How do you feel about Statewide Smoking Bans?

I would love to see a ban for public smoking. Smoking is dangerous as we have all heard. Secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous. If you want to jeopardize your health, do it away from people who want to try and stay healthy. Go outside.

I'm going to agree with you on this. A bar could voluntarily be non smoking if it wanted to be and non smokers could just as easily not go to a "smoking" bar. The health issues never made sense to me...if the non smokers didn't want to be in a smoke filled environment as patrons or employees, then they should know to avoid those places. It's no different than smokers avoiding the usual places that don't allow smoking.

i think other states should be following the example

I don't smoke. Never have. I don't like the smell and hate when I have to walk past smokers smoking outside by a door. So I don't mind state wide bans at all.

There's no ban in my state yet, but I'm sure it will be coming soon, I think it's already being discussed. It might as well already be in effect because it seems there are so few places where one can smoke anyway. I'm sorry, but I think it's ridiculous. Restrict where we smoke all you want, make it so there's no smoking near the entrances and exits of a building but to have a smoking ban everywhere including outdoors is totally taking away the rights of smokers. I've heard all the arguments and I'm not looking to disrespect or offend anyone but if I own a bar or restaurant I think I have the right to decide whether I will allow smoking at my place of business the same as I have the right to decide the same about my own home - or will that be next? Nobody is being forced or is going to be forced to go into a place where there's smoking if they don't want to. I'll admit I wasn't thinking in the past of how annoying it may be to some people if a group of smokers are gathered at the entrance to a building, no matter what that building is but when it was pointed out to me I vowed to never smoke by a door again, so I do get it. Wherever I happen to be if there's someone there who is bothered by smoking, I just don't do it. I'm always respectful of other's feelings but don't I deserve a little respect too? Annie

I can't be in a bar and not smoke. I can eat dinner and not smoke in a restaurant but if I am out with a group of friends drinking and socializing and paying $8 for a drink I should be able to smoke. I'm willing to bet the majority of people who go to clubs smoke or don't mind the smoke. Businesses should be allowed to decide for themselves if they want a smoking ban in their premises. State wide smoking bans are just another one of our "liberties" that are being sucked away by the mouth pieces of the idiots in office.

I'm pretty sure NY has been smoke free for a few yrs and I KNOW that Ontario Canada has been....When it first became law it actually was an issue for a lot of bars/nightclubs etc...I'm a heavy smoker but even so i'm on the fence about it..I mean places like family restaurants and shopping malls etc YES MAKE THEM SMOKE FREE simply because of all the children that are subjected to the 2nd hand smoke ya know...but nightclubs and bars...I dunno I think alot of places have lost business due to it...and I dont see why it CAN'T be the decision of the owner really...The owner knows best what the majority of their clientle would want so it should be left up to them...

I am a smoker and I still prefer to be in an area that is smoke free when I am eating and doing things with my family. As far as bars and clubs go, I feel that you should be able to drink in them. I tend to have a cig when I drink and will usually not go into a bar or club that does not allow you to smoke inside of them. Restaraunts are a different story all together. I hate going into a restaurant that is cluttered with smoke. I went into a smoking section once and couldn't hardly breathe. In Oklahoma, a lot of these places are able to having smoking zones for people who smoke if they are properly ventilated or family owned. There are still a lot of them who choose to have no smoking though.

smoking should be banned at public places. it should be also banned near religious places. it should aso be banned near education institutes.

I am from Minnesota and we also have a state wide ban. It's been in effect for a while. I do think that is too much government intervention. It should be up to the business owner and not the state. You are right. There are other issues that need to be address that have greater importance like dealing with insurance and health issues. I am a smoker. The ban does not really upset me as I live alone and don't even smoke in my house.....I go outside. And if they are worried about clean air...well all the pollution that is spurted out of the smoke stack of the 18 wheelers certainly needs to be addressed too!

scotland has been smoke free in the pubs for over a year. a lot of talk before hand, but no pubs closed, no one brandished a uzi for an ashtray, it has turned out great.

I agree with you. I don't think smoking should have been banned. But it really hasn't. I work at a state facility and everyone still smokes there. You have to walk 20 feet away from the bldg. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I don't smoke though so it doesn't really affect me. I do understand that second hand smoke does cause a lot of harm to non smokers though.

i decide what we do in a bar or private club. i am a god of partying. if i want gange than we do a line. i rule. not the congress. plus i am rather sexualy attractive. compared to an ashtray.

The problem with your argument is that smoke effects everyone else too. There is a limit on drinking and driving to insure the health of others. (although,we can't do anything about stupid drunk behavior!) The smell of smoke is horrific and gets in my hair and clothes. YUCK! I have even blown my nose after going to a particularly stinky bar and had black stuff come out! The bars can put an outside seating area (with a heater if necessary) at the rear of the building so those of us who do not wish to smell like ashtrays can avoid it. I know it is hard to quit, and it is still your right to pollute your body but please do not make me a party to your addiction.

The UK went smoke free in July and its great, although I say so as a non smoker, but its nice to be able to go to a bar or a gig and not stink of smoke afterwards or wake up the morning after a night out and not have your throat feel like you've been smoking. I think smoking is a choice, if you wanna smoke fine but at least outside it's not affecting the health of non smokers as much. Of course this is a completely biased view and I can see how smokers would be unhappy about it but i'm sure with time they'll adjust and not really think about it anymore, i think thats what happening here anyway.