It is also a known fact that most cigarette industries place more chemicals to keep their victims addicted to their product of tobacco, thus making most other items that help them quit useless. Have you noticed this yet?
An Augusta Chronicle editorial July 12 maintained that North Augusta's proposed smoke-free workplace law is "too tough." It ought to be tough!
The U.S. surgeon general has said no level of exposure to secondhand smoke is safe. People who work in private clubs and places such as American Legion posts deserve just as much protection from secondhand smoke exposure as those who work in office buildings and restaurants.
Protecting workers' health is at the heart of North Augusta's proposed smoke-free workplace law. That draft ordinance and the city of Aiken's recently passed ordinance are both similar to Greenville's smoke-free law, which has been upheld by the South Carolina Supreme Court, and is often heralded as the model smoke-free ordinance for cities and towns statewide. At least 16 municipalities in the Palmetto State, including Columbia and Charleston, now restrict smoking in private clubs to protect workers' health.
It is regrettable that our state leaders have not created measures that truly protect all workers from secondhand smoke. Fortunately, local leaders such as the ones in Aiken County and the cities of Aiken and North Augusta have been willing to effectively tackle this issue and safeguard the health of workers, residents and visitors.
I applaud the elected officials in North Augusta for approving the first reading of this comprehensive law, and trust that they will stay the course.
Steve Hobbs, North Augusta, S.C.
Comments
It is also a known fact that most cigarette industries place more chemicals to keep their victims addicted to their product of tobacco, thus making most other items that help them quit useless. Have you noticed this yet?
best argument i've seen yet for banning smoking in public.
While I feel there should be no restrictions on the use of drugs, including tobacco, I feel their use should be confined to the privacy of the home. Any addictive properties and the tendencies thereof will have to be dealt with by the individual since he will be the one facing the consequences of his actions.
When you take a job working at a bar you know what you are getting yourself into. If you want a smoke free environment you do not get a job working at such places.
Drinking kills more innocents than smoking ever has and quicker, but hey as long as that 6 time reapeat dui offender doesn't smoke in the bar, all is good!!! Drinking should not be allowed in public and you would have less deaths, restrict that to home!!!!! These people really don't care about public health if they did they would be putting a stop to alcohol in public or at minimum drunk drivers... but they make a ton of money off the booze so they let it stand and be a danger to every innocent family driving down the road!! Peoples priotities are screwed up, they can turn the other cheek as long as big dough is being made!!
Hobbs, this is america, politicians should Not be dictating what someone does with their private business enterprize!
I have recently quit smoking after smoking for over 30 years. The whole business about second hand smoke is just a myth perpetuated by "do gooders" and I hardly think that the U.S. Surgeon General qualifies as an expert in all areas pertaining to health. We as citizens of this country allow the government to continue to pass laws to protect us from ourselves. When all this crap about smoking started, I wrote to every elected official asking for statistics about how many auto accidents were caused by people smoking in their cars versus how many accidents were directly attributed to alcohol. Of course there was zero response from any of them. What gives the government the right to control what occurs in a privately owned business when that activity is legal? Go ahead and cruise into your local gas station and fill up and watch how much beer is sold at the same establishment in brown paper bags. Wake up America. Next they will be telling you where you can worship and who you can associate with. Oh yeah, they already do that don't they!!!
It the government is really so concerned about all of our health why not make tobacco products illegal???? They aren't going to do that because they make to much revenue off it. what hippocits they all are. I am a smoker but I am curtious about it, I don't smoke where I feel it would bother others but I feel that it should be left up to the business owner, if most of his or her patrons smoke and they feel they will lose business then they should be able to choose. In Dublin, Ga there is a resturant that only caters to smokers, if non-smokers want to come in they can but it is advertised as a smokers establishment, and it works.....
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