Mets to make Shea Stadium smoke-free for final season.

[metirish]

I really like this, but will it be enforced.

] FLUSHING -- The New York Mets today announced that Shea Stadium will become smoke-free during the Mets' final season in their longtime home. The 2008 smoking prohibition will encompass all areas within Shea, including the ramps. The Mets will continue to provide fans a smoke-free environment when they move into Citi Field, their new world class home, in 2009. Shea's seating bowl became smoke-free in 1995 following the City Council's enactment of the Smoke-Free Air Act. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2002 amending the 1995 act to ensure that public spaces including bars, nightclubs, and restaurants and all places of employment in New York City are smoke-free. The new policy for Shea and Citi Field will eliminate second-hand smoke for fans and all workers throughout both buildings. Second-hand smoke is a known health hazard and irritant for nearby non-smokers. Smoke coming from outdoor areas can drift into enclosed areas and is virtually impossible to eliminate if windows or doorways are open. The United States Environmental Protection has classified second-hand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, a group which also includes hazardous materials such as asbestos. To accommodate fans who wish to smoke at Mets home games at Shea Stadium, the team has designated an area outside the stadium reserved for smokers. This outdoor area is accessible through the exterior of Gate C and will be the only area in which smoking is permitted.

[seawolf17]

Thumbs up. Nice.

[soupcan]

Doesn't bother me.

Pre-smoking ban I used to enjoy having a stogie or two during a game but even then I would make sure I moved to the very back row of the Mezz where the smoke would drift out behind me. I'd never light up right in the middle of a section filled with people.

I would still enjoy that if allowed, but no biggie.

[metirish]

I enjoy a few smokes a day, down to two or three for the past year but I've no problem with the ban, like soup though I would never light up around people at a game, or anywhere for that matter.

[Guest AG/DC]

I bet Keith and Ralph still have a place where they sneak some. Darling also maybe.

[Guest Number 6]

I don't smoke, but I really don't see the harm in having a few designated smoking areas IN the stadium (away from the stands). Like most anti-smoking regs lately, this is pretty silly.

[Guest themetfairy]

Number 6 wrote: I don't smoke, but I really don't see the harm in having a few designated smoking areas IN the stadium (away from the stands). Like most anti-smoking regs lately, this is pretty silly.

I agree with 6. A designated smoking area seems appropriate, especially in a place with so many open areas.

[Guest KC]

And it would keep people from hiding in bathroom stalls and smoking up a
much more confined and nasty place to begin with.

[Guest themetfairy]

Yes - if people are going to smoke, let them do it somewhere that isn't going to inconvenience other people.

[Guest sharpie]

I agree. The ramps have always seemed to me to be a sensible place to let people smoke.

[Farmer Ted]

I get a kick out of the glass-enclosed fishbowl smoking areas in airports. You don't even need to light up in those rooms to get a nicotine fix.

[nymr83]

any designated smoking area needs to be not only away from other fans but away from employees. i think that was the problem with the ramps, they were right on top of food stands and stuff.

[Guest Number 6]

Nymr83 wrote: any designated smoking area needs to be not only away from other fans but away from employees. i think that was the problem with the ramps, they were right on top of food stands and stuff.

Problem is, much of the concourses in Shea are effectively outdoors, especially the ramps. At least you can call them the ramps "open air." There is no conclusive evidence, as far as I am aware, that secondhand smoke in such an environment is a health risk. So calling open-air smoking a health hazard, as the Mets are, is disingenuous. Call it what it is: an inconvenience for some (and mainly, IMO, those who choose to be inconvenienced by it).

Many points on or around the ramps are a good distance away from the concession and souvenir stands. If that's the reason, the Mets are just not being creative enough.

[Guest KC]

N6: >>>There is no conclusive evidence, as far as I am aware, that secondhand smoke in such an environment is a health risk<<<

Oh come on, cig smoke is cig smoke - breathing it indoors, outdoors, some-
what indoors or outdoors, using one nostril instead of two, just isn't healthy.

[Guest holychicken]

I am generally a big proponent of smoking bans in enclosed places. . . but I never really thought it was necessary in Shea. I always thought the ramps were a perfect place for those who like to smoke could go and not annoy those of us who do not like to smoke.

Sucks for Upper deck smokers, they are going to have to go about a mile to smoke a cigarette.

IMO, all this is going to do is lead to more people smoking in their seats. They are much less likely to get caught there.

[Centerfield]

I miss smoking.

[Guest themetfairy]

Little Ryan doesn't miss having that gunk around.

[Guest Number 6]

KC wrote: Oh come on, cig smoke is cig smoke - breathing it indoors, outdoors, some-what indoors or outdoors, using one nostril instead of two, just isn't healthy.

I'm not going to make the argument that secondhand smoke is healthy. It's been pretty well documented that long-term exposure in enclosed spaces is quite unhealthy. But studies in open-air environments show nothing, despite plenty of effort.

Personally, I'm not of a mind to effectively ban something because it *may* harm someone, and is harmful in other contexts. Not enough. Show me the data first. If the data don't exist, the Mets (and our government) shouldn't make arguments insinuating that it does.

