Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

To those of you who are coming out to SoCal in August and are smokers, be advised that smoking is highly restricted out here. I was at the San Diego Wild Animal Park last weekend and was amazed that it now has Designated Smoking Areas throughout the park - meaning that smoking is not allowed in all other places, in spite of it being all outdoors (!); at least one beach out here (in Del Mar) is also a smoke-free zone. Smoking is also prohibited in most buildings. I just thought I'd give a heads-up to those who might be affected.

Gary, many of the beaches in So. Cal. are non-smoking these days. My hometown, Laguna Beach, recently adopted this policy, putting ashtrays at each beach entrance. The beach police routinely issue tickets.

Thanks for that info, John; I knew that some Orange County municipalities had been contemplating doing that but I didn't know whether any had enacted the applicable ordinances.

There are a number of beaches here where the same prohibitions apply, John. The number of fires in the ashtrays is quite amazing. People use them as repositories for small items of rubbish such as ice cream wrappers. Perhaps they should be fined for improper use of an ashtray!

You can still smoke in most bars or designated areas in some places but you can't where food is being served. Interestingly, smoking is banned at out most famous sporting arena, the MCG, which is an outdoor stadium.... go figure!

I smoke but am very careful about where I do it and always consider the proximity of others, whether they be smokers or not.

Time to give up, methinks........

I'm glad I gave up smoking many years ago.

I think one of the reasons other than just the smoke, that smoking got banned from even outdoor facilities, is that many smokers don't care where they drop their cigarette butts.

Anyone else find it hilariously ironic that the anti-establishment generation has become the most restrictive and willing to tell everyone else how to live?!

And no, I am not a smoker. Just an infrequent cigar on my deck or at Lake Michigan.

I love that people smoke.....and then file lawsuits saying they didn't know it could harm them or that it is unfair because it is so addictive. I think it is great that smokers get to pollute themselves....what do I care? I do have a problem with people smoking in my face and putting me in situations where I have to inhale their tumor-juice. I understand and accept that it is part of going to a bar and I have no issues with smokers there....but on an elevator and in an office at work I find it rude and unfair that I should have to suffer. Outdoor smoking rules I don't understand much at all though. There are already laws in effect to deal with those that litter with their luscious cancer carriers.

Anyone else find it hilariously ironic that the anti-establishment generation has become the most restrictive and willing to tell everyone else how to live?!

The hippies have become un-hip! LOL

Can we fart?

Assuming you want to retain your friends..... no!! Designated areas for that would be hilarious to see, however.

"Can we fart?"

Someone once asked me, 'mind if I smoke?'

I said, no, mind if I fart?

A topic devoted to smoking, its banning and its health hazards, but no mention of the dangers of smoking around a Rickenbacker. Why doesn't the Surgeon General give any warnings on cigarette packets about damage to guitar bindings? Surely this would give people a better reason to give up.

P.S. Has anyone done any research into the long term effects of farting in the vicinity of white bound, or white finished guitars?

The last '67 360F I got, had a 38 year protective coat of nicotine on it! But it cleaned up like new. Perhaps all Rics should be stored with a nicoglo finish ............sorry that sounds too much like knicker glow.............and I don't even want to go there

Smoking here in Ontario, Canada has been prohibited in public places in most municipalities for several years. We just got a province wide law last month that bans smoking basically everywhere (except in your own home and certain distances from public buildings of course). Although I have never smoked, I too am of the opinion that people can make their own choices and whether or not somebody smokes doesn't matter a wit to me. I respect too that people don't want to be exposed to second hand smoke so I think it's good that their wishes are respected. As a musician who plays a lot of clubs and pubs though, I appreciate the ban. My voice is much better the day after a gig now and I don't have that nicotine smell coming out of my air in the shower the morning after. I hadn't thought of how smoke can affect instruments and gear though. Is smoking harmful to gear at all - e.g. does it contribute to pots in PAs/amps getting "dirty?"

Most bars in L.A are non-smoking, though they can have an outdoor smoking section. The town in which my wife works (Calabasas) is a non-smoking town. You cannot smoke outdoors anywhere within city limits!