city-wide smoking ban

They have done this here for a while, and places that do allow smoking must have a ventilated smoking room with restrictions on the % of the restaurant/bar that the smoking room takes up.

As a non smoker, I am personally used to the non smoking areas that bars have in the UK. And IMO this worked better than the banning of smoking in public places here (although the UK are also changing to such a system now)

I can honestly say that despite me not liking smoke near me, I can see the problems with this law. Several of my favourite restaurants and bars have gone out of business since the law was introduced because most people who smoke, smoke more when drinking and so they drink at home.

I also think that the more unsocial drinking at home can lead to problems of alcoholism, I know myself I will think twice about having that extra drink because its getting late, I have to walk home etc, but at home you would be more likely to think 'just one more'.

I also walk on the streets and breathe the fumes of cars, trucks and SUVs needlessly on the road... but we haven't banned them.

Since the democrats have control of the state legislature, they are trying to enact this as a state law. Since they do have control, reporters are calling this measure a shoe-in.

Until they make smoking illegal, which won't happen, this law is about stupid, IMO. I totally understand it for restaurants. Even when I did smoke I hated going into a small, enclosed area with someone chain smoking and trying to eat. And the restaurants didn't help matters when the smoking section was either in the front of the restaurant, or you HAD to pass through it to get to the restrooms. But at bars? Dumb idea!

Smokers are the most discriminated sector of society who are only partaking in a legal vice. And while I do think that non-smokers should have a choice, smokers should have the same choice. I don't think that making smokers go outside to a designated smoking area, if that is even offered, at a bar in the dead of winter is a reasonable choice.

I wish smoking was illegal...

Coming soon to a blue state near you! This past November, Washington voters passed Initiative 901, which prohibits smoking in ALL public buildings, to include offices, workplaces, resteraunts, bars, stores, airport terminals, etc. Smoking is also prohibited within 25 feet of any entrance to any said public building. The only exemption, of course, is Tribal Casinos. (No suprise, the Tribes contributed heavily to this campaign, under the banner of "Public Health.") I don't smoke, so I really don't care where (or if, for that matter) it's legal to smoke. I just don't get the lawmakers of this state. They tax the bejeezuz out of cigarettes, then they all but prohibit smoking. Then they complain because the cigarette tax isn't raising enough revenue. Of course a lot of smokers buy their smokes from the tribes anyway. Oh well.......

In Western Australia you can't smoke anywhere - in pubs, restaurants, sporting events, anywhere. It's banned all over. Which is great. I am a smoker and I still think it's great. It means I smoke less (in fact I've virtually quit anyway) and it means you can't endanger others who choose not to smoke. It's really good.

Here in California, we've had that law for several years. I'm a smoker, and I've found it easy enough to live with. Of course, I usually don't enjoy going out to eat, unless the restaurant has an outdoor eating area. As far as bars go, I think it's OK, too. I didn't enjoy going into a smoke filled bar, and there are smoking area's in most bars, seperated from the actual bar.

I love going to Washington to eat... Most places in Idaho ( at least my area) are following suite ... I dont go to bars

Some cities here have the ban. I dont mind it. I can see where in the winter it might be a pain to smokers. but for me..going into a resturant fille with smoke..darn near killed. I am allergic to it. not to mention the health affects.

As a smoker, I'm all for it!
It is a very disgusting habit and should be treated just like any other (not so unhealthy) nasty habits are treated.
Littering is disgusting, smoking is disgusting, and profanity in the general public is disgusting.
None of these things really have any business taking place outside of the privacy of the home or in places of business that cater specifically to them.

Even though I smoke, I stopped going to bars and clubs (something I truly enjoyed doing) because of the choking atmosphere.

Both Massachusetts and RI have the same law. There are no longer even "smoking areas" in any bar or restaurant. Since cigarette smoke bothers my asthma, I think it is great. It's wonderful to go out somewhere and not come back smelling like an ashtray. If I were a smoker, I would be very upset, feeling they were infringing on my rights.

I'm a fence rider on this issue.

A coworker of mine went to New York City last year and he's a smoker. He's standing 10 feet away from the entrance of the restaraunt. The hostess of the restaraunt comes out and asks him to move FARTHER away because the windy evening was blowing his smoke into their restaraunt. She even threaten to call the police on him...which in my mind was a little overboard.

I do agree with Iklemiss21 though...the exhaust and fumes from vehicles and SUVs are just as bad as 2nd hand smoking. I remember reading a study that you're more likely of having a heart attack in a traffic jam with the windows down because of all the fumes your inhaling.

I LOVE this law, and I hope it goes statewide in PA soon. I *think* Pittsburg has already passed it.

I long for the day when I can actually go to a pub on a Saturday night.

I think that bars should get to choose smoking or not, and then people can choose which bars to go to. I'm an in the process of quitting smoker but almost all of my friends smoke like 2 packs a day. I think that making something legal to do but illegal to do it anywhere is kinda rude. Either make them illegal or shut up..

I wish smoking was illegal in public places here too.

Smoking is an optional activity - breathing is not.

Since I have asthma and am severely allergic to tobacco, I'm all for banning smoking in public places.

The city I now live in bans smoking in most indoor public places now, which I think is wonderful. Even after my parents found out about my allergy and stopped smoking around me (I was severely ill most of my childhood from it), as a teen I often had to go wait outside while friends finished shopping in stores where people were smoking, and I was constantly ill, fighting sinus infections and URIs because of the frequent unavoidable tobacco exposure in airports, stores, and restaurants.

