NVR - What do you think about smoking bans?
I'm kind of curious because I've been thinking & hearing about smoking bans a lot lately. Here in Minnesota, we already have a smoking ban in Minneapolis/St. Paul (the whole of Hennepin County), but starting in October, there is a statewide smoking ban going into effect.
Personally, I really am not really sure what my opinion is on this. I am not a smoker, but I kind of feel like if you want to go into a bar & have a cigarette, that's your right... But then again, I understand that it's the right of people who don't want to be around the secondhand smoke to enjoy their time out, too. And it's not as if people can't go outside to enjoy their cigarettes... I suppose I can see both sides. I think I am more for smoking bans in restaurants than in bars.
Also, a lot of small bar owners in Mpls./St. Paul are complaining that they are losing a TON of business because smokers are choosing to go right across the border to Wisconsin, where they can smoke indoors at the bars there.
Do you think it should be up to the individual business-owners to choose whether or not people smoke in their bar/restaurant? Or should the government be able to step in & say that no one can in any indoor space?
I am looking forward to hearing your opinions! :)
Ok, I realize I'm new here and maybe don't have any right to voice an opinion but I wanted to chime in on this because I'm still torn about it.
The smoking ban here has been in effect for a few years and the clubs and restaurants have lost a lot of business. I remember, before the ban, a lot of restaurants had what we would call "the box". Instead of just a smoking section, they would have a glass enclosed area.
At first I was adamantly against the ban. Still, I don't go out dancing anymore and if we go out to a bar, we might have 1 drink but then leave.
However, because of the ban I don't take my cigs with me when I go out and I have actually lost my urge to smoke while out....ie. I don't even smoke when I get in the car (which I guess is a lot of smokers habits). I guess I could see that as a good thing, since I don't like that I smoke.
I actually went to a bar a few towns over, where you can still smoke and I still couldn't do it because I felt....dirty or guilty or something!!
Now, a lot of places have been able to get around the ban...like if they have a patio and it's X feet away from the building, you can still smoke. Or creating a "private club" or cigar bar. You can get away with it then too.
So, even though it's legal (I know....you can't drink in public most of the time either), in principle I think it sucks BUT I am happy that it has allowed me to break several smoking habits and hopefully help me to quit. :) I guess the ban doesn't really bother me anymore.
We've had smoking bans here in California for many years already and I think it's a fantastic idea. It's a health hazard and I would not go out to eat at restaurants that let people smoke. I also would not go to a club or a bar that you could smoke in. That's just disgusting!! Even as a smoker, I would never smoke indoors to be coureous to others.
After a few years, it will be common place for even smokers to have to go outside of the club or bar to have a smoke. It's a fantastic idea and I hope all states catch on and put a smoking ban in effect!
We've had smoking bans here in California for many years already and I think it's a fantastic idea. It's a health hazard and I would not go out to eat at restaurants that let people smoke. I also would not go to a club or a bar that you could smoke in. That's just disgusting!! Even as a smoker, I would never smoke indoors to be coureous to others.
After a few years, it will be common place for even smokers to have to go outside of the club or bar to have a smoke. It's a fantastic idea and I hope all states catch on and put a smoking ban in effect!
I agree. NY started the no smoking indoors thing a few years back which was great! But then once you leave the place you are bombarded by a cloud of smoke everywhere...hmmm You really can't escape it, but I'm really glad the smoking bans are starting to pop up more!
California has had a smoking ban for a decade. I forget that some states don't have a ban already. Well, I remember when I'm in Vegas.
We (Las Vegas) just passed a smoking ban in all places that serve food--except casinos, so strip tourists may not notice it. But all non-casino bars and restaurants that serve food in Las Vegas should not have smoking any more. Now, there has been quite a lot of outrage from local bars and quite a bit of flagrant law-breaking (lots of signs around that say "smokers welcome") it is all still being sorted out in the courts. Of course if a bar serves no food, they can still allow smoking. I for one love it. If you want to smoke, go smoke outside away from other people--workers and other customers alike (and pick up your litter--butts, packaging, etc. after you are done). Now if only we can get it out of the casinos--that'll be the day when pigs fly.
We've had smoking bans here in California for many years already and I think it's a fantastic idea. It's a health hazard and I would not go out to eat at restaurants that let people smoke. I also would not go to a club or a bar that you could smoke in. That's just disgusting!! Even as a smoker, I would never smoke indoors to be coureous to others.
After a few years, it will be common place for even smokers to have to go outside of the club or bar to have a smoke. It's a fantastic idea and I hope all states catch on and put a smoking ban in effect!
I agree. NY started the no smoking indoors thing a few years back which was great! But then once you leave the place you are bombarded by a cloud of smoke everywhere...hmmm You really can't escape it, but I'm really glad the smoking bans are starting to pop up more!
I think that taking a light whiff when you are exiting the club is far better then breathing it in all night when you're inside. I say we pick and choose our battles for now. Smoking indoors is a foul and disrespectful practice.
Ok, I realize I'm new here and maybe don't have any right to voice an opinion but I wanted to chime in on this because I'm still torn about it.
