, criminals, not human or whatever. Its just that, some smokers are not so sensitive to other ppl especially in public. Most of them just don't care, as long as they can smoke. The fact that, the ppl inhaling the smoke are more prone to cancer that the one smoking it. Now everybody has the right to smoke but just be responsible about it. But knowing humans, who are likely to be uncaring and insensitive then we need to have something to refrain them from it, and that's probitional law.

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Originally Posted by Notsosuperhero

Here in New York they have passed a law that prohibited smoking in public buildings, the owners could pay to get a smoking licence if they really want one. I do agree with this though, I myself do smoke but for the sake of the people that do not I think that they should be entitled to go out and not get smoke blown in their face.

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Its really nice to see someone who do smoke, but is considerate to others who do not. :thumb:

IMO laws are not sufficient,people should obey them.:)

in my city smoking in taxi,busses,metro are forbidden in laws.
they wanted to prohibit it also in resturaunts but noone will obey them.:D
police officers can't fine all disobeyers.we are all friendly$.:D

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Originally Posted by ideru

nobody is saying that smokers are 2nd class citizen, criminals, not human or whatever. Its just that, some smokers are not so sensitive to other ppl especially in public. Most of them just don't care, as long as they can smoke. The fact that, the ppl inhaling the smoke are more prone to cancer that the one smoking it. Now everybody has the right to smoke but just be responsible about it. But knowing humans, who are likely to be uncaring and insensitive then we need to have something to refrain them from it, and that's probitional law.

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I agree with this.
When I visit people (which do not smoke) I won't light a cigarette in their house. As long as you try not to disturb or bother someone with your smoke, I feel it's OK

I said YES ( i dont smoke ..) :) :):)
I dont want my friends to get CANCER ... ( this will reduce some amount of cigarette taken by smokers .)
Even passive smoking is injurious to HEALTH !!

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Originally Posted by HanneSThEGreaT

I agree with this.
When I visit people (which do not smoke) I won't light a cigarette in their house. As long as you try not to disturb or bother someone with your smoke, I feel it's OK

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and I like this attitude.. !!

Smoking in public places is nothing when compared to the emissions from cars motor bikes and speedboats at these places. In a plant, we are not sposed to smoke but the machines right next to us are billowing out exhaust and evaporated coolant. Why dont we focus on the vehicles and the manufacturing instead of the freedoms of nature of habit of our fellow man?

ahoodin

And mrRee, there is...no smoking while posting at codeguru. :lol:

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compared to the emissions from cars motor bikes and speedboats at these places.

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Since there are so many sources of air pollution ...., so why to add one more? Is the air become better when someone smokes?

Krzemo.
PS: It is hard from smokers to understand those who don't smoke ....

Stop trying to tell people how to run their businesses. If you can't stand the second hand smoke, why not go to a bar or restaurant that has a smoking ban? Economics will balance out the number of smoking and non-smoking bars/restaurants. I don't smoke, but what they are proposing doesn't make sense.

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Originally Posted by Krzemo

Since there are so many sources of air pollution ...., so why to add one more? Is the air become better when someone smokes?

Krzemo.
PS: It is hard from smokers to understand those who don't smoke ....

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I dont smoke, but I still dont agree with the stupid ban!

ahoodin

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Originally Posted by Krzemo

Since there are so many sources of air pollution ...., so why to add one more? Is the air become better when someone smokes?

Krzemo.
PS: It is hard from smokers to understand those who don't smoke ....

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Even if every adult in the world smoked, it would cause less pollution than it would if we stopped burning coal worldwide. Also, do something about diesel fuel outputs. Between the factories, and the trucks, they are doing a lot more harm than smokers.

Let the smokers smoke. Most businesses already had places for employees to smoke. In one place, the breakroom on every OTHER floor was smoke-free.
Now, hundreds of employees turn a 7 minute smoke break into a 25 minute smoke-break, because they have to get their coats on, get to the lobby, go outside and take their 7-minute break, and then reverse the procedure.

Well If I own the buziness and I am a smoker, if I want to smoke at my desk I should be able to. If I have employees and I feel they should be able to smoke at their desk too, then why not? How many good detective flicks have you seen where the detective doesn't smoke like a chimney all the way through? :D I mean come on people...

If you want to tell me what is good for me why don't you all go be evil dictators. If I wanna smoke...and you dont want me too...you can always go jump in the lake! But you choose not to so just remember that...free will!

ahoodin :cool:

I

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Originally Posted by dglienna

Even if every adult in the world smoked, it would cause less pollution than it would if we stopped burning coal worldwide.

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That is not a point. Let say it in mathematics:

a=global pollution (a>0)
b="smoker polution" (b>0)

(a>0) and (b>0) => (a+b)>a
So less in mathematics : when U add something than that becomes always larger ;) :D

And I have to say that b can be much larger than a (from the person point of view) since it is more concentated. When smokers smoke in a room, it will not take too much time for concentration b to achieve the danger level :D (even if pollution a is filtered out to zero in this room ;) )

Krzemo.

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Originally Posted by ahoodin

if I want to smoke at my desk I should be able to

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Why not - only if U are alone.

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How many good detective flicks have you seen where the detective doesn't smoke like a chimney all the way through?

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Did U know that that image was developed and sponsored ( they payed a lot of money to film producers) by tabacco producers.;) And as I see it was effective :D - it conviced U.

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If I wanna smoke...and you dont want me too...you can always go jump in the lake! But you choose not to so just remember that...free will!

