USVI-On-Line

I'm curious if anyone has any impressions of how the ban on smoking is playing out.

I am also curious.

VG enacted a similar ban a couple of years ago. When we were there, some places people smoked right under the posted no smoking signs, other places people smoked out on the street or several feet from the structure.

We were on island a couple weeks ago. No ashtrays at the bar or people smoking at the beach bar except down on the beach. In 2 trips to Quiet Mon saw no one smoking.
Don't think the news had reached Coral Bay however, as both ashtrays and people smoking at Aqua Bistro and Tourist Trap. Shipwreck had an outside table with ashtray. Didn't make it to Skinnys.

Enjoyed some smoke-free time in a few establishments last week on STT & STJ. Talked to 1 owner who said the threats of big fines to both patron and bar owner are enough to keep them on their toes.

If you think about it, by the time a smoker stands outside 20-25 ft away from any doorway they are most likely going to be on the yellow line in the middle of the road in town. Probably more dangerous than the act of smoking.

We were also there 2 weeks ago and were pleasantly surprised. A couple of smokers right outside of Beach Bar and the Parrot Club and some folks by the horseshoe pits at Skinnys... that was about it.

Steve S wrote:We were also there 2 weeks ago and were pleasantly surprised. A couple of smokers right outside of Beach Bar and the Parrot Club and some folks by the horseshoe pits at Skinnys... that was about it.

Good to know.

What was confusing (because we smoked at the time and as any ex- or current smoker knows, there is NOTHING like a smoke and a drink!) about VG is that most places had ashtrays all over the place, on the bar, at the tables, etc.

We were just there and did not notice any smoking. Of course, we were doing a lot of drinking and were not all that focused

Any Left handed smokes going on too

My shop is in Wharfside and there is a whole lot less smoking going on in the complex. There were a couple shops where the workers smoked and they would just step outside and have a smoke when there weren't customers. They did it A LOT. It took a week or so, but they quit doing it. It's very difficult to find a spot around Wharfside that is 20 feet away from a business Not all of the tourists know about the ban, so I still see some walking around with a cigarette. A lot more smokers on Cruz Bay beach. Lot more butts, empty bottles, plastic cups and straws too.

" Not all of the tourists know about the ban, so I still see some walking around with a cigarette. "

Which is so funny because in the US I think smoking bans are much more common than not, and smoking bans are just about everywhere in the European union now too.

stjohnjulie wrote:...A lot more smokers on Cruz Bay beach. Lot more butts, empty bottles, plastic cups and straws too.

Oh uggg.... come on people. I don't care whether you're a smoker or not, don't leave your garbage on the beach! (Or anywhere except in a trash can.)

chicagoans wrote:

stjohnjulie wrote:...A lot more smokers on Cruz Bay beach. Lot more butts, empty bottles, plastic cups and straws too.

Oh uggg.... come on people. I don't care whether you're a smoker or not, don't leave your garbage on the beach! (Or anywhere except in a trash can.)

An unintended consequence, perhaps, of the ban is that there are no longer ash trays available for people to dispose of their butts so they may end up on the beach in greater numbers than previously.

(not a justification, just an observation).

Yup, pretty gross. The maintenance guy for Wharfside does clean the beach, but he has a lot more to do now. I feel bad for him. He takes care of the whole complex himself. Painting, cleaning, trash removal, repairs, it's a big job that has just gotten bigger because there are no trash cans on the beach and people congregate on the beach more now and leave their trash behind