Following in the steps of other European countries, the Polish government has instituted a smoking ban in all public places throughout the country. Some there, though, say that the ban might be too harsh. Smoking is now zakazany (in Polish, "forbidden") in places like schools, museums, theatres, airports and railway and bus stations. Also affected are public transport vehicles, stadiums, hospitals and (even) playgrounds. For the all-important question, "What about bars and restaurants?" … [Read more...]

Nanny staters in Alabama, Arkansas and South Dakota are either trying to ban smoking, or already have, in various ways. We have details of their efforts in this roundup of PC Patrol activity. We keep watch on the PC Patrol, so you don't have to. South Dakota Latest State to Ban Bar, Restaurant Smoking Cigar-enjoying South Dakotans "celebrated" new statewide anti-smoking laws in the one way they really could-by smoking at their favorite bar or restaurant right up until the ban took … [Read more...]

Add Long Beach, California to the ever-growing list of municipalities that ban smoking on land owned by taxpayers. The City Council in the town of 492,000 just south of Los Angeles voted to ban smoking in all city parks and recreational areas, including sports fields and hiking trails. The beaches in Long Beach had already become inhospitable towards smokers, thanks to a previous ban by the city. Unlike other bans across the US, this blanket legislation came out of a smaller request. … [Read more...]

It's not South Park, the wacky-yet-fictional town where the TV show of the same name is based. But a similar kind of small Colorado city—in terms of size, anyways—is stepping into the big leagues of cities like New York and Cambridge, Massachusetts, in considering a smoking ban for its public parks. The City of Fruita, Colorado, a city of 11,500-plus located 10 northwest of Grand Junction, is famous for its mountain biking and "Mike, the Headless Chicken"—hmmm, this place is sounding a … [Read more...]