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U wanna smoke ... but maybe others which are forced to be near by U don't . Your free will is to smoke - others free will is to not to smoke, so if U smoke U take this freedom of choice from others - it is evil for sure.

Interesting observation: In Poland we have carriages in train which are smokers free and others for smokers. There are many peoples in smokers free part of train, but in the same time smokers part is almost empty. Funny is that many of persons in "smokers free" part of the train are acctually smokers. They go to corridor to smoke and sometimes they are catched and pay fine. Thay choose to pay fine from traveling in smokers part of train .... Just think about it.

Best regards,
Krzemo.

I voted no.

Boy all you people who voted yes are <insert something you find very negative indicative of selfishness and bad character>.

Can't you stop thinking about your little comforts for a moment and focus on
the larger issues.

As I write this, I note that the non-smokers are for the first time saddled with a vote-count that is < 60 %. :mad:

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Originally Posted by souldog

Boy all you people who voted yes are <insert something you find very negative indicative of selfishness and bad character>.

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Well... I read the original version so I know for sure what you think of non-smokers. :D ;)

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Originally Posted by souldog

Can't you stop thinking about your little comforts for a moment and focus on the larger issues.

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Yes, larger issues... Most health-insurances charge non-smokers as much as they charge those that smoke - people who are most certainly going to make the insurance pay for their almost certain expensive lung-treatment.

No, actually the smoker doesn't make the insurance pay.
He makes the non-smoker pay - in health and in wealth.

(Ironically, here in Germany, women pay a higher premium to private health insurance on account of being women - perhaps, one reason being that they will most certainly bear a baby. But, smokers pay as much as non-smokers do! I believe treatment for one lung-cancer patient costs so much that a good number of babies can be delivered in as much money!)

Of course there would be more pollution inside a room, but I was referring to in the atmosphere.

In Hollywood, when the script calls for an actor to smoke, he has to smoke, whether or not he smokes in real life. You can usually tell the ones that don't.

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Originally Posted by Krzemo

That is not a point. Let say it in mathematics:

a=global pollution (a>0)
b="smoker polution" (b>0)

(a>0) and (b>0) => (a+b)>a
So less in mathematics : when U add something than that becomes always larger ;) :D

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because a(global pollution) is a big number whereas b(cigs smoke) is only a small number, b can be neglected:p...

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And I have to say that b can be much larger than a (from the person point of view) since it is more concentated. When smokers smoke in a room, it will not take too much time for concentration b to achieve the danger level :D (even if pollution a is filtered out to zero in this room ;) )

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because you're talking about concentrated smoke in a room, if we take a as the smokes from an oil-fueled machinery in a room, this is more highly concentrated polution compared to b(smoker's polution)...so again, b can be neglected:p...

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Originally Posted by ahoodin

And mrRee, there is...no smoking while posting at codeguru. :lol:

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I got paid for smoking:D...

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I dont smoke, but I still dont agree with the stupid ban!

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all hail Lord Ahoodin...anyway, where can I put your life-sized statue?...at the City Square?...

@souldog: your statue is on the way and will be place next to Ahoodin's... :cool:

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Originally Posted by Krzemo

PS: It is hard from smokers to understand those who don't smoke ....

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note: it's hard for non-smokers to understand those who smoke...:p...

I'm a smoker and I think smoking should be banned and smokers should be treated like second class citizens. Maybe it'll help me quit. ;)

But seriously, I don't smoke at home, at work, or anywhere indoors. I think that is disgusting. I go outside for a smoke and I wouldn't eat at a restaurant which allowed diners to smoke indoors.

It's a filthy habit which I hope to quit (this time for good) before the end of this year.

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Originally Posted by mrRee

because a(global pollution) is a big number whereas b(cigs smoke) is only a small number, b can be neglected:p...

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Taking your logic...:
Because your salary compared to overall (sum of= big number) salaries in your country is only a small number, so your salary can be neglected so it should be removed:p .
And again, because your voice is so weak compared to choir .. so give up that sick logic and shut up ;) :D

The first and formost things that should be remembered is that

SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH (both smokers as well as ppl around)

and

IT IS A BAD HABIT (and ppl should avoid)

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Originally Posted by Krzemo

Taking your logic...:
Because your salary compared to overall (sum of= big number) salaries in your country is only a small number, so your salary can be neglected so it should be removed:p .
And again, because your voice is so weak compared to choir .. so give up that sick logic and shut up ;) :D

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ok...I'll shut up...but my anthelop want to say something:D...

my anthelop: neglected doesn't means to remove something...let say, I give 10 bucks to Bill Gate, so when he have to declare his current asset, my $10 will be neglected in the declaraton...

so, implement this into the global polution...if current global polution is at 10000 smoke/meter square, 10000 is from the factory, vehicles, volcanoes, etc while 0.1 is from all the smoke from smokers combined together...as 0.1 can be neglected, that's why the report only state the 10000 smoke/meter square:D...

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Originally Posted by chmanish

SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH (both smokers as well as ppl around)

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I hope you have a environmental-friendly type of car which does not produce smokes:D...

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Originally Posted by chmanish

IT IS A BAD HABIT (and ppl should avoid)

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yeah...we should ban fast food as it's a bad habit:D...

//actually, I've nothing against the banning at certain places(hospitals, closed premise,etc) but the ban is getting sicker and sicker(like at the beach, own car,etc)...smoking-free at ALL public places is a nut;)...