VIRGINIA BEACH
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed legislation Monday that bans smoking in bars and restaurants in Virginia, a state that first traded in tobacco nearly four centuries ago.
The ban takes effect Dec. 1 and covers just about any public place people would eat or drink. A restaurant, under the law, can offer a smoking section only if that area is walled off and has its own ventilation. Private clubs are exempt.
Kaine and an entourage of state senators and delegates came to Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, whose owner made it smoke-free two years ago, to sign the bill. Along one wall of the restaurant, a lectern with the state seal faced people in rows of wooden chairs. Other people leaned on a wall between the bar and dining room, and video cameras from TV stations lined the back.
“We’re not here by accident,” Kaine said before signing. “Why we’re signing this bill here at Croc’s is Virginia Beach restaurants’ leadership on this effort. The statewide association went wild about this, but the Virginia Beach restaurants were very cooperative.”
Croc’s owner, Laura Wood Habr , said the reason the restaurant went smoke-free was its workers.
“We don’t want them working with chemicals that are bad,” she said of the staff, “so why would we want them breathing air that is bad?”
Kaine said his first hint that the state might be ready for the smoking legislation was when he signed an executive order in 2006 banning smoking in state buildings and vehicles. He didn’t hear one complaint, he said.
He introduced, then credited Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, for his leadership in getting the bill out of committee.
“In the past, the committees have been where these bills have taken on water and sunk,” Kaine said.
Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, said public sentiment had clearly shifted in favor of smoking restrictions.
“In talking to people at the grocery store and post office,” Cosgrove said, “even the most hard-core Republicans in Chesapeake said, 'John, when are we going to do something about smoking?’”
Dr. Tom Eppes, president of the Medical Society of Virginia, stood behind Kaine at the event.
“The big knock in pediatrics,” Eppes said, “is children exposed to second-hand smoke get sick at twice the rate.”
When it was time to sign the bill, Kaine explained the process to the non-Capit ol crowd: “The way we like to do this is,” he said, “first, everyone look on with fascination.”
He signed.
“And next,” Kaine said, “everyone look up and smile.”
Those gathered broke out clapping.
Lon Wagner, (757) 222-5119, lon.wagner@pilotonline.com
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Smoking Ban By Far Is Wrong
First of all I Have seen a breath of fresh air spelled out alot here lately, well when you go out side you still will be breathing smoke more now than ever with this ban,how can it be a breath of fresh air yea i'm a smoker,i'm 44 years young, I have lung proplems no one gave it to me but myself everyone on earth was born to die with something some time or another it will come to us all with something someday, I agree that non smokers shouldn't have to be around smoke but there's only one way to not be around it and it's not just banning smoking from public places, if so many people feels like smoking is that bad smoking should be banned out right make tobacco illegal period, don't take money from tobacco companys and citizans for something they pay for then put them out in the cold weather while the people that don't pay sits in the resturants or bars where its warm and cozy and having the non smokers say you wanted to be outside or you wouldn't be smoking I feel like we pay to smoke more was than one in this world but we still don't have rights to smoke where business owners should have the right to say there business is smoking or non smoking or both, and businesses shouldn't hav
Being a business owner in VA Beach (why bother)
Thankyou Patriot for all of your comments, its nice to know someone really gets the whole picture here.
Oh and the Health Department will the ones to police this. So now our tax dollars will go to pay overtime for city employees. WOW!!
Kate-Cancer-Taxes
Kate, you can enjoy the freedom from smokers not being able to do what they like..at the cost of our tax dollars being shrunk..so I volunteer you to pay any and all additional taxes that they will impose upon me to appease your self righteousness. I promise you, when the hammer comes down and you get taxed 40-45% of your income to cover these multi-million dollar tax losses...that you will be the first to get the messege..imposing ones will on another to the detriment of the masses will be YOUR downfall for then the imposing will be upon you by the taxations! Cancer is not CAUSED by smoking, it is caused by the chemicals one sucks IN! It affects some NOT ALL in this way otherwise we would ALL be walking around cancerous...when you see these little children in the cancer ward with bone cancer, liver cancer, and a few other hundreds of cancers taking their life they are smokers by your description??? That is one really rediculous argument..otherwise, babies and children would NEVER get cancer for they don't smoke when living in a smoke free environment, but they do!
