After months of sometimes bitter debate, Wichita quietly took the first official step Tuesday toward an indoor smoking ban in all businesses open to people under age 18, on a 4-3 Wichita City Council vote to be finalized next month. A Tuesday SurveyUSA poll of Wichita, sponsored by KWCH, Channel 12, seemed to confirm that the community is ready: 69 percent said smoking should not be allowed in public places with customers under age 18, more than two-thirds predicted that businesses would either gain customers (29 percent) or see no impact (38 percent) because of the ordinance, and only 19 percent said they’d be less likely to go out in Wichita because of the ordinance.
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23 Comments
They have the same law here in Georgia- passed 3 years ago. I love it! We finally forced the selfish inconsiderate slob drug addicts to practice their act of self hate and self mutilation outside. It is really nice to walk into a Waffle House and order breakfast without having to run a gauntlet of smoking rednecks!
Our Mayor + one Republican + one Democrat + one Independent Councilmember saw the light and lead the way. Too bad the Kansas Legislature hasn’t figured it out.
The answer for smokers is simple: Quit smoking. It’s an automatic tax cut and it’ll drive the busybodies crazy. If enough people quit smoking, the people who can’t mind their own business will have to move on to the next group to discriminate against, the Fatties.
Let’s not forget, the Fed pays tobacco farmers a subsidy to grow the stuff. That’s your taxes at work.
Something else comes to mind: “getting them in the mood”.
“69 percent said smoking should not be allowed in public places” 80% of people don’t smoke. A private business is a place the public “may” go, a public business is a place the pulblic may “need” to go.
Start stockpiling those twinkies.
Nano. They’re already going after the fatties. The movement is still in its infancy but, soon enough…
I wrote else where about the charitable event exception not covered under the new ordinance. I wonder how many business places, especially restaurants, will advertise as a charitable meeting place along with a collection box to be exempt from the ordinance?
Five hundred dollar fine was stated. I was not clear if that was for the business or the individual or both. Any one know? Seems kind of steep to me.
Hey Kev don’t they have a nice blog in Georgia where you can go?
Me? I’ll still light up where I please. If I am asked to leave I will LOUDLY take my business elswhere.
Get the idea kev?
How nice of you, JR….you believe that the selfish wants of the minority of Ameicans is worth the negative cost to the majority of Americans…and you claim you’re NOT a Republican? LOL!
As far as the lost revenue from cigarette tax when everyone quits smoking…the $900 million spend on treating smoking related illness will more than make up for any tax revenue lost.
“And Mary? I am the least hypocritical person I know. I also am a very considerate smoker.”
Doesn’t sound like it to me, JR.
PS… the $900 million is in Kansas alone, and of that, $200 million is for Medicaid recipents…your tax dollars at work.
“Me? I’ll still light up where I please. If I am asked to leave I will LOUDLY take my business elswhere.”
“And Mary? I am the least hypocritical person I know. I also am a very considerate smoker.”
Ummm….how does that work now, JR?
As far as the lost revenue from cigarette tax when everyone quits smoking…the $900 million spend on treating smoking related illness will more than make up for any tax revenue lost.
Actually if everyone quit smoking today. The revenue would stop immediately. And since they have smoked for years and the damage is done the costs will come in for years to come. I believe it is more harmful to breathe the tainted air in a big city than it is to smoke, first or 2nd hand.
“Me? I’ll still light up where I please. If I am asked to leave I will LOUDLY take my business elswhere.”
Why don’t you save everyone the trouble and take your business elsewhere before causing trouble(I saw your post about going into a non-smoking restaurant and lighting up before you get your food, and this is quite aside from the ordinance, because you choose to do this in an establishment that has CHOSEN to go non-smoking)? You aren’t standing up for anyone’s “rights”, you are simply disrespecting the owners of the establishment.
If you think you are striking a blow for anyone’s freedom, you are deluded.
Might be an expensive light up to if there is a fine enforced.
But, haven’t the non smokers “CHOSEN” to go to a smoking establishment? How can one opt to enter a smoking place and then act all offended by breathing precisely what they what they have “CHOSEN” to breathe? Isn’t that disrespecting the owners of the establishment?
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t smoke and I don’t much like the stuff but if I’m breathing second hand smoke it’s no ones fault but my own.
This is a right and proper ordinance but going beyond this sets a scary precedent. Watch what you eat.
The only problem with your analysis, Hernando, is that minors cannot make informed decisions like adults. This is why it makes obvious sense to ban smoking in any business that allows minors in the door. It is the same sort of rationale that provides the basis for laws that make it illegal to sell alcohol or tobacco to minors. The law deems them too young to make potentially life-threatening decisions about consuming such drugs. Aren’t minors also banned from bars until they are 21, and can’t businesses lose their alcohol license if minors are caught inside their business?
I agree with that Kelly. That’s why I said it was a proper ordinance. It’s a fine idea but I’m not convinced that it all needs to go any further. And, actually, minors aren’t exactly banned from bars except by in house (owner) policy. They are banned from possessing or consuming.
Sorry, Hernando, I didn’t read all the previous posts to see that you had already approved of the ordinance. I also didn’t know minors could enter a bar - I remembered from my youth that we couldn’t but the minimum age then was 18, so maybe this is something that was changed when the law was raised to 21?
Given the arduous, 7 to 8 month effort that went into this non-smoking ordinance, I can’t imagine that the City Council would have much interest in going through this again anytime soon.
Mary could you have replied to that post I made on the thread I made it?
No one has every seriously considered my idea, and I think it’s a good one
What about a blanket public smoking ban, with an option to opt out? A business would have to pay a yearly fee in order to allow smoking on the premises, kind of like a liquor license. Most would choose to remain smoke-free, except for the few bars who (rightfully) believe the additional income from smokers would offset the cost of the yearly fee.
Everyone wins….most people can enjoy their dinner and cocktails in a stink-free environment, but businesses would still have the freedom to choose to allow smokers. Hawaii enacted a state-wide smoking ban that has resulted in much more pleasant bar-hopping, but there are a few places that adamantly defy the ordinance and let their patrons light up, regardless of the fines. These places care more about business owners rights than city ordinances, and I’m sure there are similar mindsets here in Wichita.
With my plan, there would almost certainly be a few refuges for the smokers if business owners are happy with profiting off of their deadly habits
I like your idea Tara.
“Mary could you have replied to that post I made on the thread I made it?”
Don’t change the subject…are you talking out of both sides of your mouth or not?
Only if kids aren’t allowed in those places, Tara. It’s not right to expose minors to second hand smoke, it’s at the very least neglect and it borders on abuse.
Let the smokers take it outside or they can stay home and smoke all they want.
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