[BmoreGal]

It has been several years that smoking was banned in public restaurants and bars. As a non smoker, I was relieved when the laws took effect.

There is nothing worse than coming home, reeking of smoke when I do not smoke. It is in my hair, on my clothes and just permeates everything.

Many smokers are polite, and very courteus, but a few are not. There was a huge debate about the effect the law would have on the revenue of restaurants and bars. Guess what, after a very short dip, the effect has been Zero. People still patronize their favorite restaurants, and watering holes.

I would vote in favor of stronger non smoking laws.

IMHO

[Canabarrybarb]

35 years ago I had a sign in my office "I won't fart in your presence, if you don't smoke in mine". Still applies.

Hmm, maybe this would be a good tactic at the sidewalk restaurants that smokers frequent.

Bottom line is that my right to avoid cancer caused by second hand smoke trumps anyone's right to smoke in public.

[batman911]

Numerous states have laws that prohibit smoking in any public place. That would include parks, stadiums, food service, bars, any place of business, public transportation and bus stops, etc. My current home state, Hawaii, also prohibits smoking anywhere near the entrance/exit to these places as well. My wife and I pick up trash in our neighborhood several times a week and I can say from experience that smokers care little for the environment or your health. We pick up hundreds of cigarette butts and packaging every week. Disgusting dirty habit. You will never convince nicotine addicts that smoking is not good for anyone. I would like to hear from the smokers on this site the reason for dumping their butts out the vehicle window or stomping them on the sidewalk. That said, I have owned stock in Philip Morris since the 1980s and have profited hansomely from their addiction (revenge is sweet).

[BmoreGal]

It has been several years that smoking was banned in public restaurants and bars. As a non smoker, I was relieved when the laws took effect.

There is nothing worse than coming home, reeking of smoke when I do not smoke. It is in my hair, on my clothes and just permeates everything.

Many smokers are polite, and very courteus, but a few are not. There was a huge debate about the effect the law would have on the revenue of restaurants and bars. Guess what, after a very short dip, the effect has been Zero. People still patronize their favorite restaurants, and watering holes.

I would vote in favor of stronger non smoking laws.

IMHO

[billethkid]

maybe we could try smoking and non smoking cities...nah that wouldn't work. Too many would complain about driving past it or the wind or who knows what.

It is obvious that there is NO SATISFYING the hard core no smoking advocates...almost as bad as guns VS no guns...ALMOST.

I remember during the days when no smoking areas were just beginning to be discussed. WOW what a bombshell it was. But there were surveys and more surveys getting feedback from non smokers. Well if one fast forwards to today the no smoking advance has gone far beyond any smokers wildest dreams......and now they see fit to complain some more.
There is just NO SATISFYING the complaining.

And oh by the way there is as much to be read about businesses and bars that have had their business decline because of all the be eye itching about smoke. Many are allowing smoking in more areas....like it used to be.....much more non smoking space than 20 years ago...and not as much as the unreasonable, never satisfied non smoke proponents would like.

There are a lot of things I do and places I will go or not go. The ones I don't like I DO NOT GO TO.....it is much more simple than trying to rally the world and make an enemy of a neighbor....really.

btk

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by memason

So how would anyone feel sitting next to a person using an E-Cigarette, which has only water vapor (looks like smoke) and smells like cherries or vanilla ???

No second smoke...

Just curious...

Would probably depend on who it is smoking the E-Cigarette........



Bill

[redwitch]

Let me see if I have this straight. You chose to sit outside to eat. You knew that smoking was allowed in that outside area but, since there were no smokers present, that made it okay for you to dine outside and then complain when someone sat down to smoke near you? Sorry, the law in Florida permits smoking outside. You knew this. No question that if you don't like the law, you have the right to change that law.

Do you know for a fact that the young man smoking did not live in TV? Do you also plan to propose that non-Villagers be banned from the town squares, which are public areas?

