Comments on: Smoking in public http://faisalqureshi.net/archives/170 http://www.faisalqureshi.net Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:16:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: SayB http://faisalqureshi.net/archives/170#comment-283 SayB Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:01:19 +0000 http://faisalqureshi.net/?p=170#comment-283 Please don't take it the wrong way, BUT, as long as Philip Morris Inc. is reaping yet more profits amidst all taxes simply because they raised their profit margins due to merely 5% decrease in sales (yes ! even all those taxes couldn't hurt them that much) AND that in "developed" countries they practically *fund* the research on tobacco (yes it's true - refer to http://writedit.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/uc-regents-policy-on-tobacco-funding/ - the latest I've got white papers from Berkley confirming there has been no change in the policy since) I BEG TO DIFFER :) I think making 2 separate sections, a smoking and a non-smoking section should suffice as far as restaurants are concerned. If you want to STOP someone from Smoking, the best thing is to apply social / peer pressure. The more you push them the more they'll get creative to get right back at ya. The debate has always been fruitless amongst smokers and non-smokers. The tenacious nature of both sides always turns it into a war rather than a debate. Heck! I can go ahead and speak from any side and provide a rationale. The bottom line is, you think that restaurants should go ahead and ban smoking altogether, my questions is why? They won't risk losing their sales. If larger and or powerful part of the community coming to Avari hotels are smokers then I'm afraid this smoking ban would be short lived. Or at least they are bound to make a smoking section. The bottom line is, you don't smoke, the other guy does. You both are in a public place. If the other guy smokes, he is stepping on your nose. So ethically and by law he shouldn't smoke. BUT if you don't provide him a place to smoke, then it will be YOU stepping on HIS nose. He has the right to smoke just as much as you have the right to be in smoke free environment. You have to provide for both. Failing to do so will inflect disrespect, then it becomes an ego problem and we all know that there's no solution to that. Majorities win, but minorities get creative. And you'll find yourself hung between the debate long enough. Please don’t take it the wrong way, BUT, as long as Philip Morris Inc. is reaping yet more profits amidst all taxes simply because they raised their profit margins due to merely 5% decrease in sales (yes ! even all those taxes couldn’t hurt them that much) AND that in “developed” countries they practically *fund* the research on tobacco (yes it’s true - refer to http://writedit.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/uc-regents-policy-on-tobacco-funding/ - the latest I’ve got white papers from Berkley confirming there has been no change in the policy since) I BEG TO DIFFER :)
I think making 2 separate sections, a smoking and a non-smoking section should suffice as far as restaurants are concerned. If you want to STOP someone from Smoking, the best thing is to apply social / peer pressure. The more you push them the more they’ll get creative to get right back at ya. The debate has always been fruitless amongst smokers and non-smokers. The tenacious nature of both sides always turns it into a war rather than a debate. Heck! I can go ahead and speak from any side and provide a rationale. The bottom line is, you think that restaurants should go ahead and ban smoking altogether, my questions is why? They won’t risk losing their sales. If larger and or powerful part of the community coming to Avari hotels are smokers then I’m afraid this smoking ban would be short lived. Or at least they are bound to make a smoking section.
The bottom line is, you don’t smoke, the other guy does. You both are in a public place. If the other guy smokes, he is stepping on your nose. So ethically and by law he shouldn’t smoke. BUT if you don’t provide him a place to smoke, then it will be YOU stepping on HIS nose. He has the right to smoke just as much as you have the right to be in smoke free environment. You have to provide for both. Failing to do so will inflect disrespect, then it becomes an ego problem and we all know that there’s no solution to that. Majorities win, but minorities get creative. And you’ll find yourself hung between the debate long enough.

]]> By: Faisal Qureshi http://faisalqureshi.net/archives/170#comment-282 Faisal Qureshi Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:40:40 +0000 http://faisalqureshi.net/?p=170#comment-282 Nope. I'm actually sick of smoking in public places. Avari has made the effort, and that's the only place I go to now. I want to choke all businesses who don't follow basic decency. Nope. I’m actually sick of smoking in public places. Avari has made the effort, and that’s the only place I go to now. I want to choke all businesses who don’t follow basic decency.

]]> By: Faisal Khan http://faisalqureshi.net/archives/170#comment-281 Faisal Khan Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:28:45 +0000 http://faisalqureshi.net/?p=170#comment-281 Was this a paid-for-blogging for Avari? :) Was this a paid-for-blogging for Avari? :)

]]> By: walski69 http://faisalqureshi.net/archives/170#comment-273 walski69 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:49:16 +0000 http://faisalqureshi.net/?p=170#comment-273 As much as I (as a smoker - yes, I've become one) do enjoy the smoke after the meal, I much more enjoy a nice dinner in a smoke-free environment... Most parts of Malaysia, incidentally, aren't any better... As much as I (as a smoker - yes, I’ve become one) do enjoy the smoke after the meal, I much more enjoy a nice dinner in a smoke-free environment…

Most parts of Malaysia, incidentally, aren’t any better…

]]> By: Novo http://faisalqureshi.net/archives/170#comment-272 Novo Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:25:43 +0000 http://faisalqureshi.net/?p=170#comment-272 If I had the power, i would impose 200% Octroi, 150% Sales Tax, 170% Duty and a 500% VAT on cigarettes and related commodities. Yes I know people would still not stop smoking. If I had the power, i would impose 200% Octroi, 150% Sales Tax, 170% Duty and a 500% VAT on cigarettes and related commodities. Yes I know people would still not stop smoking.

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