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Post by alaskanmohican on Oct 24, 2011 11:24:24 GMT -8
It would be nice to have some input from our Alaskan neighbours to find out how AMHS deals with the smoking addiction on their predominantly long voyages. AMHS has designated smoking areas on the outside decks. On most of the mainliners it is the port side. Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside including staterooms. The crew are very strict about the inside smoking ban and usually does a pretty good job with enforcing the outside areas as well. Regarding alcohol consumption it is only allowed in the cocktail lounges and inside the staterooms.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 24, 2011 11:50:03 GMT -8
Regarding marijuana smoking, I think that BCFerries generally has a "look the other way" practice of ignoring the customers who smoke-up on the outside decks, as long as the customers are being discrete and in a hidden-away area.
That's what I observed on a Route-40 trip this summer.
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Post by Barnacle on Oct 25, 2011 6:09:54 GMT -8
The smoking "sections" on the [WSF] ferries were a joke. The entire boats smelled like smoke from stem to stern. That policy finally ended in 1990, if you can believe it went on that long. Then it was smoking in the aft shelter deck--which no one paid attention to. You'd walk out to go onto the pickle fork and have to go through a cloud of smoke--very unpleasant. I was quite happy to see the full ban go into effect. Actually, IIRC, it was either shelter deck for a while, until someone figured out that the smoke from forward would blow into the cabin. I can't remember if that was still the case when I hired on--if it was, it wasn't for long. For many years it was, as you state, aft end only, and no smoking in dock at all. Somewhere around December 2006, WSF went all non-smoking. There was rejoicing amongst the crews--a total ban is actually easier to enforce than a severe restriction, plus the clean-up was much less arduous. I don't think I see more than about one or two butts a day on deck now.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2011 15:24:07 GMT -8
After reading some posts on this topic, all I can say is I agree that BCF should try to enforce the rules a bit more. Especially on those nice summer days outside! But on the same token I understand the deckhands who don't constantly want to be reminding people to "go in that area over there" (the smoking zone). As for drinking, while i'm not working on the ferries right now, I really think there should be a zero tolerance for it, including the crew enforcing it.
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Post by Scott on Jul 6, 2013 17:42:52 GMT -8
BC Ferries and the police dealt with 7 separate incidents involving drugs and alcohol on BC Ferries over the long weekend: www.news1130.com/2013/07/06/drug-and-alcohol-warning-from-bc-ferries/I've never seen any crew members say anything to anyone quietly drinking alcohol on the ferry or smoking pot. I assume these incidents were more serious in nature. - John H
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 7, 2013 6:14:40 GMT -8
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Post by Mike C on Jul 7, 2013 11:00:59 GMT -8
It's interesting that these passengers seem to be having trouble following BC Ferries' zero tolerance policy, and yet Washington State Ferries serves beer (crap beer, but beer nonetheless) without having many issues.
Although, traveling on the ferry with a vehicle with any alcohol in one's system does pose a bit of a threat to public safety - driving on and off the boat requires a fair amount of concentration, with narrow lanes, other vehicles in close quarters, and having to follow instructions by crew members (often a convoluted process if traveling to the Southern Gulf Islands).
So, how does WSF have liquor licenses for their boats, while BC Ferries does not? I suppose one reason is that a large majority of traffic on Washington State Ferries comes from walk-on passengers, which eliminates the issue of drinking-and-driving; whereas BC Ferries sees a much higher proportion of vehicle traffic. As well, the laws in each country differ greatly (although, alcohol consumption is permitted on our Northern routes).
I also wonder about the crew - when responding to someone who's intoxicated while on a ship that's underway, is there a high risk of confrontation? One would imagine so.
Thoughts?
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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Post by SolDuc on Jul 7, 2013 11:45:45 GMT -8
It's interesting that these passengers seem to be having trouble following BC Ferries' zero tolerance policy, and yet Washington State Ferries serves beer (crap beer, but beer nonetheless) without having many issues. Although, traveling on the ferry with a vehicle with any alcohol in one's system does pose a bit of a threat to public safety - driving on and off the boat requires a fair amount of concentration, with narrow lanes, other vehicles in close quarters, and having to follow instructions by crew members (often a convoluted process if traveling to the Southern Gulf Islands). So, how does WSF have liquor licenses for their boats, while BC Ferries does not? I suppose one reason is that a large majority of traffic on Washington State Ferries comes from walk-on passengers, which eliminates the issue of drinking-and-driving; whereas BC Ferries sees a much higher proportion of vehicle traffic. As well, the laws in each country differ greatly (although, alcohol consumption is permitted on our Northern routes). I also wonder about the crew - when responding to someone who's intoxicated while on a ship that's underway, is there a high risk of confrontation? One would imagine so. Thoughts? I know that any alchool purchased on a WSF must be consumed in the galley area and I am sure that they enfore that policy even though I havent seen anyone disobey. WSP regularly patrols on the boats and they can do DUI tests (if some people look drunk and no WSP is onvoard, they can just call at the terminal and someone would come to check alchool level.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 7, 2013 12:20:40 GMT -8
I have moved posts from recent discussion in the "general news" thread about the ferries alcohol zero-tolerance to this here existing thread.
