Fansided

San Francisco bans chewing tobacco in stadiums

By Luke Dahlgren

Apr 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view as San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval putting Skoal chewing tobacco in his mouth in the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view as San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval putting Skoal chewing tobacco in his mouth in the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The city of San Francisco has chosen to ban the use of chewing tobacco in their stadiums, a ban that will effect the Giants most of all.

The long tradition of bloody gums in San Francisco is coming to a close.

From the Los Angeles Times:

"San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee signed an ordinance Friday that bans the use of smokeless tobacco at all sporting venues in the city, which includes AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The ordinance, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2016, makes it illegal for anyone — including players — to use smokeless tobacco at the venues."

This is clearly directed at the Giants; there is no epidemic of 49ers dipping on the sidelines. If they were real 49er gold panners, then perhaps you would, but otherwise Colin Kaepernick does not have a chunk of tobacco nestled under his lower lip.

The intent of this ordinance is very noble, as the city of San Francisco wants their Giants to not only eliminate the rather ugly habit, but also set an example for the rest of the city.

With that being said, this makes very little sense. Certainly dipping is disgusting, but it doesn’t create a health risk for anyone other than the one doing the dipping. There is a limit to regulating the harms of something, and if the only second-hand harm is the possibility of persuasion it shouldn’t be outlawed.

The ordinance was inspired by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which is trying to get this passed in stadiums all across the state. The campaign’s president Matthew Myers echoed the idea of banning tobacco based on the influence it has on kids.

"“Mayor Lee and the board of supervisors understand that athletes are role models for impressionable youth,” Myers said in a statement. “When baseball stars use smokeless tobacco, the kids who look up to them are much more likely to as well. Our national pastime should have nothing to do with promoting a deadly and addictive product.”"

In the end, it is not likely that this ordinance is representative of a larger problem with the City of San Francisco limiting fans personal freedoms. The ban is in place to make tobacco less cool. But tobacco can already be made uncool because it is easy to reveal how repulsive the practice can be.

(H/T: Los Angeles Times)

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