Should Smoking Be Allowed Outdoors?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2011/02/24 16:00:00

Related Topics: San Francisco, smoking, New York

1,320 votes
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	Yes	972 votes	74%
	No	348 votes	26%

The great outdoors has become the last remaining option for many Americans in need of a cigarette break -- but even this might be going up in smoke.

Chicago and San Francisco already have initiatives to curb secondhand smoke in public places. Now, New York City will ban smoking in parks, beaches, boardwalks, pedestrian plazas and other public spaces beginning on May 23, Reuters reports.

"Frederick Law Olmsted hailed public parks as the 'lungs of the city' -- a haven where one could escape the overcrowded, noisy and polluted streets," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement after signing the legislation on Tuesday. "We need to ensure that our public spaces provide just that -- a healthy place in which to relax and enjoy the surroundings."

New Yorkers are not allowed to smoke in restaurants and bars. They are permitted to light up on sidewalks and streets as well as in parking lots and in their homes, although most landlords don't allow it.

Beginning on May 23, any New Yorker who's caught smoking in a "banned" public space will be given a warning, followed by a $50 fine.

Needless to say, the city's smokers are running out of places to puff -- and some are none to happy about it.

"This is tyranny, rationalized by a lie," Audrey Silk, director of New York Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment, told Reuters. "That secondhand smoke is harming anybody outside is an absolute lie."

+30

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mana kai 2011/02/24 19:03:13

Yes

+15
Just because you can smell a cigarette doesn't mean you are breathing a lot of second hand smoke in. People living in most cities breath in the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes a day from pollution.
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More polls by SodaHead Living

millermedia 2013/01/06 17:31:30

No

Smokers are the rudest people in the world. Please stay away from the entrance to a building, please do not smoke at garage sales or at the open air market while walking around. Please stay in one place and pay attention to which way the wind is blowing. There are ways to respect non-smokers if you trely want to.

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Monty 2013/01/06 17:25:46

Yes

i thought that's what they wanted to begin with. now some are upset about that???

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Balky 2011/08/08 19:30:19 (edited)

Yes

this should not be regulated at all by a government and at all beside places as gas station it is easy

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This is W³ 2011/04/20 14:42:19

Yes

It's the only place that smokers can be in nowadays.

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so done with bigots 2011/03/27 00:50:42

Yes

Let them smoke outside where there is plenty of air. If they don't, I can imagine how many children are going to be locked up in smoky homes with their addicted parents. And, just a little warning, sun isn't the only thing prematurely aging people with fair skin.

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Lefty 2011/03/26 19:21:31

Yes

Very dumb question! People smoke! You cannot stop them just because you feel like it.

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ThePurpleHaze 2011/03/20 01:39:53

Yes

yes, only on private property.

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Stephaniee 2011/03/12 18:02:49

No

Smokingg Should Not Even Be Allowed

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sweetedcherry2005 2011/03/12 07:05:09

No

No! I disagree, If allowed to damage the health of passive smokers.

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waynelaboy 2011/03/11 18:19:32

Yes

i don't smoke but it would be the funniest thing to see them blowing it in the cops faces...

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us 2011/03/10 04:13:06

Yes

Smoking outside is Okay, I understand in restraunts. Why is the government pushing so hard on smoking bans?

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Lori 2011/03/09 02:18:06

Yes

+1
Of course. It's legal. It's getting so smoking marijuana is more acceptable than cigarettes for crying out loud. And why is smoking cigarettes still legal???? Because the gov't makes a s@#t load of money on the tobacco industry and they aren't about to give that up.

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JohnG 2011/03/05 18:41:20

Yes

+1
I'm not a smoker, but the last thing we need is to take more freedoms away from people. IMO

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BigBrwnBeauty 2011/03/04 23:48:10

Yes

In designated areas...

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SharkKiller 2011/03/03 02:36:24

Yes

Or I'll just light up in the restaurant...and you can bill me the fine.