love2kids
Most/many people agree with you.Interesting that you mentioned caffeine.Recently 2 studies on it came out 1 day after the other.1 found that caffeine could be linked to a greater tendency to hallucinate.The other found that it may prevent dementia.
love2kids
I am impressed you love your kids so much that you share it with everyone in your name. Bravo! However, owning and working in a bar where 96% of your customers smoke (and most likely you, too) is not really insuring the well being of your kids, is it?
smoking ban
Ok look! It should be up to the people, if you don't smoke don't go where smoking is allowed. You should be able to make an adult decision on where you go. If you don't smoke and you open the door to a place where smoking is allowed, turn around and leave. Why does the goverment have to make that decision for you. And to end, why am I still allowed to sell cigarettes in my bar. It's still all CRAZY to me!!
"There are many falsehoods
"There are many falsehoods presented here by the anti-smokers. No statistical risk has been found from secondhand smoke(or more correctly environmental tobacco smoke"
During the 9-11 tragedy I emailed every news station I could think of to let them know those people in immediate area of the dust were in grave danger, they needed respirators and not those inadequate medical masks. So the next day I see on the news a EPA team testing the area for ASBESTOS, they said the air was safe. How inept, it was the small particulate glass, metal, drywall etc. that were the real concern for lung damage. Guess what, people have died and many are sick and debilitated to this day. So don't blow your poisonous smoke in my face, you may suffer more than I.
vabeachnative
I hardly think I am better than anyone else. Though I may come across as too judgemental on the smoking issue, basically I am so accepting of people that co-workers would laugh at me and tell others it doesn't matter if Kate says she likes so and so, she likes everybody! So you're really quite wrong about me. The christian concept and lowercase god is accurate. One does not need be a christian to find the best in others and appreciate the world around them. I have asthma, runs in the family thanks most likely to parents smoking in crowded car during winter w/ windows rolled up. Smoking is simply an unnecessary evil. Absolutely NO good in the product at all. Maryland (I had always thought Va. more progressive) is talking about banning smoking in cars w/ children. As you know others States are also discussing it. Smoking should be obliterated entirely!
Kate
It seems as though not only is it conclusive by the comments posted that Kate is narrow minded and has tunnel vision. It also seems as though Kate may not attend church or worship. She spelled God in lower case not once but twice. Should I jump all over her like she does everyone else because we don't think the same. She just seems to think she is way too perfect for my taste. Get a clue!!!!!!
should change your name to...
tobacco-mis-educator.
Smoking Ban
I understand everyone's concern about government control, however I see people everyday who are suffering from the severe consequences of the so called non- harmful second handsmoke. Children, adults, old and young. We cannot yet do something about everything that is harmful but why not start with what we can do? Do any of you have young adult family members serving food in establishments that allow smoking? They are increasing their risk for illness caused by secondhand smoke over 50%! Most businesses in other states that have traveled this road have not had to close. There are more that 25 states that got the message and made the change. have you evre wached someone basically slowly suffocating due to complications or prolonged smoking. As for the person who is the cancer survivor, please stay away from secondhand smoke and read some reliable health information.
smoking ban
Doesn't anyone agree with me? Come on folks! What next you can't drink coffee because of the caffine.
partial reply to katet43483
katet43483,I haven't anything against you personally.You do seem to be remarkably misinformed though,probably because you've never taken the time to examine this properly from all sides.You say that you are for smoking reduction.If so,then you are on the wrong side.This current round of smoker bashing has caused the normal decline in the smoking rate to stall.(so called tobacco control has already admitted that they will not attain any of their goals) In some countries/areas,particularly ones with high tobacco taxation,the smoking rate is probably increasing.Estimates by gov.s/law enforcement state that anywhere between 33% to possibly 50% of the tobacco used is of the illegal variety.(not reflected in "official" stats.) Historically this has almost always been the case.This used to be the reason given by gov.s to not interfere. What made them think that this time would be any different? I'm running out of time and probably space to address the rest (rescinded bans & the "science" behind them) There have been quite a few articles written on these,but perhaps not in your area.Try a Google search or look in respectable medical journals/publications.It would help if links (& more spac
Gertz Point
You're wrong, my friend (god, I sound like McCain), I am delighted for each and every single person that quits smoking. I am happy for them first and foremost and then secondly for the rest of us who now have one less smoker to worry about polluting our air and littering our streets. I do take exception with blaming or crediting the Governor though. It's a personal responsibility and personal decision. And to the writer, 2centsworth, I think, who owns a bar with 98% smokers, now maybe one or two will quit (maybe more, god willing,)so it's all good! Let's hope the tobacco industry goes the way of many of our banks and other businesses and has to shut down. It would be the best thing that could happen!