[Guest KC]

N6: >>>But studies in open-air environments show nothing, despite plenty of effort<<<

I don't really understand how anyone can try and defend cig smoke under
any circumstances but whatever. It's not something I'm gonna argue about.

I'm an ex-smoker and my wife is a lung cancer survivor. Throw them out
now and quit today is what I'm gonna preach.

[soupcan]

I'm with Kase on this - too many people I know have gotten cancer as a direct result of smoking.

Get rid of 'em.

holychicken wrote: IMO, all this is going to do is lead to more people smoking in their seats. They are much less likely to get caught there

Not if they're sitting near me. I've ratted 'em out before, I'll rat 'em out again.

[Gwreck]

soupcan wrote: Not if they're sitting near me. I've ratted 'em out before, I'll rat 'em out again.

Same here. Fortunately, smoking in the seats is one of the few things the ushers take seriously.

[Guest Number 6]

KC wrote: I don't really understand how anyone can try and defend cig smoke under any circumstances but whatever. It's not something I'm gonna argue about.

I don't see myself as defending cigarette smoke. I hate cigarettes, and cigarette smoke. Cigarettes have no redeeming qualities, whatsoever. The argument to me is about what the role of the government, and other businesses, should be in making sure people don't smoke them, or that other people don't come in contact with them. And that the arguments made aren't disingenuous.

Anyway, no biggie for me. Personally, I'll certainly enjoy another place where I don't have to breathe in cigarette smoke. I just don't dig the reasoning.

[nymr83]

while we're on the topic of smoking in your seats, i have never seen anyone smoking tobacco cigarettes in their seats, but i've sure picked up a familiar odor that i don't miss from college...

[Centerfield]

themetfairy wrote: Little Ryan doesn't miss having that gunk around.

Actually, he has never seen it. Even when I was smoking, it was after he went to sleep for the night and I would go outside to have my cigarette. I seldom get preachy, but I think smoking around kids is just blatantly irresponsible.

Smoking is weird. When I'm craving one I curse myself for having quit, but when I'm not, quitting is one of the things I'm most proud of having done.

[Guest holychicken]

Gwreck wrote: ="soupcan"]Not if they're sitting near me. I've ratted 'em out before, I'll rat 'em out again. Same here. Fortunately, smoking in the seats is one of the few things the ushers take seriously.

maybe in the lower seats, but my experience is that in the upperdeck or the "reserved" seats is that it is pretty much do what you want unless you get ratted out.

I have seen plenty of smokers in those sections smoke 3-4 cigs during the game and the ushers do nothing.

But is anyone here really bothered by people smoking on the ramps?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I remember when I was a kid, the smell of cigarettes and cigars evoked thoughts of Shea. That was the overriding aroma there. I guess that's changed; just a few weeks ago I had the same response to the smell of mustard instead.

I hate cigarette smoke myself, and even if it's hasn't been "proven" that second-hand, outdoor smoke is a health hazard, it's certainly an annoyance. And I can see a business not wanting one patron to be able to annoy dozens of others.

But having said that, I don't think smoking on the ramps, while the game in in progress, is all that objectionable. After the game, when the ramps are jammed with people, would be a different story.

[Guest themetfairy]

Centerfield wrote: ="themetfairy"]Little Ryan doesn't miss having that gunk around. Actually, he has never seen it. Even when I was smoking, it was after he went to sleep for the night and I would go outside to have my cigarette. I seldom get preachy, but I think smoking around kids is just blatantly irresponsible. Smoking is weird. When I'm craving one I curse myself for having quit, but when I'm not, quitting is one of the things I'm most proud of having done.

Even though you didn't smoke in his presence, I bet you and your clothing smell better in general now that you've quit.

[soupcan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I remember when I was a kid, the smell of cigarettes and cigars evoked thoughts of Shea.

Same experience and as a result, cigar smoke always make me think of spring and early season baseball.

Just like the smell of Carmex makes me think of skiing.

[Centerfield]

themetfairy wrote: ="Centerfield"] themetfairy wrote: Little Ryan doesn't miss having that gunk around. Actually, he has never seen it. Even when I was smoking, it was after he went to sleep for the night and I would go outside to have my cigarette. I seldom get preachy, but I think smoking around kids is just blatantly irresponsible. Smoking is weird. When I'm craving one I curse myself for having quit, but when I'm not, quitting is one of the things I'm most proud of having done. Even though you didn't smoke in his presence, I bet you and your clothing smell better in general now that you've quit.

Hey wait a second, I still have a bunch of sources of stink remaining, even without the cigarettes.

[Guest themetfairy]

Centerfield wrote: ="themetfairy"] Centerfield wrote: ="themetfairy"]Little Ryan doesn't miss having that gunk around. Actually, he has never seen it. Even when I was smoking, it was after he went to sleep for the night and I would go outside to have my cigarette. I seldom get preachy, but I think smoking around kids is just blatantly irresponsible. Smoking is weird. When I'm craving one I curse myself for having quit, but when I'm not, quitting is one of the things I'm most proud of having done. Even though you didn't smoke in his presence, I bet you and your clothing smell better in general now that you've quit. Hey wait a second, I still have a bunch of sources of stink remaining, even without the cigarettes.

Don't worry - the kid will write a book about that one day