Since the Surgeon General released a statement saying that smoking sections aren't any good in restaurants, and since a lot of states or cities are enacting indoor smoking bans, I decided to post a poll about whether your city/state had an indoor smoking ban or not, and if it doesn't, would you like there to be a smoking ban?

I know when they put the smoking ban into effect in FL, there was a lot of backlash at first from smokers and restaurant owners, but it never affected business.

Here in TX, there is no smoking ban, but some of the restaurants have enacted their own no-smoking policies. McDonald's has as you go in the door a sign with the no smoking symbol, and at IHOP on weekends there is a no smoking policy in effect. It hasn't affected business one bit at IHOP on Sunday mornings...it can take anywhere from 10-15 minutes (or longer) to be seated.

California does not allow smoking in most buildings YEAH!!!! And you can't smoke near a lot of buildings including schools and government buildings YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing against smokers, I just don't want to breath or smell that smell, I'm allergic and it makes me ill.

Now, why do I like Vegas so much???? Maybe it's good for me they allow smoking, I can only stay inside so long, then I have to get fresh air

My state does not have an indoor smoking ban. Do I wish they would? Yes, Yes, Yes! Not only am I allergic to it, but my dauthter is also. I can smell it before I even see it. I respect a person's right to smoke, just not where others are forced to breathe it.

I smoked for 14 years and quit 23 years ago. I understand how smokers feel, etc. I have a hard time enjoying my meal when someone is smoking beside me. It really bothers me. I am glad they are doing this, but I do feel sorry for the smokers, since I have been there and I know what it is like to want to smoke. It was the hardest thing I ever did quitting.

Brenda,

What some restaurants in FL did when they put the smoking ban into effect, especially the restaurants in tourist areas like the beach, was put tables outside, and anyone who wanted to be able to smoke could have an outdoor patio/sidewalk table. The bar/club owners were the ones doing the most complaining before the ban in FL, because the ban mainly applied to businesses where so much of their total amount of business came from food sales...a lot of the nightclubs in the state had that much of their business come from food sales, so they were included in the ban...but after the ban took effect they didn't see much loss in business. And those who didn't want to comply just cut their food sales down or out completely.

Mary Lou & Pam,

Like you guys, I'm allergic to the smoke...whenever I'm close to anyone that's smoking I get all congested in the chest and can hardly breathe at times. I definately applaud those restaurants like McDonalds that ban smoking on their own without there being a law...IHOP, too, but they only ban it during the weekends. But also, their smoking section is on one side of the restaurant and the non-smoking is on the other side, so if you sit in the non-smoking section, you won't be subjected to as much smoke as you would in most restaurants where there's no division.

NJ passed the "no smoking law" just this year- no smoking in any public place with the exception of the casinos- and I think that is still under "debate" at to whether the casinos must be included. Like Pam said, there is also a ban on smoking within a certain number of feet of some buildings such as the courthouses. Restaurants have had "no smoking sections" for years and they were separated, but I think this is much better.

Montréal just entered into the NO SMOKING BAN in all restaurants and bars as of May 31st.....Except on outside terrasse...

They did a no smoking ban in the Casino de Montréal, I think 2 yrs ago...But they provide smoking rooms.

I quit smoking almost 2 yrs ago....So I really don't care...I just can't handle people smoking next to me...Its funny tho, I don't crave it..It actually turns my stomach and turns me off now...Ironic...

Most of the restaurants in the area where I live are all non smoking now, and you can't smoke in most buildings. I know you can't smoke ANYWHERE on school grounds. One of my teacher friends smokes and she uses her prep every day to drive around the block and have a cigarette or two.

I would LOVE to have a smoking ban statewide. I just HATE going to Target or WalMart and having to walk through the crowd or even just ONE person standing out there smoking.

My parents both smoked when I was growing up, and I swore I would never smoke--to this day I have never tried to smoke anything. My dad quit for good about 7 years ago, after several attempts. Ever since I've moved out of their home (many years now!) I can smell smoke from a mile away, it seems. My mom has been a closet smoker for about 15 years now--didn't want us to "see" her smoking--like we couldn't smell it!! Their house never smelled like smoke, but anything that came from there did. Since my mom had her heart attack, triple bypass emergency surgery, and lengthy hospital stay in late February, she has been a non smoker, and I am SOOOO proud of her!!! She says the only way she'll start smoking again is if the doctor tells her she has six weeks to live, then she'll smoke three cartons a day! She doesn't seem to have the 'urge' to smoke, but she likes to tease me about it. When we walk past those smokers, she'll say they smell "good", even though I don't think she feels that way anymore!

We have had a few cities in our area declare the whole city 'No Smoking', but in other areas, they still have smoking sections in the restaurants...I'm surprised at the Walmarts, etc...tho...our's down here in Alabama are all 'no smoking'...the grocery stores too...I rarely ever have seen someone smoking inside a Walmart or grocery store around here..and that was even before the 'no smoking' policies were in effect...I personally would like everything to go 'no smoking' too, but I've been a smoker in the past and can understand the other side of the coin too..I quit back in 1993 and since then I've never wanted another one...quitting wasn't easy...but I'm glad I did..I already have enough health problems to throw smoking on top of that!!!