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Violet 2011/03/02 14:09:04

No

No! Smoking should not be aloud outside! I mean rly, when you think about it the polution gets even worse when people smoke outside. They should make some kind of special indoor place where people go and smoke! I mean, don't you hate it when your walking by a person smoking outside and they blow right in your face! I know I do. They need to stop smoking in our faces and start smoking away from us!

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ALL_BAN... to Violet 2012/07/16 20:36:40
pichithegreat 2011/03/02 09:12:57

Yes

+2
Yes, it has been proven that the farts coming out from the rear of the snubbish people in the political arena are more lethal than smoke in the air.

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Brad 2011/03/01 23:48:33

Yes

Yes, but only in designated smoking areas.

Although, I'd like to see smoking gone forever. Too many of my relatives have died from lung cancer caused by cigarettes....

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Lefty to Brad 2011/03/26 19:27:09

Cancer is caused by many things; solvents, electricity, and possibly from smoking.

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Ragu 2011/03/01 23:47:25

Yes

Once we let them ban smoking outdoors …
Next they’ll be banning masturbation indoors …

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xaylan 2011/03/01 22:36:32

Yes

+2
We already said that they cant smoke indorrs! At least them them smoke outside!

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Walter ... to xaylan 2011/03/02 07:27:11

Indoors SP Get a spelling checker.

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xaylan to Walter ... 2011/03/02 22:22:54

Sorry >.>

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darryl black 2011/03/01 12:00:29 (edited)

Yes

+1
Why not, Especially when there is more pollution being in direct contact with them. Exhaust from motor vehicles and buildings, public transportation which they inhale daily. I think that they should be worrying and dealing with those problems before trying to tell and stop people from smoking which is a choice they choose to live and like it's has been mention no one has the right to deny another's rights. And for those who don't smoke it's simple, don't like the smell stay away from those who is smoking. Those with asthma still deals with the fumes from public transportation, motor vehicles, buildings and allergries. I have asthma and smoking for 30+ years I know I shouldn't but thats the choice I made and at least I had the chance to choose.

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Walter ... to darryl ... 2011/03/02 07:57:04

We are dealing with other forms of pollution. This pollution has been decreased many times in recent years. There are some electric cars, a fairly large number Hybrids and fossil fuel run cars put out much less pollution than cars from the past. Modern diesel powered trucks also put out much less polution. This research will continue and pollution will also will continue to decrease. Fresh unburnt tobacco has a pleaseant oder but as soon as it starts burning a terrible stink permeates the air and it can carry yards and yards downwind from the source. Smoking outdoors should be limited to special areas where there is no chance that the stink will bother nonsmokers.

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Howie 2011/03/01 11:28:49
Everarianas 2011/03/01 00:12:36

No

You have to think about people who have asthma and other breathing problems who can be seriously bothered and irritated (health wise) by the smoke. I say ban smoking altogether, save a lot of lungs. But hey even I know that's never going to happen so I'm not complaining.

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Tori 2011/02/28 21:43:02

Yes

+1
it would be stupid not to let it ourdoors.. i meen i dont like smoking but the only place ur really allowed to do it is outdoors so those people who like to do it can.

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Walter ... to Tori 2011/03/02 08:02:31 (edited)

Try "mean" & "you're"

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shark 2011/02/28 08:20:36

No

+1
hey people let's get something straight right here and right now smoking does not kill people pollution kills people i will prove my point now. keep an open mind first and think when you grandparents or great-grandparents where alive in 1920 till 1950 we did not have many cars on the road and we did not have that many factorys around and many of our family member would live in that era lived till they were in there late 80 or 90's. If you ask any of your family if they had a family member who live there life that late in life a bet you they all smoke so when the factory and the automobile started to polute the air that when all the doctor started to tell people that smoking was bad for you. Ok I admit that smoking is not good for you but how come everything that was good for you grandparents or great-grandparents is not good for us we need some of them home remendies doctor around for us again instead of the doctors today all they want to do is rip people off and charge us a arm and leg god forbid if you don't have medical insurance. But to ask this question i feel people should be able to do what they want to do and the goverment should not be able to tell us what to do with our lives and free of speak