I wholeheartedly agree that if you don't like something, work to have it changed, but to rail against someone who is doing something entirely legal just doesn't sound right to me. You were flat out rude to the young man, who was technically within his rights to smoke.

I rarely have a drink and never more than one if I'm out in public. Seeing someone drunk makes me downright uncomfortable and fearful. Drinking and driving is absolutely against the law. Too many have been injured or died because of drunk driving. Given these facts, should I now campaign to ban any public drinking? Should I complain when I see you have your third glass of wine in the square?

Yes, smoke smells. Yes, second hand smoke can be dangerous (more so indoors than outdoors). Yes, smoke litter is unsightly. However, alcohol smells and if you spill some on me (has happened more than once), I take home the smell. Drinking has caused many deaths. Empty beer receptacles and plastic cups are seen all over TV after the squares close. I've had to avoid more than one of the small bottles of booze when driving my golf cart.

Smokers have become second-class citizens. Can't raise taxes to the general populance, raise taxes for the "luxuries." I really doubt there is a smoker today who wouldn't quit if s/he could. Not everyone can.

Regardless, the point is you chose to smoke where you KNEW smoking was allowed and then had the absolute gall to complain when someone dared smoke in your presence.

[JLHart]

I think that "bans" should go far beyond this ... basically everyone that does not think and act like I do should be banned from existence.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by JLHart

I think that "bans" should go far beyond this ... basically everyone that does not think and act like I do should be banned from existence.

Sounds like a Utopia... of one though.

[billethkid]

you gotta love a person who speaks their mind...eh?

And SOME of you would be so kind as to not categorize "smokers" who toss their butts (cigarettes that is)......please use the proper, realistic case...SOME SMOKERS....remember that like everything else it is the minority (not race) that cause the problems. We do so frequently tend to tar a whole group with the inconsiderate actions of a very few.

btk

[janmcn]

IMO, Florida would never pass a statewide ban on smoking because a large share of Florida's economy depends on tourism and why would you alienate 25% of the population? Drive through any beachside town on a hot afternoon and you'll find that the patio dining and bars are mobbed, while the indoor dining (no smoking areas) have maybe two diners. One of the reasons restaurants and bars weren't effected by the original smoking ban was because a lot of them very quickly added outdoor eating and drinking areas.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by JLHart

I think that "bans" should go far beyond this ... basically everyone that does not think and act like I do should be banned from existence.

are you really greg gutfeld?

[thistrucksforyou]

Originally Posted by George Bieniaszek

I just do not patronize any business where I felt that I was choking to death over second hand smoke. No need to be confrontational. Yes, sometimes I would speak to the management, but usually that would not solve anything.

If all non-smokers stop going to restaurants that allow smoking outside and they see their sales going down, then they will certianly listen to these complaints and do something about it.

It's all about the money!!

This young man is exactly right....So organize and have an economic boycott and get results....

[RichieLion]

You're at the outside bar ordering a meal.....that was your choice. You acknowledge that you saw no smokers, meaning you knew smoking is allowed at the outside bar, and you took a chance........it didn't quite work out the way you hoped.

I'm not a smoker, but smoking is still legal in this country and the places where a smoker can smoke in public are very limited. We have plenty of recourse if we want to avoid smokers, they have little option of where to go.

It not a big deal to be a little neighborly.

[ilovetv]

I think the stench of smoking is disgusting, but I really do feel that when all indoor smoking has been eliminated, the least people can do is allow for outside smoking patio areas.

The bar outside at RedSauce is primarily for drinking. The place is in business to earn revenue from selling bar drinks. Prohibiting smokers at the outside bars kills their business and in these economic times, who wants to kill businesses?? And yes, all the businesses here need "townies" to come in and spend their money....and yes, local people do make it a lot more interesting here.

I say "dine inside" if the smoke is too much outside. Or go somewhere else. There are more than enough non-smoking options now.