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Commentary Beach smoking ban is a real drag By Nicole Hammett June 26, 2006 San Diego--Pacific Beach is probably many things to many people but the general consensus is this is the party beach. This is where you take your friends on 4th of July, this is where the greatest concentration of intoxicated twenty-somethings can be found at any given time, and this is where there is an entire street dedicated to the act of drinking (otherwise known as Garnett). Most folks in San Diego have lived in PB at one point or another until they “outgrow” it, which is another way of saying they’re sick of being hung-over, fighting for parking, and being woken up at 3 a.m. by the sounds of someone vomiting on the sidewalk. It is not unusual to see keg stands happening in front of World Famous at 2 p.m. on any given afternoon. No one bats an eyelash. Ahhh..but the times they are a changin’. With several new ordinances, the balance has started to shift slightly. First, no block party. PB residents rebelled anyways with a myriad of house parties, but house parties do not equal a block party. Ocean Beach still got to have their block party this week-end and last I heard, no one died and nothing terrible happened. Now, there’s no drinking until noon on the beach. No real problem, as you’ll just hear the rallying cry at noon to go along with the sound of thousands of beer cans being simultaneously opened. The city has gone one step further, though: no kegs on the 4th of July. The thinking here is to alleviate the level of insane drunkenness that usually coincides with celebrating Independence Day on the sand. The law is amusing because it’s just going to (a) force people to carry more beer, and not really deter its consumption, and (b) still enable people to get really, really drunk, kegs or no kegs. Now, the piece de resistance, City Council unanimously voted last week to ban smoking on the beach. A second vote is needed this week, but if this takes effect, the ban could be in place as early as the end of July. We’re all familiar with the arguments here. Second-hand smoke is dangerous and others should not be forced to inhale it; cigarette butts account for most of the litter on the beach, are non bio-degradable, and generally just bad for the environment. But how do Pacific Beach residents really feel about this smoking ban? PB is not only a party destination for residents but also the thousands of young tourists that come to the city every year. I visited with several Pacific Beach residents on Saturday who were enjoying the clouds at the beach (Is the weather ever right?) and spoke with both smokers and non-smokers. Coincidentally, I did witness a few keg stands in front of World Famous. Reactions to the ban varied from enthusiasm to anger, and most popularly – overwhelming indifference. The conversations went something like this: Me: “So, smoker resident, how do you feel about the impending ban on smoking?” Betsey (smoker): “Well, if I wanted to kick it at a beach where you can't smoke and drink, I might as well join the old folks in Del Mar. PB just isn't PB without butts and cans. Also, how else are the douche bags going to get chicks without bumming smokes as an excuse to talk to them?” Next… Me: “So, how has the smoking ban in Solana Beach affected you and do you find it irritating?” Solana Beach resident Karla, partying in PB (smoker): “Damn—that is good to know—I’ve been smoking on Solana Beach.” Me: “So, you didn’t know smoking has been banned in Solana Beach?” Karla: “Um, no.” Interesting. Next… Me: “So, non-smoker PB resident, are you happy about the ban on smoking? Do you often experience discomfort as a result of second-hand smoke?” Kevin, PB Resident (non-smoker): “I don't find it an issue when I'm on the beach, since we're outside. I definitely hate it in bars, though, so I'm glad you can't smoke inside. But who really cares when you’re outside?” And… Me: “So, do you think there will be positive-negative effects to the ban on smoking?” Clark, PB Resident (non-smoker): “I think the smoking ban is absurd because it will force everyone onto the boardwalk making the already slammed chaos harder to walk and ride through. If littering is one of the issues, then arrest people for littering cigarette butts. It’s as easy as catching them smoke. You just have to wait a minute longer to watch what they do with the butt.” People go to PB to relax, have a good time, and party, so perhaps City Council should consider relaxing, having a good time and letting the party continue in PB. Things that are bad for you inevitably couple with partying, i.e., drinking and smoking. Littering, while unpleasant, also extends to beer cans, candy wrappers, and general trash – none of which is being banned. And several PB residents, smokers included, seem to be in favor of some sort of citation for littering butts. There are no plans to hire extra lifeguards (who should be guarding lives not trolling for smokers) or police to enforce this. Citizens are expected to police themselves or risk somewhere in the neighborhood of a $250 fine. This is the equivalent of asking a PB resident to “take it easy” with the beer on 4th of July. Realistically, it’s just not going to happen. -------------------- Nicole Hammett is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Vyuz.com Suggested Vyuz reading... Nude women, hotel rooms, and photography combine to create the perfect hobby | By Larry Knowles Death by coconut unlikely in palm-filled San Diego | By Greg Fogg What pilots look for in airports, women | By Rob Potochnik Proposal to relocate Mt. Soledad cross to La Jolla children's pool gains momentum | By Leopard Ferry North Park artist turns cremated pets into art | By David Moye |
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