Still fighting against the new smoking laws

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Every week the same thing - restaurant and pub owners in Frankfurt gather on Monday evenings to march across town to protest against the new smoking laws (effective October 1, 2007). No more smoking in pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs. There was a big outrage across the country. People were saying "I am old enough to make my own descision, I won't let the state decided for me whether I should smoke or not."

There were debates on TV, protests everywhere. They are worried that their pubs will have to shut down because the smokers won't drop in for a beer and a cigarette after work.

I can't belive they haven't given up yet. Obviously the government is not going to change the law. At first the group was quite large, but from week to week it's getting smaller and smaller. But they are still marching, chanting " I'm an adult, I decide" or something equally ridiculous.

I personally think it was about time they changed the laws. Countries like Italy or Ireland changed their laws over a year ago. I am a social smoker (so yeah, I smoke a couple when I go out and have a drink ), but the new smoking laws get my full support.

If people are silly enough to still smoke (and that includes me), then they have to live with the fact that they have to go outside. And that eventually will stop me from smoking a whole pack a night - just because it is too uncomfortable to go outside.

So, here is the small group of protestors - they march past the corner I live close to.

[Sister Fracas 5]

If people are silly enough to still smoke (and that includes me), then they have to live with the fact that they have to go outside. And that eventually will stop me from smoking a whole pack a night - just because it is too uncomfortable to go outside.

The funniest thing to me is to see a group of huddling smokers all shivering, teeth chattering outside an office building in sub-zero weather... hehehe

[Jenn! 918]

I just think that the owners of establishments should be able to decide. For some places, I bet that most of their business comes from smokers. Can't the non-smokers go to one of the gazillion other places that DO prohibit smoking?

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I am overjoyed that smoking laws get far and far stricter. For years, I have wanted to go for a beer and actually be able to breathe in between gulps and come home without that disgusting smell in my hair and on my clothes. You want to smoke? Step outside.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

I just think that the owners of establishments should be able to decide. For some places, I bet that most of their business comes from smokers. Can't the non-smokers go to one of the gazillion other places that DO prohibit smoking?

That's the problem - in Germany every establishment is a smoking one (except for Starbucks). You cannot find a non-smoker restaurant/ pub.

[Jenn! 918]

I just think that the owners of establishments should be able to decide. For some places, I bet that most of their business comes from smokers. Can't the non-smokers go to one of the gazillion other places that DO prohibit smoking?

That's the problem - in Germany every establishment is a smoking one (except for Starbucks). You cannot find a non-smoker restaurant/ pub.

Well, that I can see, it was like that in Italy as well before they changed the law. But I think that's not so much the case here. Businesses should be allowed to cater to their customer base.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Can nicotine be injected instead? Maybe instead of smoking, bars that used to be smoker-hangouts can offer free disposal syringes if you bring your own nicotine.

[Ban Hammer 14,571]

Every week the same thing - restaurant and pub owners in Frankfurt gather on Monday evenings to march across town to protest against the new smoking laws (effective October 1, 2007). No more smoking in pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs. There was a big outrage across the country. People were saying "I am old enough to make my own descision, I won't let the state decided for me whether I should smoke or not."

There were debates on TV, protests everywhere. They are worried that their pubs will have to shut down because the smokers won't drop in for a beer and a cigarette after work.

I can't belive they haven't given up yet. Obviously the government is not going to change the law. At first the group was quite large, but from week to week it's getting smaller and smaller. But they are still marching, chanting " I'm an adult, I decide" or something equally ridiculous.

I personally think it was about time they changed the laws. Countries like Italy or Ireland changed their laws over a year ago. I am a social smoker (so yeah, I smoke a couple when I go out and have a drink ), but the new smoking laws get my full support.

If people are silly enough to still smoke (and that includes me), then they have to live with the fact that they have to go outside. And that eventually will stop me from smoking a whole pack a night - just because it is too uncomfortable to go outside.

So, here is the small group of protestors - they march past the corner I live close to.

do you by any chance live near the frankfurt hauptbahnhof? that street looks familiar to me.

[russ 1]

That's the problem - in Germany every establishment is a smoking one (except for Starbucks). You cannot find a non-smoker restaurant/ pub.

It is a pretty even mix here in FL. Bars (places that are 90%+ alcohol sales) generally allow smoking. If more than 10% of revenue comes from food, no smoking. Seems like a fair balance to me.

When I lived in Holland, you could smoke just about everywhere. (Not sure if that has changed, I haven't been back in about 2 years).

In Russia, you can smoke absolutely everywhere. Coffee places, all bars, all restaurants, airports, probably even on some airplanes.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

do you by any chance live near the frankfurt hauptbahnhof? that street looks familiar to me.

It does look a bit like the dodgy Hauptbahnhof area (it think it's because of the hotel in the background)...but I live across the river, in Sachsenhausen.

Have you been to Frankfurt often?

[Ban Hammer 14,571]

do you by any chance live near the frankfurt hauptbahnhof? that street looks familiar to me.

It does look a bit like the dodgy Hauptbahnhof area (it think it's because of the hotel in the background)...but I live across the river, in Sachsenhausen.

Have you been to Frankfurt often?

i used to live there in 1994. so you're over in the party place then

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

do you by any chance live near the frankfurt hauptbahnhof? that street looks familiar to me.

It does look a bit like the dodgy Hauptbahnhof area (it think it's because of the hotel in the background)...but I live across the river, in Sachsenhausen.

Have you been to Frankfurt often?

i used to live there in 1994. so you're over in the party place then

Oh, how cool - did you like it? Old sachsenhausen rocks, so tacky, but so good - and Wagner's, the best cider joint in Frankfurt is just around the corner (my local pub actually!). They are also having troubles with the smoking laws - it seems like they make enough turnover, so they just ignore the laws and pay the fines!

[Ban Hammer 14,571]

do you by any chance live near the frankfurt hauptbahnhof? that street looks familiar to me.

It does look a bit like the dodgy Hauptbahnhof area (it think it's because of the hotel in the background)...but I live across the river, in Sachsenhausen.

Have you been to Frankfurt often?

i used to live there in 1994. so you're over in the party place then

Oh, how cool - did you like it? Old sachsenhausen rocks, so tacky, but so good - and Wagner's, the best cider joint in Frankfurt is just around the corner (my local pub actually!). They are also having troubles with the smoking laws - it seems like they make enough turnover, so they just ignore the laws and pay the fines!

about all i remember is an irish pub there, but i mostly hung out at another place cattycorner from it, had some kinda african name i think.

[miles 0]

In Japan most of the restaurants have a room shield with glass for smokers . Japanese are heavy smokers that is why they give smokers a place to make comfortable and safe for non- smokers too. In train staions ,you can find a place to smoke too and it is at the last row of the waiting area of the train.So it's very convenient for me whenever I go there. But here in US ...You can just smoke outside... I smoke too ,and I chilled while smoking outside...woooo....it's very hard to break this habbit !!![/b]

[Jasman0717 9]

I don't see how people can continue to smoke after all the research and warnings