Ladies and gentlemen, please extinguish all cigarettes - you're entering Queensland, Australia.

The Queensland Government yesterday jumped ahead of the rest of the country in the crusade to stub out smoking by announcing sweeping new laws, including a ban inside pubs and clubs from the middle of 2006. It will also be against the law to smoke in outdoor eating areas.

"These are the toughest anti-smoking proposals anywhere in Australia," said Queensland Premier Peter Beattie. "They include proposals that are not yet being considered by other states in their plans to introduce further tobacco bans."

From next year it will be illegal to smoke between the flags on the Sunshine state's beaches, anywhere near children's playgrounds, inside sportsgrounds, or within four metres of the entrance of an office building. Point-of-sale advertising will be outlawed from the end of 2005 and retailers will face three-year bans for selling cigarettes to children.

This whole business of telling owners of private establishments that smoking is prohibited smacks of Big Brother taking away individual liberties. People have a choice, when it comes to entering a smoky bar. Too bad the owners can't choose whether or not to allow smoking.

It's not that I support smoking, just that I'm terrified of incremental efforts by governments to outlaw "unacceptable behavior. Social/behavioral engineering is some scary stuff.

Actually, we don't have a choice. When I go into a bar, I have to put up with smokers. When I enter a restaurant,

Um, I hope this isn't confusing for you, but don't you have a choice to go to another restaurant? Or is there only one in South Carolina?

UB

Problem is, there are 10% of the people in the world that smoke it up for the rest of us. Sometimes a line has to be drawn. We don't allow drunk driving for the very same reason.

I hate to break it to you but more then 10% smoke.

Take their cancer sticks somewhere else and quit fouling up my air.

How about unattractive people? Should they be prohibited from the places you frequent, so you don't have to be repulsed by their presence?

How about unattractive people? Should they be prohibited from the places you frequent, so you don't have to be repulsed by their presence?

Ugly people don't give you cancer.

Oh bumblie, your logic is fouled. Unattractive ppl aren't hazardous to my health, but second hand smoke is.

I support any ban on smoking in a public place. My son has severe allergies, he cannot enter any establishment that has smoking. Where are his rights?


It's amazing how ppl fight/moan/b---- and whine over the rights of smokers.........take your cancer sticks home, smoke all you want, but let me eat my meal, have my beer without having a smoke second hand

First off, there is a lot of flawed thinking about the impact of secondhand smoke on adults. Mortality due to secondhand smoke is something like 1/200th as likely smoking casing death in smokers.

Secondhand smoke is a nuisance. It's unpleasant to breath and it stinks up your hair and clothes, but the mortality concerns for adults is negligible.

We talk about rights... sure your son should be able to eat in a smoke free environment. Go to Chuck E Cheese. Let the marketplace dictate whether or not private businesses decide their own smoking policies. If the majority prefer a smoke-free pubs, the business owners will act accordingly.

Your car exhaust fumes cause lung damage, global warming AND immediate environmental pollution. Where's your bleeding heart for all the damage you yourself are causing?

Quit being selective. It's not funny and it makes you look silly.

Well you are missing one point, that'd be that there is absolutely no economic benefit to smoking