- you can see that this topic has come up a few times before, on our forum.
---------------------
My take on the situation involves recognizing a few facts:
1) A BC ferry is a confined space, where all the passengers are in the care of the officers & crew and where any passenger's bad behaviour will impact on others.
2) There is a large enough portion of the general population who behave poorly when consuming alcohol, and this forces BC Ferries to set the policy based on these types of poor-behaviour people.
3) BC Ferries does not have the ability to have 2 different policies, based on whether someone is a messy-drunk or a responsible drinker. It's not BC Ferries job to guess that.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 7, 2013 13:26:41 GMT -8
It's interesting that these passengers seem to be having trouble following BC Ferries' zero tolerance policy, and yet Washington State Ferries serves beer (crap beer, but beer nonetheless) without having many issues. Although, traveling on the ferry with a vehicle with any alcohol in one's system does pose a bit of a threat to public safety - driving on and off the boat requires a fair amount of concentration, with narrow lanes, other vehicles in close quarters, and having to follow instructions by crew members (often a convoluted process if traveling to the Southern Gulf Islands). So, how does WSF have liquor licenses for their boats, while BC Ferries does not? I suppose one reason is that a large majority of traffic on Washington State Ferries comes from walk-on passengers, which eliminates the issue of drinking-and-driving; whereas BC Ferries sees a much higher proportion of vehicle traffic. As well, the laws in each country differ greatly (although, alcohol consumption is permitted on our Northern routes). I also wonder about the crew - when responding to someone who's intoxicated while on a ship that's underway, is there a high risk of confrontation? One would imagine so. Thoughts? You overlook a critical thing. Most walk ons park somewhere and drive to and from the terminal. In a way, this is not a problem for commuters who choose not to drive but for those who do not, it is a public safety issue. I think it is due to only permitting the smaller stuff and probably limiting quantities by higher prices.
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Jul 7, 2013 14:39:52 GMT -8
So, how does WSF have liquor licenses for their boats, while BC Ferries does not? I suppose one reason is that a large majority of traffic on Washington State Ferries comes from walk-on passengers, which eliminates the issue of drinking-and-driving; whereas BC Ferries sees a much higher proportion of vehicle traffic. Actually, that doesn't explain it, because the ratio of passengers to vehicles is very similar. WSF- 10 million AEQ and 22 million passengers, BCF 8.8 million AEQ and 21 million passengers. I think if the public was polled, the vote would be against alcohol on the ferries. I'm a beer drinker, but I've never felt inconvenienced by not being able to get a brew with my All Aboard Breakfast. And it definitely wouldn't go with the chocolate cake and strawberry sauce. So I'm fine. Obviously some louts disagree, and they're good reasons to continue disallowing it.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jul 7, 2013 18:08:50 GMT -8
Pot: I agree with BC Ferries having zero tolerance policy for pot because people act weird on it.
Drinking: BC Ferries could change the policy for drinking to have a little drinking at terminals, and on ferries. I would say only one alcoholic drink per-person over the age of 20 during the sailing excluding the last 30 minutes on the sailing no alcoholic drinks serviced.
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ryan
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by ryan on Jan 21, 2015 12:30:01 GMT -8
I'm so disappointed in the comments on this thread I had to join this forum to provide some balance to these arguments.
I fully admit: 1. I am a smoker 2. I am a (occasional) pot smoker 3. I do enjoy drinking (but do not have a drinking addiction)
I have been a smoker for almost 20 years so I have seen the decline of social smoking as more and more laws and regulations are introduced. And for the most part I agree with these laws. There was a time when you were seated in a smoking or non-smoking section in a restaurant which happen to be right next to each other. You could smoke in cafes and bars, on covered patios and in public buildings, I even remember trips on buses, planes and trains where smoking was allowed. I don't agree with imposing my unhealthy habit on others and I'm glad these times are gone. What really bothers me is people who complain about being able to SMELL cigarette or pot smoke or "beer fumes" for that matter. Let me be clear, sitting in a confined space where someone is smoking or directly sitting next to someone in an open space is not the same as being able to smell smoke and does not pose any reasonable health risks. If you truly believe you are going to die of cancer because you can smell cigarette or pot smoke while walking by a smoking section then you should have your head checked. If you can't tolerate people who are different than you and enjoy the occasional cigarette or joint while on a boat or on the beach or park than that is your problem (a problem with you). Smokers have already made compromises, we have our smoking sections, as long as those sections remain reasonable I'm fine with going to that place to smoke. I don't like drinking coffee, and I know some people that don't like the smell but I'm not going to judge those of you who drink it. I don't want the on board cafe banned and all the coffee drinkers whom are addicted to caffeine to not be allowed to enjoy their cups of coffee.
