Governor Kaine signed into law the bill that bans most smoking in Virginia restaurants:
RICHMOND, March 9 — Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) signed a bill this afternoon to prohibit smoking in many of the state’s bars and restaurants.
Kaine (D) joined state legislators, health advocates and business owners at Croc’s 19th Street Bistro in Virginia Beach for the bill signing.
“I am extremely proud to have been a part of the coalition that made this day a reality, and I am thrilled to place my signature on this monumental step forward for public health in Virginia,” Kaine said.
Starting Dec. 1, smoking will be banned in most restaurants and bars, although it would be permitted in private clubs, on some outdoor patios and in separate ventilated rooms.
Which is effectively a ban for most restuarants unless they’re able to invest the money needed for ventilation equipment.
Personally, I’ve always thought that this is something that should be up to the individual business owner.
This is a HUGE victory for the health, cleanliness, and safety for everyone in the great state of Virginia!
Normally, I do not like laws, or having people or governments telling us what we can or can’t do.
But in this case, this new law is a wonderful thing.
As we already know, other states like Maryland & DC already have these bans. With this new law in place, going out to eat or dance there has been a great experience in contrast to certain places in Virginia where everyone still smokes.
What nonsmoker hasn’t gone out to eat at a restaurant or dance at a club where people smoke, only to come home smelling like stale smoke is coming out of every pore?
And your clothes!
When I used to have hair, I can remember the smell of smoke when washing it – which had to be as soon as I got home, so my bed didn’t receive that smell as well.
It’s no secret that Virginia has first class everything, but to properly enjoy it, you need to feel comfortable.
This new law is a welcome sigh of relief for the health & happiness of people everywhere – smokers & nonsmokers alike. I’ve personally avoided a lot of the great clubs because of the offensive smoke inside. But when this goes into effect, I’ll be right back there, enjoying myself again!
Thank you, Governor Kaine!
Below I threw some thoughts abound into this. Of course one could throw in the J&J case with the college professor that will be promoting psychological drugs for these now available guinea pigs for profit! We could mention the case where J&J was rewarding its field salespersons to push doctors into using J&J drugs for non FDA approved usage as well!
Seems as if the Johnson Foundation is getting dang tight these days or Virginias Governor is a idiot when it comes to dealing! Which is it?
Johnson Foundation, you might as well say the same as Johnson and Johnson pharmaceuticals gives a meager a $1,00 Seems as if the Johnson Foundation is getting dang tight these days, or Virginia’s Governor is 0,000 to the State of Virginia the day after the Governor signs a smoking ban paid for in part by the Johnson Foundation. With the excessive price upon the controlled market of smoking cessation products by Johnson and Johnson this million dollars should be returned quickly with a hefty profit for Johnson and Johnson.
The so called good part is this $1,000,000 dollars is supposed to pay for increased enrollment of eligible kids in the state’s health insurance program for children. Hmm I thought the CHIPS PROGRAM was going to be covering that? But now we have freebie health care for these children that will now be prescribed drugs by doctors with the Johnson and Johnson making even higher profits!
Come on Governor what is your take in this? Are you that dumb that you can’t see market creation and manipulation, or you ignoring it for political contributions, stock options or just plain cash in hand?
Where is the government at in trying to weed out these thieves? A true disgrace if once cares to think about it.
This is a good ban, because smokers prevent others from enjoying public facilities. Smoking is a private individual polluting a very public space in such a way that the negative effects of that pollution are ubiquitous and inescapable by any means other than removing myself from the public sphere or removing the source of the pollution. I like going out with my family, and now I can do so without endangering their health in confined fume hoods. Honestly, I don’t see how any thinking non-smokers can see anything wrong with this. When your personal liberty interferes with my ability to live well, your personal liberty should be curtailed.
You know the truth is that I think the USA is be coming more dictating in telling people what they can do or not do! I thought this was a free country? Boy, was I wrong? And for Virginia to pass this law is unbelieveable! Yeah there are smokers in restraunts and then the non-smokers has their section! The true facts are that the smoke in restraunts are not bearable. But that is my opinion, yes bars are very smokey but then again thats are a bar for you! If you don’t like then stay out. To me the more states push this ban, the more they are going to have just little more control over our lives! Eventually we won’t have no freedom we will have to everything the governent enforces! Again I asked the question what happen to our freedom as citizens of the US? I don’t care about the neagtive thoughts I may get from speaking my mind! But I do want you to stop and try to comprhend what I am saying! And see if it makes sense? Today bans tomorrow who knows? Stop and think where one little thing could turn in 20 years from now into total control…..
As to Arthur C’s comment “When your personal liberty interferes with my ability to live well, your personal liberty should be curtailed.”
It is that type of incomplete thinking that is the problem. Who is interfering with whose liberty? The store owner should be able to determine what market they seek to cater to. If you don’t like it go eat and breathe somewhere else. You don’t have to give them your business any more than you have to watch a TV channel that offends you… Liberty is the ability to determine for ourselves what we do and not have the government decide for us.
BTW I am a Non-smoker and I don’t think people should smoke but I also don’t think I should tell them what to do.
As great as this may seem, I see it as potentially the death of Charlottesville’s tea house. It gets a large portion of it’s sales from hookas and not being able to have them inside will limit customers and sales will follow. Having recently lost all of our specialty movie stores (Suncoast, FYE) I fear that the tea house will go the way of the dodo. Though the Senator was asked to make an exception for Hooka bars similar to DC’s law, the Senator refused.