I am all for it. except in designated bars.

Are you talking about a specific ban or just banning smoking in general? I'm up in Canada, so I am not up to date on what is happening the US regarding this issue.

That sounds like a good idea. The effects are very bad healh wise, so it would be good if we could reduce the number of places where second hand smoke is present.

I live in California where it is banned completey in public places. Means you can take your kids out to a restaurant and not worry about second hand smoke.

But I do think smokers should be able to convene in bar to smoke if they want to.

Allegheny County in Pennslyvania (where I used to live) is proposing a ban in public places except for bars and taverns where food is 10 percent or less of the revenue. That seems very fair to me.

The state of Ohio just passed a 'Smoke-Free Ohio' issue, that bans smoking in all public buildings. As non smoker, I love the idea of being able to eat in a restaurant, go bowling, sit in a sports bar. etc. & not have to smell the ciggie smoke...or come home smelling like I smoked 4 packs myself.

I do not agree with the attempt to ban smoking in select OUTDOOR areas though, such as parks, amphitheatres, etc.. I believe it infringes on a citizens constitutional right. The outdoors is open & obviously ventilated enough to allow the smoke to disperse itself.

I completely agree with you RM. Here in British Columbia, we have had a complete ban on smoking in any indoor public place for the past several years. And I think that is great.

Now there is a new law to come in effect very soon that would ban ALL smoking in public places. They are very vague on what this means though.

Unfortunately I am a smoker, but a casual one. Even when smoking in bars and inside was legal, I never did. I think it is disgusting to be stuck in a room with smokers for hours on end. You can NEVER get that smell out of your clothes. And we all know that direct second hand smoke is so harmful.

Now as for outdoors, I personally would never light a cigarette in a place with a lot of people. For example, a bus stop. If I feel I must have one, I will find a spot far enough away from others so that the smoke will not bother them. I also think that smoking on an outdoor patio of a restaurant is absolutely rude and should be done away with here.

I am one of the rare considerate smokers. Unfortunately a number of smokers are not considerate of others and don't give a damn about other people's right to clean air around them. It may seem hypocritical of me, but I won't even date a guy who smokes these days. I am such a light smoker that most of my acquaintances do not even know I smoke, or if they know, they forget. If myself or any guests to my house want to smoke, they are forced outside no matter the weather.

So I am all for an indoor smoking ban, but I feel the ban on outdoor smoking in public places needs to be defined a lot better.

I say BEGONE with smoking! Except in outside areas. Although, I don't frequent bars, I occasionally will go and watch a local band or two. I usually can't stay long because my eyes and throat will start to burn from the smoke. Luckily, some of the nicer establishments in the area have caught on and have designated outside areas where smokers can get their fix without killing the rest of us. Now the non-smoking establishments see more business than the other places. I'm sure it saves on the upkeep and cleaning, as well.

This just seems so strange to me! Here in British Columbia we have had an indoor smoking ban in all public buildings for about six years now. I just assumed that the rest of North America had the same. I can't even imagine going into a bar or a restaurant where people are smoking now.

It really worked out well. I remember the outcry when they initially implemented the bans. But now, it is just a part of life and smokers have had to adjust.

In Florida, restaurants and bars prohibit smoking if their food sales are higher than their liquor sales. If there is little or no food sales, you can permit smoking. The city I live in also has smoke-free workplace laws.
We are getting there!

I visited an amusement park in Pennslyvania with my toddler son. I hated the amount of smoking. Even in outside areas, there are many smokers who don't care about ruining the air for children abd .....

:pissesoff:

I hope it does eventually happen for the public places eventually. It would make it much easier to breathe in some places.

I live in NY where a smoking ban was put into place a few years ago. I remember going to bars and (as a smoker) feeling like death because of the smoke.

Now I can go out and have a good time. And when i leave the bar, my eyes aren't burning.

This smoker LOVES the smoking ban!

Yes, thank goodness.

So happy, I'm sorry, I have people I love who smoke but no way in hell am I dying from second-hand smoke lung cancer :bunny:

Plus, the smell of it is :puke: