2008 Woodie Awards
The pub smoking ban controversy
Smokers forced to stay outdoors
Beau Markut
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Our country prides itself on pandering to every lowest common denominator. In essence, it is a form of compromise which our government worships. Most public places are handicap accessible. Every automated teller machine brings up the opening window where customers choose which language they wish to receive information in. A vegetarian can get a specialized meal in any cafeteria at his or her work, school, or even a steakhouse ironically. However, smokers are the single group in this country that has been bastardized to the point of persecution.
Currently, this change is not an issue. I have no problem with going outside in the sixty degree weather for a cigarette. My problems will start when the infamous Lakeland winter sets in. When it is ten below zero and 30 mile-an-hour winds are blowing around two feet of snow, I will have some serious issues then. Last year, the pub was the Alamo for campus smokers trying to avoid severe frostbite on important appendages. This year we are stranded outside in the cold.
The opposing issue is seemingly unforeseeable. I guess the most dominant reason for the ban is the health issue. In today's society, people are frightened by the black cloud that is second-hand smoke. Without a science major's knowledge I cannot be conclusive on this issue; however, I do have a command for logic. In order to contract lung cancer a smoker would have to smoke many cigarettes over an extended period of time.
It is doubtful that a bystander would even have the slightest chance of health problems when they are receiving a fraction of the smoke for a small time period. It simply does not add up. There is a giant machine on the ceiling that was meant to extract any stagnant smoke from the area, and it was doing its job well in the past.
I have spoken to many people who complain about the unpleasant smell that a smoker produces. This positively makes no sense. Our society never discriminates due to the sense of smell. I cannot tell you how many times I have been in Wal-Mart and I was behind a foul smelling man in a sleeveless shirt. Yet, these men never have any problems buying their potato chips in peace. Hell, standing in the dinner line with athletes just getting out of practice without a shower can be a challenging task in itself. Honestly, if I would walk into the pub with no deodorant, no shower, and a gallon of curdled milk poured on my body, they would pull me up a chair. As soon as I light my cigarette however, I am considered offensive.
I feel the real reason for the smoking ban lies in the fact that Lakeland is trying to wean their students off an unhealthy habit. This would coincide with the Muskie Mart no longer selling lighters. I cannot help but foresee the book store no longer selling packs of cigarettes in the future in a gradual response as well. This may seem like a noble cause but it is logically unsound. The pub sells alcohol, and fried food can be found up a flight of stairs. A student drinking a beer and eating their double bacon cheeseburger flex meal saying that my habit is unhealthy is simply laughable.
After eating lunch, my favorite activity was to walk downstairs, rack up a game of pool and smoke a cigarette. Now unfortunately, that is impossible. This is regrettable and illogical. Quite simply, our precious Lakeland pub is a bar. People smoke in bars. This seems to be a precedent which apparently holds no sway in Muskie country.
Currently, this change is not an issue. I have no problem with going outside in the sixty degree weather for a cigarette. My problems will start when the infamous Lakeland winter sets in. When it is ten below zero and 30 mile-an-hour winds are blowing around two feet of snow, I will have some serious issues then. Last year, the pub was the Alamo for campus smokers trying to avoid severe frostbite on important appendages. This year we are stranded outside in the cold.
The opposing issue is seemingly unforeseeable. I guess the most dominant reason for the ban is the health issue. In today's society, people are frightened by the black cloud that is second-hand smoke. Without a science major's knowledge I cannot be conclusive on this issue; however, I do have a command for logic. In order to contract lung cancer a smoker would have to smoke many cigarettes over an extended period of time.
It is doubtful that a bystander would even have the slightest chance of health problems when they are receiving a fraction of the smoke for a small time period. It simply does not add up. There is a giant machine on the ceiling that was meant to extract any stagnant smoke from the area, and it was doing its job well in the past.
I have spoken to many people who complain about the unpleasant smell that a smoker produces. This positively makes no sense. Our society never discriminates due to the sense of smell. I cannot tell you how many times I have been in Wal-Mart and I was behind a foul smelling man in a sleeveless shirt. Yet, these men never have any problems buying their potato chips in peace. Hell, standing in the dinner line with athletes just getting out of practice without a shower can be a challenging task in itself. Honestly, if I would walk into the pub with no deodorant, no shower, and a gallon of curdled milk poured on my body, they would pull me up a chair. As soon as I light my cigarette however, I am considered offensive.
I feel the real reason for the smoking ban lies in the fact that Lakeland is trying to wean their students off an unhealthy habit. This would coincide with the Muskie Mart no longer selling lighters. I cannot help but foresee the book store no longer selling packs of cigarettes in the future in a gradual response as well. This may seem like a noble cause but it is logically unsound. The pub sells alcohol, and fried food can be found up a flight of stairs. A student drinking a beer and eating their double bacon cheeseburger flex meal saying that my habit is unhealthy is simply laughable.
After eating lunch, my favorite activity was to walk downstairs, rack up a game of pool and smoke a cigarette. Now unfortunately, that is impossible. This is regrettable and illogical. Quite simply, our precious Lakeland pub is a bar. People smoke in bars. This seems to be a precedent which apparently holds no sway in Muskie country.
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