Well, Lainey beat me to the comment I was going to make, and that's that Saskatchewan, Canada already keeps cigs out of sight... and we've done that for a few years now. Long before I ever decided to quit, I was in favour of most measures that sought to reduce and de-normalize smoking. Smoking isn't healthy for the smoker, and it's not healthy for anyone who's around the smoker when he/she is smoking. Smoking shouldn't be promoted as glamourous or cool or attractive... any more than heroin use should be expressed that way. Smoking kills people and society should treat the practise of smoking, and the sale of cigarettes, as dangerous and defeating. Should people be allowed to buy cigs? Certainly. But no one should promote smoking as anything but suicidal. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 15 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 395 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $138.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37

I am an ex-smoker, but I am not against others who smoke. I feel it is the individual's choice whether or not to smoke. I am very aware of the dangers of tobacco, and I guess in a way, personally, to become anti-smoking, would make me feel somewhat hypocritical. I really don't see the government's point in hiding cigarettes out of sight, and to not be able to open the bag containing them?? WHY? Is it their way to make you feel as if you have committed a terrible crime and now your "secret" is out? Is it their way in hopes of causing you such shame that you would give them up? I think people/government need to wise up to a much bigger problem and push for stricter laws on a particular problem that affects so many innocent victims, that being alcohol, but that's a whole different subject. Don't get me started on this one, because it makes my blood boil every time. Yes, I still see the cigarettes behind the counters whenever I am in the stores, but I would have to think that to hide them from view would be like saying, "If you can't see them, just maybe we can all pretend that there are none". I don't think so. Just my opinion. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 247 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,982 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $926.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 27 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57

Whynot I agree with you. Even though I am an ex-smoker, I don't believe the government should be able to tell us whether or we can smoke and whether or not we buy them or not or even whether or not the stores decide to have them visible or not. Pretty soon the government will be telling us when to go to the bathroom and when not to. When is enough, enough! Doesn't the government already have too much control over what we do and how we live!

I didn't finish. I agree with you, a customer should be able to ensure he has the right product whether it is smokes or not. I also agree with you that non smokers are sometimes outrightly cruel about smoking, to smokers, ex-smokers etc. I am sure that if these people had ever had to try to quit, they would be a lot kinder. WE know how hard it is, they have no clue. Maybe it should be a pre requisite, you can't make laws about smoking unless you've been there. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 413 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $168.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11

Why, Thanks for the interesting topic. You are entitled to your opinion and no one opinion is incorrect. Continue the fight and know that you all made the right choice to quit. Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.

IT is already the law in Saskatchewan (Am not sure about the rest of Canada) that cigarettes are "out of the sight" of the public. Kind of the "out of sight - out of mind" theory. Having quit once, before this law came to be, I can honestly say it is helpful to have them hidden, less temptation that way. They aren't staring you in the face when you enter a convenience store. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 413 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $168.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

OK, lets set this up for you. Yesterday I was in the local tobacco shop.(don't worry, no smokes for me, but a great place to buy my lotto) As I was waiting in line, the lady ahead of me asked about this petition, taped to the countertop, that has been started by local stores. A new government Bill that is waiting to be voted on will change the advertising laws for tobacco produts. They are trying to ensure that stores are unable to have a visible tobacco display anymore. According to the store I visited (I have not yet been able to check this out fully), if passed, the tobacco will have to be hidden in the store [u]at all times[/u]. The result being, when you go to buy a pack of smokes, they will get it out from under the counter (where all tobacco and related products are hidden from site) and put it directly in the bag. You are unable, legally, to open the bag and show the product in any public place. I believe, this is the start of making Nova Scotia completely smoke free. Since you are unable to look at the product before leaving the store, you will not be able to exchange that puchased product if you have the wrong brand or whatever. (If anywhere else is like small town, Nova Scotia...... most businesses have a No Exchange policy in place. Once you have left the store you are out of luck. You know, buyer beware.......Look before you leave) The point of all this information....when it came my turn to answer the cashier's "Will you sign?" My reply was a strong "NO!"..... needless to say, she didn't appreciate me leaving her and the other smokers behind now that I have quit. (No, I am not better than you, I have just chosen to be smarter than you) So, I took a moment to quickly explain that while I agree with some parts, I disagree with others. I think it's my right not to see tobacco where ever I go, my right to have MY OPINION, but not right to have no recourse as the customer getting the wrong product. But, my [i]feelings[/i] as a non-smoker, and as an ex-smoker..... "You....the government, the stores, and everyone else........ know that smoking is deadly. Yet, it still is a legal product sold in most stores all around the world. As hard as quitting was, and as smokers knowing how hard and un-acheviable it seems, they should be hidden