Property Rights Newsletter

The Property Rights Newsletter January 27, 2012 - Issue #648 "Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." - P.J.O'Rourke

USA: See the list of all smoking bans in the United States. Country overview and details for each state. As of November 2011, 11 states have not enacted any general statewide ban on smoking in any non-government-owned spaces: Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Instead, laws in most of these states (see individual state listings below for further information) require proprietors of certain places to designate smoking and non-smoking areas and post warning signage. In Oklahoma, state law prohibits local governments from regulating smoking more strictly than the state, making it the only state without any kind of legislated smoking bans. In the other 10 states, cities and/or counties have enacted stricter smoking laws than the state, in some cases banning smoking in all enclosed workplaces. In Alabama, Indiana, and Mississippi, the state smoking law expressly allows all local governments to do so. In Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, and West Virginia, a court has ruled that certain local governments have the power to do so. See the individual state listings for details. CA: California landlords, who have long had the right to restrict pets, noise and even water beds in their units, can now prohibit smoking under a new law. The new law requires landlords to specify in their lease/rental agreements areas where smoking is prohibited on their properties. IN: House Committee Passes Smoking Ban With Few Exemptions. If the ban does pass the House, it will go to the Senate Public Policy Committee - the same panel which overwhelmingly killed the bill last year, when health advocates insisted on a bill with no exceptions. UK: Watch BBC - Timeshift The Smoking Years. Borja Cantera's film was a study of how quickly the universally acceptable can flip into the untolerated. Presented as the evolutionary history of the smoker, it began with the democratisation of the fag with the invention of the first cigarette-rolling machine in 1880 and closed with a hideous vista of extinguished stub-ends, smouldering gently like a post-apocalyptic landscape. World: Smokers Blogs. Watch instant postings to your favorite blogs. The Slippery Slope After Tobacco THE ANTI-TOBACCO RECIPE FOR SUCCESS 1. Choose an industry. 2. Regulate the industry. 3. Tax the industry. 4. Sue the industry. When one source of money dries up, return to Step 1 and repeat. By S. Phillipe NY After Big Alcohol: Bloomberg forced to reverse decision to close New York liquor stores after bitter criticism by small businesses. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's warning of last call on drinks was just a test his office said Wednesday, just hours after news of his health-motivated plan broke. While he claims his health drive has improved New Yorkers' quality of life, critics deride his approach as a "nanny state" doctrine which infringes personal liberty. These plans would have made it harder for people to buy alcohol, both legally and illicitly - but could also reduce people's desire to do so, if the crackdown on advertising is successful.

Join FREE - Home - Forum - Research - Please Help