New Smoking and Tobacco Rules Announced

Wednesday, November 28, 2007 03:55 AM

The Province has announced there will be new restrictions on tobacco products and smoking in the Spring of 2008.

The new rules ban:

Smoking in all indoor public spaces and work places, with exemptions made for the ceremonial use of tobacco by Aboriginal people;
Smoking within three metres of public and workplace doorways, open windows or air intakes;
Tobacco sales in public buildings including: hospitals and health facilities, universities and colleges, athletic and recreational facilities, and provincial government buildings;
Display of tobacco products in all places where tobacco is sold that are accessible to youth under 19; and
Tobacco ads that hang from the ceiling, countertop tobacco displays, self-serve tobacco displays and outdoor tobacco signs.

The new rules will take effect on March 31st of 2008.

The Ministry of Health says the new rules will give landlords, municipalities, businesses and health authorities can use to fit the needs of their community, clients and
population. Unless prohibited by municipal regulations, smoking will still be allowed on the outdoor patios of restaurants and bars.

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Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 03:55 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: prickos on November 28 2007 10:22 AM

My question is does this affect patios at restaurants? They are not "indoor" but they are normally located near doorways.

Posted by: bohemian on November 28 2007 11:12 AM

Re: patios - I sure hope so. That would effectively ban smoking on patios, which is how it should be, anyway.

Posted by: zoom on November 28 2007 12:42 PM

So aboriginals in essence can have a cigrette anytime and anywhere they want including workplace,restaurants and pubs. In the world of political correctness who will question whether it is cermonial or not.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on November 28 2007 9:21 PM

They are allowed to smoke so that the natives can maintain their status as the highest percentage of medicare users of recognizable groups.

Posted by: Chester on November 29 2007 12:26 AM

Outdoor Patios should be banned as well. I was recently dining out with my family at a relatively expensive restaurant. ($450)Two men about 10 feet away finished their meal and proceeded to light up two big fat stinking cuban cigars. We were just beginning our meal and there were no other tables to move to. They ruined our dinner with absolutely zero consideration or regard to the other patrons in the restaurant.

I do not support special deals for special groups when it involves the public. They can do whatever they want in private. Chester

Posted by: acrider54 on November 29 2007 6:13 AM

"Ceremonial use of tobacco" what a pile of crap, sounds like discrimination to me. I suppose we are to believe that the Natives grew their tobacco long before caucasion folk showed up. Must be the same with alcohol.

Posted by: metalman on November 29 2007 9:24 AM

Yeah acrider, and don't forget the ceremonial use of repeating rifles, and those old time spot lights for recreating the ceremonial night time hunting rituals.
Really, political correctness extremis.
One Country, One Law, One People.
metalman.

Posted by: Quaddin on November 29 2007 10:24 PM

Well maybe they could have their ceremonial cigarette at their ceremonial bingo hall on the ceremonial welfare Wednesday.

Kinda makes you want to grab your ceremonial Winchester.

Posted by: zoom on November 30 2007 7:19 AM

Well put Quad

Posted by: Jim13135 on November 30 2007 10:21 AM

Quaddin >> Ceremonial welfare Wednesday?

Care to explain that one?

Posted by: Jim13135 on November 30 2007 10:25 AM

Quaddin >> Ceremonial welfare Wednesday?
Care to explain that one?

I hope to hell that a person like you doesn't actually own a 'ceremonial Winchester' because it's more than obvious that you lack the maturity to understand that to even suggest such a foul use of a firearm is not only irresponsible...but illegal.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 30 2007 7:53 PM

Could someone please explain how the "ceremonial use of tobacco"applies to native people here in B.C.??
Because as far I know,tobacco has never grown wild or been cultivated here in B.C.and therefore could not be part of their culture!
It's sort of like a B.C.native dancer at a pow-wow dance competition dressed as a native from the plains or the southern states,complete with war bonnet etc.
It sort of loses a lot of it's impact and true cultural value doesn't it?
Where do we draw the line at making exceptions to our laws for different ethnic backgounds?
Can I shoot a moose in the summertime and nothing is done about it?
No I can't,apparently but some can.
Are we not all equal?...because if we are,then the rules apply to everyone with NO exceptions!