Man charged in Ontario for smokers club

[dissentowner]

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/c...entid=23886199

So the question here is does the government overstep it's bounds here?
I am an ex smoker but I don't see anything wrong with a guy opening a private club where you have to buy a membership and everyone knows it is a smoking establishment. The government is starting to grab to much control on what we can andcannot do with our private lives. They can call it a democracy but telling a guy that even though his club is members only and is clearly marked as a smoking club that he has to pay fines that actually should not apply to him sounds like communism to me.

[Misterpants]

Did he look like this?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/c...entid=23886199

So the question here is does the government overstep it's bounds here?
I am an ex smoker but I don't see anything wrong with a guy opening a private club where you have to buy a membership and everyone knows it is a smoking establishment. The government is starting to grab to much control on what we can andcannot do with our private lives. They can call it a democracy but telling a guy that even though his club is members only and is clearly marked as a smoking club that he has to pay fines that actually should not apply to him sounds like communism to me.

How is that like communism?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by troutman

How is that like communism?

I am not sure, sounded good at the time? lol

[Bill Bumface]

I'd say it's more like Hitler!

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by troutman

How is that like communism?

Sounds like we need Glenn Beck on the case. He's the only one that will be able to stop the communists who want to socialize your nazism!

[Canada 02]

this "private" drinking establishment for paying members is essentially a bar with a cover charge.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I don't know about this.
Does the place have a business license?
If so I'd say it'd qualify as a public place just like any other business would, and therefore should be subject to the same laws.
If it's a matter of having to own a membership to get in that this guy thinks should allow him to allow smoking, then why can't I smoke in Costco?

[puckluck]

How is this smoking club any different than the ones that are allowed to operate in Alberta? Other than the obvious that they're in Alberta.

[Finny61]

Soon there will be smoking activist groups trying to protect the interests of smokers. Other then the tobacco companies of course.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by puckluck

How is this smoking club any different than the ones that are allowed to operate in Alberta? Other than the obvious that they're in Alberta.

I didn't know such clubs existed.
Are you sure about this?

[Muta]

I think the government should lay off. It's a members-only establishment, not open to the public. If the public wants to join, they can. They pay a membership fee. And when they do that, they know full well what everyone is getting in to.

The other solution this guy might want to consider is buying a second house, and having parties there every night. Charge a fee, but put that fee towards beer, and people can smoke their lungs out at a PRIVATE residence where the courts can't do a damn thing about it.

To me, this is beyond stupid on the government's part.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

I didn't know such clubs existed.
Are you sure about this?

All the Hookah/Sheesha bars that are in Calgary.

Sheesha is Tobacco and is just as harmful as cigarettes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8214097.stm

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by puckluck

All the Hookah/Sheesha bars that are in Calgary.

Sheesha is Tobacco and is just as harmful as cigarettes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8214097.stm

I had heard that since the ban they couldn't use actual tobacco in their sheesha and was instead using some 'herbal blend' type stuff that simulates it. I dunno - I've haven't been to a hookah bar since the ban so I could very well be grossly misinformed.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

I had heard that since the ban they couldn't use actual tobacco in their sheesha and was instead using some 'herbal blend' type stuff that simulates it. I dunno - I've haven't been to a hookah bar since the ban so I could very well be grossly misinformed.

They use the same stuff as before the ban.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Muta

I think the government should lay off. It's a members-only establishment, not open to the public. If the public wants to join, they can. They pay a membership fee. And when they do that, they know full well what everyone is getting in to.

The other solution this guy might want to consider is buying a second house, and having parties there every night. Charge a fee, but put that fee towards beer, and people can smoke their lungs out at a PRIVATE residence where the courts can't do a damn thing about it.

To me, this is beyond stupid on the government's part.

Ya that fool proof plan would never be deciphered

[mariners_fever]

Originally Posted by troutman

How is that like communism?

I'd say that it can be likened to left-wing politics in modern day terms because it is an example of bigger government. Bigger government is often associated with the left whereas liberty (allowing the club to run) and smaller government is associated with the political right.

Kind of inches it closer to communism, or more succinctly collective equality over the idea of individual freedom.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by puckluck

All the Hookah/Sheesha bars that are in Calgary.

Sheesha is Tobacco and is just as harmful as cigarettes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8214097.stm

Originally Posted by puckluck

They use the same stuff as before the ban.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...d-c92f8c361129

Yeah, I don't think bars that are prohibited from allowing people to smoke tobacco are a good analog for a place that wants to let people smoke tobacco.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...d-c92f8c361129

Yeah, I don't think bars that are prohibited from allowing people to smoke tobacco are a good analog for a place that wants to let people smoke tobacco.

In regards to that link:

Then they should consider shutting down everyone of those sheesha bars because I smoke sheesha regularly at about 3 different hookah bars in Calgary and they use the same tobacco packages that I use at home.

Personally I think that shutting them down is wrong since I know what I'm going to be smoking and enter knowing it's primarly a smoking establishment. I'm all for the ban in restaraunts and bars, but when a bar is specifically open for smoking then the responsibility should fall on the people who chooses to enter.

[anyonebutedmonton]

I think the sheesha bars can get around it because they don't serve alcohol.