CompuServe Thread

The USA is every bit what Ed said, but it's not alone. A number of other nations are going along the same road, we're just leading the way. The final "smoking gun," if you'll pardon the pun, was a recent study released by the Environmental Protection Administration based entirely on statistical models that stated that second hand smoke was as, if not more, carcenogenic than inhaling it directly. Having labeled second hand smoke that way now, it is permissible for governments to protect the nonsmoking majority from harm and, as it's popular to trash smokers, they're doing it. Smoking is prohibited here on all public conveyances (trains, planes, you name it), in an increasing number of shopping malls, in all retail establishments, government offices, hospitals, etc., and will soon be extended to restaurants and "all areas where the public congregates." Courts have now upheld that smoking is a legitimate reason not to hire someone (drinking, however, is not), and more and more businesses are becoming "smoke free" environments. Smoking isn't really a good thing, it's just not the source of all evil in the world. Don't worry, it's coming to Europe. The French just banned smoking on the Metro, there are a number of laws restricting smoking in Parliament, and all that's needed is for Labour to come to power or the Social Democrats in Deutschland and it'll arrive.