As for bars - I hate it that co-workers and friends seem to think I'm dodging social activities and don't want to be around them because I won't go out to clubs and restaurants that allow smoking. I'd also love to be able to go out to clubs and listen to bands, but maybe someday...

Funny, I love the smell of pipe tobacco and have to resist going into tobacco stores to get a whiff (reminds me of Grandpa), and then suffering for the rest of the day for it.

Here in the Los Angeles area, the city of Calabasas has passed a law that it's illegal to even smoke outside, which means that you can't even smoke in the parking lot on the way to your car, or anywhere outside. If caught smoking, you'll get a $250 fine. Now as far as I'm concerned THAT IS GOING TOO FAR. I have no problem with the ban on smoking in restaraunts, bars and in public buildings, but I think it's going too far when they ban smoking outside as well.

I can safely say they will NEVER pass a law like that here.

You can count on it.

I am a non smoker.

Yep, I think LV is safe on that one, although they did *try* to make the casinos here non smoking - it didn't pass and they now have a (although sometimes very small) non smoking section in the casinos.

I agree that I don't want the government in my backyard or my bedroom but this is one legal vice that I agree should be kept out of public places.

Its a health hazard. Smokers know that (I am one). And I don't want to inflict my poison on others and shouldn't be so presumptious as to do so.

This is already in full effect in my city and I don't mind though I do feel for the restauranteurs, bar personnel etc. IT has taken GREAT cuts out of their pockets as customers have decreased dramatically. I live in a cold city, where a large proportion of the population smokes. We have, for the most part, host our own gatherings where smoking is at least semi-comfortable to do and no one glares..

However, while standing outside once, I was told rather rudely by a woman that I had to move 20 feet away from her. I was polite and moved a few feet away. When she told me that wasn't far enough, I told her where she could go....and was tempted to drop my lit cigarette in her drink.

But, I would also like to see some reciprocation in the laws. I would like large SUV's and Hummers to keep at least 500 feet away from me at all times, AND be heavily taxed for the level of emissions they cause.

If you are driving your child to their soccer game, do you really need an offroading vehicle or something that resembles an army tank?

Smokers do not have the right to force me into a hospital emergency room and to possibly kill me by causing me to have an asthma attack. I'd just love to hand a smoker a bill for my proventil and singulair and say, "hey, go ahead and pay this, what since it is your right to smoke and all I suppose it is also your right to pay a couple hundered dollars a month for me to be able to somewhat tolerate your smoking by taking these medications."

I am a little bit bitter about that, but I don't really care. Cigarettes are one of my biggest triggers and any sustained exposure to them gives me an asthma attack. Not breathing is no fun, it's horrible and it's scary and it could kill me.

Bloomington has had a ban on smoking in public places, including bars, for a while. The bar business has actually jumped up significantly. More people are visiting bars since the ban took effect. My friends who are smokers don't stay away. There are a few die hards here in Fort Wayne that refuse to go anywhere and complain loudly about the separate smoking sections (smoking sections are in a room completely closed off from other sections with a separate ventilation system) but again, the smoking sections are usually fairly empty (at least at my restaurant) and the non-smoking sections are always packed. The smoking ban has had a positive effect on Fort Wayne and Bloomington's economy. I'm hoping for a statewide ban. What you do in your own home or car is fine with me, but what you do in public could kill me.

Of course, the huge difference between exposure to vehicle exhaust and exposure to cigarette smoke is that we NEED cars (boy, does this country need to get a clue and look into better mass transit systems) in order to get groceries, get to work, etc . . .. While smoking IS an addiction, and thus could be said to be a need in some senses, unlike cars it isn't necessary in order to live your life. In point of fact, you'll live longer if you don't smoke!

Plus, there are lots of laws (esp. in CA) related to reduction of vehicle emissions and such, so it is also regulated. In fact, I write Environmental Impact Reports, and I can tell you that most development projects have to include mitigation for dust generated during construction, fumes generated by construction equipment, AND the cumulative effect of causing more cars to be placed on the region's roads.

Well I have noticed that quite a few places around here in the Cincinnati area are going smoke-free.

The bar that I meet up with the girls at is a biker-type bar, really laid back & fun, and well the smoke absolutely kills me. My girlfriends all smoke, so I really have no choice but to be around it. I love the gals & it's their life, and if they're addicted, I guess that's that. And one of my girlfriends has a kid with asthma so bad, it's almost killed her a few times! And she still just keeps on chain smoking around her kid. I sorta turn my head & don't say anything. But it makes me wonder. Must be a strong addiction indeed.

I can see having smoke allowed in bars, nightclubs, etc. But having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool. I asked for non-smoking when my daughter and I went to Bob Evans a few weekends ago for breakfast, and they sat us right near the smoking section. It stunk so I told them, we are moving over that way towards the door. Either way it still stunk, so we avoid restaurants that still have smoking sections.

ROFLOL!

I've been known to ask for the smoking section in restaurants just to be away from children. I'll be a little sad if they go away and there's no where to get away from youngsters other then the bar. Although, I guess since kids won't kill me, I should really be more concerned about the secondhand smoke. Especially when I take into account the fact that I smoked heavily for years and even though I've quit for two years now, my lungs still hurt.

I hate going into a bar and coming out smelling like a tobacco farm, and the whole next 2 days I'm coughing up a lung to get out all the smoke I inhaled....I would LOVE to open up a smoke free bar...I bet it would be a huge success.

I think it's a great law

I don't know...if the kids raise your blood pressure enough, they just might wind up killing ya!

ITA