NEWS: Anti-Smoking Crusade Reaches Cuba

POLITICS: Anti-Smoking Crusade Reaches Cuba

People who live in Communist countries have always been able to take (very) cold comfort in the fact that they are free to do one measly thing that those of us in some of the developed democracies sometimes can't: smoke in public.

Not any more. At least not in Cuba.

Well, they can drink in public. And that's way more fun anyway.

[Edited on Feb 07, 2005 by troglodyte]

8 cents a pack you say? I'll be the first boat person trying to float to Cuba.

Good for them.

I'm on Day 7 of not smoking.

Man...I really hate that this is happening here in the states. It should be the individuals establishments choice if it wants to allow people to smoke in their store or not. I'm sure the Cubans feel the same (even if it is a communist country).

hussa...whata...butha...fuxselajpo...WHAT!!!!! Anti-smoking legisation in...CUBA! Are you fucking kidding me! This is a joke, right? There's now way this is true. This is Cuba, for christ's sake! The country is synonamous with smoking and cigars. It's very economy is rooted in the tobacco industry, & not the evil American one either. I am completely beside myself right now. I must go and contemplate just what the hell is going on in a world that places that much importance on one issue over world hunger, HIV/AIDS epidemic, and poverty.

Well thats why they have smoking sections in restaurants. Government enforced smoking ban or not, most places don't allow smoking in their stores anyway. If there is a rare occassion where smoking is allowed in a place that you go to on a regular basis (most likely a bar) and youre really worried about your health, then you can just stop going there or have a chat with the owner about setting up a smoke free section. Next the governments going to tell people they can't play speed metal in their bars. Why, we can't have people shoving their crappy music down our throats and causing us to have frazzled nerves from listening to Slayer! I would lump smoking bans in the same category as obscenity laws, restrictive non-sense. Yes, second hand smoke is bad for you but thats why you have a mouth (to ask someone to put it out) and legs (to walk away if they don't). Ok, I'm done. I'll be here all night!

Um, actually, when I was there I didn't notice that much smoking going on. Cuba's also famous for rum, but it's just as silly to assume they're sucking back the rum non-stop.

Well I have to admit, it seems kind of odd that the country that produces the world's best cigars would ban smoking in... wait stores, theatres, and movie halls? thats just common courtesy. If someone smoked in a movie theatre or god forbid a play that I went to, i would have to go and slug them. (I don't smoke, so I most likely could out-run them, because they would most likely beat the hell out of me)

So, now can I not only not smoke a Cuban cigar in America, but I can't smoke it in Cuba either? That's messed up.

Especially when it comes to bars and clubs. It really sucks to go out drinking in New York and have to go outside in 20 degree weather just to have a cigarette.

Wouldn't it be a better world if we had smoking AND non-smoking establishments?

I certainly think so. What if you owned a cigar bar before one of these laws went into effect? BANG, you're out of business, pal.

I'm with Gonzalez.
I don't smoke cigaretts, but I DO smoke cigars. I smoke in the bar, on my front porch, and in the car. If you don't like the smoke, stay the fuck out of my airspace.

I hate to break this to you but the bar isn't YOUR airspace.

PANDER TO ME.

Is 'pandering' what you crazy California kids are calling it these days?

Thank goodness you're going to be the one getting punched today instead of me.

There's going to be punching?

If your going to blow ass-stinky cigar smoke into my airspace, I have a right to complain.

I've mentioned before in these discussions that the restaurant I work at has no smoking, (and is now making more money than ever,) but even when we did allow smoking, we didn't allow cigars, because they smell like someone lit a toilet on fire, and make everyone's food taste like cigars.

[Edited on Feb 08, 2005 by EdmundOG]

Yes, you have a right to complain, and you have a right to go elsewhere when no one listens to you. I feel that it should be the right of the owner of an establishment to decide whether or not to allow smoking, not the governement.