Is a resturant a place to
Is a resturant a place to eat, or to smoke cigarettes? Maybe I'm confused, but if I want to eat I go to a resturant, if I want to smoke I would do so wherever it is allowed and doesn't bother anyone else. What right have I lost? So I can't smoke anywhere I want, I can't deficate any place I want either.
To add...
with the nice weather coming around, i expect all non-smokers to stay inside the restaraunt. no patio or deck usage for you. that'll give you practice for when the bill goes into effect, and the outdoor parts of all establishment become OUR property.
but you ask about your "right" to enjoy the weather and dine...well, too bad. it's happened. deal with it.
Exactly...
there should be a change in the ABC revevue policies.
A restaraunt will claim greater than 50% of their revenue coming from food. A bar/tavern/pub will claim greater than 50% of their revenue coming from non-food sales.
i have stated that i have no problem, and never did, not smoking at a restaraunt. shoot, when i'm sitting at the bar, i have always put my cigarettes out if someone at the bar is eating.
i don't smoke around children, and have never had a problem putting one out if someone asked.
there's all your ME ME ME...from me. just like the antis.
but this isn't about smoking. myopic is the best word used in this entire discussion.
smoking ban
I own a bar and I don't think bars should have to comply with the ban. Especially ones that hold less than 100 people. Resturants specialize in selling food and sell more food than alcohol. Bars sell more alcohol than food. For us to put up a wall is costly. To ask people who have been drinking to stand outside and smoke creates a whole other problem. I will have ABC fining me for people loitering in the parking lot. For the state to benefit from the tax money people pay on cigarettes and then say you can't smoke them where a business allows you to is CRAZY!! It should have been left up to the business owners. I would have been fine with posting a big neon sign that said Smoking is allowed here. The city will soon see how they get less taxes from us every month because the smokers won't come out anymore and it may put me out of business considering 96% of my customers smoke.
Did you ever consider
Hey, I know bar owners and other people that sell alcohol look at smokers as the bread winners. I guess you feel one addiction feeds another but did you ever think about how many more people you would have if smoking wasn't allowed. Non-smokers drink but you'd never know it because non smokers don't want to eat, drink or etc where there's smoke. It's not just a smell bad thing but an actual health horror. I use to love to shoot pool; unfortunately, I had three sinus infections in six months time. My doctor told me I couldn't go in places where people smoke so I stopped doing what I loved. I now have asthma from people that I come in contact with that smoke even though I'm just outside waiting for the bus. I don't want to take your rights from you but smokers take my rights from me. I have the right to walk from point A. to point B. without inhaling smoke. Bars, pool halls, bowling alleys and some restaurants I couldn't go to so I'm really glad the law passed. I want to be able to go out and have fun just like other people. You don’t have to smoke but I have to breathe.
there is no winning with katet
"How pitiful that you write that you are giving up smoking because of the Governor. How about you are quitting because you realize how ridiculous it is to kill yourself slowly, harm others with your second-hand smoke, all the while paying to do so."
Here we have a guy or girl that says they are going to quit and now you still want to complain about the reason why. Give it a break!
The smoking ban is wrong for so many reasons, people like Katet aren't going out to eat any more often then they did before and will still go to the same restaurants, that already didn't allow smoking to begin with.
The point has been proven that no matter what, people are going to complain, and complain and complain. It's no longer about smoking, it's all about getting your way regardless of anything esle.