Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LDJS]

I'm for 3 but would conceed hapilly to 4 as most of my freinds would fall in same category so I could still hang out with them in 'smoking allowed bars / clubs' and not much would have changed (apart from the odd non smoker hottie or two.)

[NYC_Gal]

#2

This is what is done in NYC. I don't know the exact percentage, but a "smoking bar" has to make a large percentage of its money from smoking (cigars, hookas, etc) and the rest can be alcohol or whatever.

Most bars are flat-out non smoking, though, and the smokers got over it really quickly.

[DeMayonnaise]

So much ignorance on this subject...

You can still hang out with your friends at non-smoking bars. They'll just step outside for 3 minutes to have a cigarette every now and then. It's no different than someone who broke the seal getting up to go to the bathroom every now and then.

Number 2 is kind of vague in my mind. I'd go for that, but be very stingy with the smoking licenses, meaning, only for hooka bars or cigar bars, not regular ol bars and restaurants.

[LDJS]

[interestedinhanguk]

The righteousness of smoking bans aside (private business etc.), the smoker did seem to get over it real fast as NYCgirl mentioned. The complain for the time leading up to the ban, and for about a week after. Then they realize they can step outside for a few minutes. I do really hate the smoking in bars, but it's often the place my friends insist on going.

[Milwaukiedave]

I'd be happy if they'd actually enforce the smoking ban close to public buildings and at universities. It won't happen though. Neither do I ever see them putting any tighter regulations on smoking in restaurants or in public.

It would be interesting if anyone could find a recent study on the % of Korean males that smoked and a break down by age.

On a lighter note, my father-in-law quit about 3 years ago after being diagnosed with cancer. He'd smoked all his life. I was so happy he was able to give it up.

To be clear I am a non-smoker.

[sallymonster]

I think for bars and clubs it should be the business's choice whether or not to allow smoking. However, I think smoking should be banned in restaurants open to the public (and bars within those restaurants).

[DeMayonnaise]

[Alphabet_Stew]

I remember the good old says

"2003" I would smoke in the boys bathroom at the Public middle I was teaching at - whilst the middle school boys also smoked in the same bathroom.

"2005" the male teachers at the Public elementary school I taught at would smoke in the school playground during the breaks.

"2008" The High school behind my elementary school has a smoking room on the fourth floor - I heard it still does.

"2009" would smoke on the roof of my Public schools with the other male teachers.

These days people are content to stand at bus stops and breathe in all the truck/car fumes and smog - but "smokers'! Oh NO!

[Milwaukiedave]

When I worked at a high school last year, I caught one of my co-teachers smoking in the bathroom. I just gave him a hard time about it jokingly of course.

[actionjackson]

Option 3 always makes me laugh. How does the saying go, a bar with smoking/non smoking sections is like a pool with peeing/non peeing sections?

[ttompatz]

[Milwaukiedave]

I second the non-peeing zone. The police really need to enforce the decency laws and arrest people for peeing in public. Even as a non-Korean I can always find a bathroom (even if it is a dump) to relieve myself.

Several years ago I was in a subway station (I believe it was Seoul National University of Education and there was a guy peeing on one of the columns in the middle of the station. I proceeded to give him an earful in English about his behavior and the poor guy was just embarrassed as hell.

We now return this thread to it's regularly scheduled topic...

[crossmr]

you're missing an option..
*complete and utter outlaw of cigarettes

unfortunately no government has the stones to do it.

[Kaypea]

With a little hesitation, I said complete ban... for selfish reasons.

I have a smoking problem, and I know it's disgusting. I don't like it... I do smoke when it's convenient. I returned from SE Asia 10 days ago, and while I was there I smoked *everywhere*. I haven't been smoking these days (8 days), but I know that if I go to a bar that I will *probably* smoke.

When they banned smoking in Canadian bars, I eventually stopped thinking that smoking was part of the bar experience. Maybe, maybe I'd leave the bar for a couple of smokes, but I wasn't totally chainsmoking like I do here sometimes.

Personally, convenience does influence my smoking habit. It's not convenient for me to smoke at work (I'm a female PS teacher), so I don't. I haven't been smoking at home either, because I'd just... rather not. But I'll probably still smoke at the bar until it's banned. The bar could be a much nicer place for non-smokers if smoking were banned, and the smokers could get used to it.