Becky,

I've never seen anyone smoking in Walmart or most other stores, either. Restaurants are the main places where I see people smoking. I wish they would pass a non-smoking bill here in TX. I think Dallas is/was trying to get a no-smoking ordinance approved, but I don't know if it ever passed or not.

Well, so far around here, Hueytown and Hoover had both become no smoking cities just in the past few months. It's strange not to have to go in and ask for 'no smoking' in some restaurants anymore...alot of people aren't happy, but I think the city council can make the decision and it's not something that the people can vote on...occasionally, I will see someone smoking in the grocery store...they know they aren't supposed to, but they do it anyway...

I have never smoked, but members of my family did. It's funny how when someone quits, they can't tolerate it anymore. My brother used to debate me over and over about his right to smoke anywhere. Then, he quit, and now he hates it if he smells anyone smoking. I like the idea of tables outside for people who want to smoke, but I've been in restaurants and been seated in the non-smoking section, and all that has seperated me from the smokers might be a plant or two. That makes me crazy.
Hannah and I both hold our breath when we go through the smoking crowd at K-Mart, Target or anywhere like that.

We went out to dinner tonight to a small restaurant across from the VA Hospital...we were there a couple times for lunch, but wanted to try it for dinner...none of us would mind going back there for lunch, but I don't know if we'll go there for dinner again, not because the food wasn't good, because it was, it was just that the smoke was so thick you could smell it as you went it...and there is no no-smoking section. I got to the point, where before dinner came, I didn't know if I was going to be able to breathe anymore because my chest was getting so congested. It was good to get out into the fresh air after dinner!

We went out to dinner tonight to a small restaurant across from the VA Hospital...we were there a couple times for lunch, but wanted to try it for dinner...none of us would mind going back there for lunch, but I don't know if we'll go there for dinner again, not because the food wasn't good, because it was, it was just that the smoke was so thick you could smell it as you went it...and there is no no-smoking section. I got to the point, where before dinner came, I didn't know if I was going to be able to breathe anymore because my chest was getting so congested. It was good to get out into the fresh air after dinner!

I don't think I've ever seen anyone smoking in any of the stores here- I think that "policy" has been in effect for quite awhile. I'v had relatives, including my dad, who smoked, but they've all quit and none of the former smokers can stand to be around smokers.

Most of the restaurants here are no smoking. Depends on the city ordinances. Some cites banned ,some have not. There is a ban in the State,county,etc. buildings. That has been in force for a long time. I don't think there is a State ban ,yet. It goes according to the cities. I can go anywhere. I can wait to have a smoke and I don't get in anyone's face with it. Don't smoke in my house, car,kid's house, anywhere it says no smoking. I enjoy a cigarette after I have my dinner. If I can't have it inside I go outside.

I am not in favor of smoking bans. I feel the government tells us enough to do. My tax dollars are just as green as anyone else's. I pay for my food just like anyone else does. Buy gas and try to keep the economy going .Work hard and just pray that the day does not arrive when the government tells us what we can do inside our own property lines.

I certainly can understand if anyone suffers from the effects of smoke .I work near a retirement community and have seen the effects of smoking, obesity, drinking alcohol (driving while drunk) .I don't advocate any of this and feel something will get you in the end. I have watched clients, friends and family drop dead and have never smoked a cigarette in their lives. Some speak of the cost of keeping these smokers alive for as long as we can . Well health care is through the roof anyway. Who do we hold responsible for these addictions? The ones who are addicted ? The ones who sell the substances, the ones who manufacture them? The ones who enable them ?

My solution on smoking. Make it illegal to sell all smoking products and see what happens. Tobacco is a legal substance. Ban the sale then we won't be having all this controversy about it. We might just be seeing people killing for a cigerette. Sounds over the top doesn't it?

This is one thing I can not get in my head. As you may or may not know,I am a hairdresser and in our salons today most have nail tech's. Acrylics are applied to your own nails. Ever smelled that ? Some ladies complain about the smell of the smoke in the old shop where I worked for 18 1/2 years. Inhale that product . I've been a hairdresser for 40 years. Inhaled all the hair spray before the propellant was removed and had something added that caused cancer in lab rats.

I don't step on anyone's toes with my smoking. I respect the right of anyone to make choices that are fitting for them selves. I do resent not having a place to go and have a cigarette. If it is allowed then I will have a smoke and if it isn't I obey the rules.

One girl at work suggested that she could have a drink and not worry about someone getting lung cancer. That's fine but what about all the people killed or maimed from drunk drivers ?

Enforce the big business' from dumping stuff in our water. Watch over the things we dump in landfills and build beautiful homes on top of that ground.

I am not picking an argument and do not mean to offend anyone. This is strictly my opinion and that's all it is. I don't know the answer. All I do know is bans/ordinances, will not stop people from doing what they are going to do. You can not protect anyone from themselves.


Might sound extreme to many but as I said these are my thoughts and my opinions. I make no apologies for thinking for myself,while still being considerate of others opinions. No comments necessary and that is all I have to say on the subject.