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Walter ... to shark 2011/03/02 08:39:45 (edited)

Check your statistics. The average length of life is currently much greater than it was in the years you discuss. The percentage of smokers has also steadily decreased from that time up to the present. People of that era that smoked had as much lung cancer and emphysema as do people that currently smoke have. Check the cause of death in many of your movie heros. It's amazing how many of them died of lung cancer or other deseases that are increased from smoking. My mother died 2010 in February at age 102. No smoking. Her mother died at age 102. No smoking. Her sister died at age 98. No smoking. My father's elder sister died at age 100. No smoking. My father died at age 93. No smoking. You can't find very many smokers that have lived that long. These people are very very scarce and who knows how long they would have lived if they hadn't smoked.
Shark, Please spend a few minutes proof reading before submitting. It will reduce the number of errors and improve your image. I don't expect perfection from anybody and that includes me but at least try.

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James T... to Walter ... 2012/02/28 09:03:34
Myrle Hulme 2011/02/28 07:31:19

No

Its the only place except your home that we are allowed to smoke

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Paul 2011/02/28 03:47:18

Yes

+1
I don't smoke but who the hell am I to tell these people that they can not smoke outdoors. We have liberties and freedoms in this country that continue to disappear due to these politician and superiority personality types that feel they know best and as such, should be able to decide what is best for everyone else. Get over it people! We have already taxed the hell out of a pack of cigarettes and kick smokers out of the public indoors. Enough is enough already! If they want to kill themselves via cigarette addiction, then as long as it does not involve me or anyone who chooses not to smoke, the I say let them. It is their right and their freedom of choice to do as they want. Move to LA and see how much crap you inhale.

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Walter ... to Paul 2011/03/02 08:54:37

The loss of our political freedoms is not exactly related to the reduction of a very upleasant smell that can carry a very long distance down wind from its source. Special outdoor areas designated especially for smokers should be set aside. Go there and make the tobacco companies and their stockholders rich while you slowley kill yourselves.

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jsmittysr 2011/02/28 00:28:54

Yes

+1
This is Anerica - the land of The FREE. We shoulod be allowed to get cancer, if we want. Even outside. If OUR elected President can smoke - SO CAN WE !!

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redhawk1 2011/02/27 20:06:05

Yes

+2
YES.. Politicians do more harm to the AIR with their odoriferous fumes of lIES that anyone can do by smoking ...Tobacco1

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Dr Ed Miller 2011/02/27 13:42:49

Yes

+2
I used to smoke cigars and always did so outside unless I was in a cigar bar. One had outside seating on the sidewalk and since it is public property I don't see a problem with it.

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KeithRomeyn 2011/02/27 11:22:04

Yes

+2
Only in AMERICA could that be a question. Dumn ass's." Freedom Of Choice! " To Smoke? Or Not to Smoke! Congress will be ALL Over this One! Try to pass some "STUPID BILL" Banning Out Door Smoking. And? It'll be the Dumn Ass Republicans,Just like there Aboration Crap! Really, The "Family Value Party" Against the Don't ask Don't tell, Against Same Sex Marriage. Gee What a bunch of "Hip-A-Crits" Lets see, Their the Party that got a "Gay Guy" to speak out for King George On same Sex Marriage Had a member Bust-ted at the Air Port,Tapping his foot , for Sex in the MENS ROOM,With a Vice President's daughter,In love with Women! Yep? Thats the Party! Now? After the 2010 election? Republican Goveners Across the Country, Attacking The Working class! It's all our Fault,We Have such a high Def-A-Cet! Not the fact, of their Great leader King George! Oh No! So? Smoking Out Doors? That'll Have to Go! Ask the Coke Brothers,Ask the CEO's Of the Banks that got $280 million dollars or better,in parting money! To destroy the Middle Class! Need I say anymore? Steal from the Seniors, to bennift the Rich, steal from the Poor, that have Nothing! BUTT WIPES!

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