Jan 1 - A Sad Day in Alberta

[Headcrash]

Originally Posted by calgarydetail

where where? i will make a drive to smoke inside

It is the Bull and Finch located at - [SIZE=-1]2335 162 Avenue SW

link to map
[/SIZE]http://maps.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&o...i=lmd&z=14&t=m

Let me know if you are thinking of going....I live 5 min away and am always up for a mini HERF....I can bring my smoking buddy Shaun as well.

[weetone]

The idea of a private club could work, perhaps if you had a separate ventilation system or something from the buildings around it. I don't really know a whole lot about the legality of smoking bans though.

[Mtmouse]

Originally Posted by weetone

The idea of a private club could work, perhaps if you had a separate ventilation system or something from the buildings around it. I don't really know a whole lot about the legality of smoking bans though.

Private clubs may work, as long as there are no 'employees'. The law is constructed to protect employees from second hand smoke as well as other patrons.

[weetone]

Ah, of course, that is a good point.

[GWN]

Originally Posted by Mtmouse

Private clubs may work, as long as there are no 'employees'. The law is constructed to protect employees from second hand smoke as well as other patrons.

I don't think even that would fly here, considering B&Ms can't even have a smoking room anymore, which is ridiculous. Who the hell does the government think they're protecting in this instance?
Just realized that if you don't count garages, I've never smoked a cigar indoors in my life. Doesn't seem right.

[mash]

Same legislation coming in BC. Private clubs are OK. How stupid is a law that says you can't smoke in a cigar store?

[weetone]

I wrote this letter to the Government, through the comment section of their website...I don't know if I'll receive a response. I am also looking into getting a meeting with my MLA to discuss my issues with it.

Hello.

My name is Tyler Dawson and I am eighteen years old, and a student at the University of Alberta. For the record, I became a smoker following my eighteenth birthday. Now, also, for the record, I am a cigar smoker, not a cigarette smoker, indeed, I have no interest in standing outside in -20 degree weather to have a smoke.

My question is about the new smoking ban. I thoroughly support it, in many ways. I support the smoking ban in bars, restaurants, malls, in fact, I support it in all locations except for one. That place is tobacco retail outlets. I speak not of 7-11, nor smoke shops in malls. What I speak of it shops that cater specifically to the cigar and pipe smoker.

In essence, what that means is that a person who enters those stores is there for one purpose: to buy tobacco products, which they will consume. Minors are denied entry. There are few (if any) cigarette sales, no "power walls" are present.
Much of the debate over the smoking bans are concerns about waitresses, children, etc. (people who cannot avoid being exposed, perhaps, they cannot find another job)
In a tobacco store, the owners are smokers themselves, the patrons, smokers. There are no waiters to be exposed to the effects of smoke. There are no bystanders that will be exposed to the effects of tobacco smoke.

It seems strange that one can go to a bar, leave, and drive home intoxicated posing a serious danger to other motorists, and pedestrians, and yet, a person cannot indulge in a product that (in the context of a smoke shop) provides no danger, in any way, to other citizens.

Interestingly, the bans (already in place, and proposed) are bad for business. In a province with a conservative government in power, it would seem that the economic and capitalist freedom of its citizens are being neglected. Take, for example, pipe tobacco. There are literally hundreds of products in a store. In order for a tobacconist to make a sale to an interested customer, the customer must sample some product. In many shops in different parts of the world, the store owner will allow his customer to sample small portions before making a purchase. If the pipe smoker cannot try a particular blend (in the already confirmed "safe" atmosphere) it makes it much more difficult for him to find an enjoyable blend, and harder for the owner to make a sale.

In essence, what I am attempting to do here is appeal to the sense of reason of the government. There is a lot of anti-smoker propaganda out there, and for a long time, smokers have dealt with it, choosing to take the "high road" if I may, as opposed to raising a fuss about it every time our toes were trampled upon.

However, as it has come to this, our democratic freedoms are finally being restricted (by a government who has managed to do much good for Alberta in the past year) and it is time to make our voices heard.

At only eighteen years of age, I am prepared to make my voice heard, despite being a smoker, my bigger problem here lies with the restriction of freedoms when there can be no rational justification. That is no way for a democracy to operate.

My question is, how can the Alberta government respond to the arguments above? I would ask you to please do so.

I would be open, and indeed, would invite a meeting with a MLA or politician to discuss this.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to your response and further discussion regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

Tyler Dawson

[mojoman]

Very well said Weetone. But I doubt you'll get a reply as this will require intelligence from a politician.