No matter what you say after that, of course you have the right to voice your opinion! ;) It doesn't matter how "old" or "young" to these boards you are--there will be disagreements, and people might not like what others say sometimes--but you should definitely be voicing your opinion! It seems like the jist of what you said is different than the general consensus on here concerning the topic, but that doesn't matter. I have learned so much from people on VegWeb (and throughout life!) because people's views differ. :)
After I quit smoking I greatly appricited smoking bans! My old college was smoke free but my new one isnt--it's awful walking outside on a nice day only to be attacked by yucky, smelly smoke!
I think that if people want to smoke that is their right--but since it is so health hazardous the non-smokers get the win on this one!
Thank you, JessaCita. You have made me feel better about saying.....er.....something. I guess I'm not in the majority on this ALTHOUGH the ban has helped me not smoke when I'm out and I'm thankful for that!
You and a few others have made me feel more comfortable posting here. :) ......er not to say that you all aren't great.....doh! I'll shut up now. :)
Capture: I hope to quit smoking soon and I'm sure I'll feel the same way. I probably won't want to be anywhere around smoke either! Heck...I don't want to be around my cig when I'm smoking it! How crazy is that???
I also live in the Minnepolis, and I love the smoking ban! This is coming from a person who smokes, I really do not mind going outside, even in the winter. I love coming from bars, concerts, and clubs not reeking like smoke (except the cigarettes I smoked). I went to a bar in Burnsville last weekend and you could smoke and it seemed totally strange to me since I have not been able to smoke in the cities for a long time. Anyways I am all for the smoking ban.
JessaCita- It is good to find some fellow Minnesotans, do you live in the cities?
JessaCita- It is good to find some fellow Minnesotans, do you live in the cities?
Yes, I do! :) I live in the southwest 'burbs right now!
We (Las Vegas) just passed a smoking ban in all places that serve food--except casinos, so strip tourists may not notice it.
Yeah. I'm usually in Vegas for shows, which are in casinos on the Strip. You're right. I can't imagine any one group having enough political power to ban smoking in casinos.
So, we all call it Vegas because we're lazy. I noticed you called it Las Vegas. Is Vegas like saying Frisco for San Francisco. I was told to call San Francisco either San Francisco or The City, but never to call it Frisco if I wanted to be accepted in the Bay Area.
We've had many smoking bans of different types in WI, and generally they work well for everybody involved. Certainly, there are some bars that are run out of business, particularly in rural areas, and I do empathize. I can't help but wonder if there are ways that we could give time to the owners to transition into the new changes- their business can drop super quickly after the ban inititiation.
Tobacco is banned in Holland since July last year, but the coffee shops are still open even though you can't smoke a cigarette in there. Either way, I'm happy with the smoking ban after working in bars and coming home smelling like I smoked when I didn't. I am also happy, because there were no sections in Dutch restaurants before the ban - there was either smoking or none. I'm happy that I can't be seated at a table with my MIL who refuses to not smoke during a meal! In fact, it's the reason I used to refuse to eat out with her once we had kids. ;)b
Get your smoke out of my face if I'm trying to eat or see a show!
I'm so stoked for the smoking ban that is going into play in michigan in may. Smoke free shows will finally be a reality. If you want to hurt yourself thats fine but don't hurt my friends and I in the process.
Being able to smoke inside is disgusting. Have some courtesy and do it outside, please. I fully support smoking bans in places of business. What you do on your own time is your own concern
Actually I thought that the smoking ban was more for employees who work in these places of business, waitresses, bartenders, etc.
I live in NY state and there has been a statewide smoking ban here for a long time. I love it! I can go anywhere and enjoy even a drink at the bar without comming home to smell like an ashtray.
I love going back to my home state of MO, but there is no smoking ban there and it is pretty disgusting to me to still see restaurants separated into smoking/non-smoking sections.
I sit in the non-smoking section and can still smell that horrible smoke! Ugh, disgusting! Smokers just have no idea how aweful that smoke is to us non-smokers. It burns my throat, dries out my eyes, and after awhile I start coughing. I think I may be allergic to it actually. I hate it!
Tobacco is banned in Holland since July last year, but the coffee shops are still open even though you can't smoke a cigarette in there. Either way, I'm happy with the smoking ban after working in bars and coming home smelling like I smoked when I didn't. I am also happy, because there were no sections in Dutch restaurants before the ban - there was either smoking or none. I'm happy that I can't be seated at a table with my MIL who refuses to not smoke during a meal! In fact, it's the reason I used to refuse to eat out with her once we had kids. ;)b
Tobacco is illegal but not pot? LOL, how many Americans would love to have the same thing here!?
In almost every situation, smoking bans have increased bar/restaurant/club attendence.
Smoking is a health hazard. Keep it ouf public, but don't mess with people's right to do it in private.
I'm speaking as an ex-smoker, here. I agreed witht he idea of a smoking ban even before I quit.
I'm the same way. I'm an ex social smoker - only did it when I had a glass over my limit of alcohol. I prefer it when there's a smoking ban, because it doesn't tempt me in bars anymore! :)
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