Please learn some tolerance for people who enjoy other things in life than you do and tolerance for people in general. Life is a big boat, we all get to ride it in our own way.
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
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Post by mrdot on Jan 21, 2015 12:45:04 GMT -8
:)does any body else remember when the grandest room on a ship used to be the smoking room, but that was in the day when when no one realized the danger of even second hand smoke was! :)mrdot.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2016 14:42:36 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 9, 2016 15:10:15 GMT -8
I think the clown is a jerk. So many issues here, but #1 issue is that when you are on a ship, you play by the master's rules.
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Post by Kather Anne on Jun 9, 2016 15:45:44 GMT -8
The intelligent act would to have extinguish the joint, thank the mate for advising as to the policy, and then lighting up discretely elsewhere.
The guy is a experiment - and well done to the mate for keeping his cool.
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Post by Dane on Jun 9, 2016 16:17:02 GMT -8
This must happen all the time. Doubtful this complaint will be the one that goes somewhere if the Facebook account is any indication of his prowess for drafting meaningful documents that reference reality.
At the end of the day BC Ferries can say no pot. There's no requirement for them to allow it in law, and it is not discrimination to stop it. A complaint would be easily ended.
But. Without going too far outside the arcs of BC Ferries the strange place we are in with pot in Canada isn't helping things. With dispensaries open all over several municipalities and "medical licenses" (an overwhelming majority of which aren't actually from Health Canada, by law the only organization that can actually grant them) there is a lot of genuine confusion; I don't think we will see an end to that for a while.
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 9, 2016 16:18:18 GMT -8
Maybe it is time for BC Ferries to bring in a complete ban on smoking (tobacco, vaping, MJ, etc.) aboard all vessels except the long northern runs. Any one have any idea how often genuine medical marijuana users need to toke up? Surely they can get through a two hour (or less) ferry ride?
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Jun 9, 2016 21:41:47 GMT -8
I'm really ambivalent about this one. WettCoast's solution is the only consistent one- no smoking, period. As it stands, I understand the officer's attitude and I don't blame the smoker for his. The current state of law governing marijuana in Canada is just asinine. The way things are, anyone who stakes a position pro or con can get an argument.
I don't smoke anything, but personally, I prefer the smell of marijuana to regular cigarettes.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jun 10, 2016 0:00:47 GMT -8
If a person onboard a BCF is observed to be breaking the law or shipboard regulations, find the nearest officer immediately and let him/her deal with it. If that doesn't work, have the RCMP meet the ship upon arrival, and let them deal with the offending party.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
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Post by KE7JFF on Jun 10, 2016 0:48:24 GMT -8
Unlike other modes of travel like aircraft, trains, and buses, Ferries and ships in general have the option of allowing passengers to go out to fresh air, I think its reasonable to have a designated smoking spot on the deck for smokers on the outside deck. However, with that said, if the smoker doesn't like that spot and decides to light up elsewhere, then they need a good slap.
As for marijuana; while the smoking the stuff is probably way better than tobacco, it does get people high still via second hand smoke, but however, if your smoking it on the outside deck of the boat where wind ventilates it, I don't see why not. But if your on land in a smoking shelter and light up, no.
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Post by Mike C on Jun 10, 2016 10:28:19 GMT -8
There was recently a story from the aviation universe where a man with his medical marijuana was unable to travel on an Air Canada flight after it was found by airline staff in his carry-on, despite that it had been checked over by airport security and the RCMP. This was a case of the law vs. Air Canada policy - due to the amount of negative press coverage for AC, this resulted in a policy change.
I suspect this guy is trying to play off that. BC Ferries likely has their own internal policy regarding all marijuana, medical or not, and it is unlikely to line up with medical marijuana users. This video is highly unlikely to substantiate to anything, and I completely understand why ferries staff needed to intercept, but I agree with others when I sympathize with those who feel that the stigma around marijuana is archaic.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jun 10, 2016 12:48:10 GMT -8
I personally don't have any issues with people smoking on the outside decks. What annoys me is when idiots light up in the solariums on the C's.
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