Michigan has gone smoke-free.....has your state??
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
United States
May 5, 2010 5:26pm CST
As of May 1, 2010 Michigan bars and establishments have now gone smoke free. This means that when you go out to a sports bar, restaurant, pub down the block if you want to light up your cigarette you have to pay your bill and step outside.
I am a full time mom and a non-smoker so for me this is wonderful to think that now instead of going to a restaurant and then be asked your preference to "smoking or non-smoking"... we will always be seated in a non-smoking section.
My husband is a smoker, however, when we go out to any place like this he would always choose non-smoking for me because he would have a cigarette before we went in and would light up as soon as we left....he was fine with that. However, if the wait for that section was outrageous we would choose "first available"....
I never put much thought into a smoke-free state since there are restaurants out there that have had the no-smoking in there facility for a while now...and you just knew going in what you were in for.
Then I was in my car yesterday and the DJ's were discussing this smoking ban and said that we were the 38th state to go Smoke-free.....this was astonishing to me since I was not aware that many states have done this.
Has your state gone Smoke free?? Does this affect you?? Were you aware that many states have gone smoke free??
I would love to hear your stories!!
I never put much thought into a smoke-free state since there are restaurants out there that have had the no-smoking in there facility for a while now...and you just knew going in what you were in for.
Then I was in my car yesterday and the DJ's were discussing this smoking ban and said that we were the 38th state to go Smoke-free.....this was astonishing to me since I was not aware that many states have done this.
Has your state gone Smoke free?? Does this affect you?? Were you aware that many states have gone smoke free??
I would love to hear your stories!!4 people like this
11 responses
@kedralynn (980)
• United States
5 May 10
I live in California and many places have been smoke free for years. Restaurants, the work place, and so on. Most bars too. In fact I've only been to one bar that still had smoking inside and it was in a specific room only. There's still smoking and non smoking rooms in hotels but I prefer the non stinky rooms.
I was reading that smoking bans can vary by city too. There's a city around here where you can't smoke on public sidewalks or within 20 feet of a window or doorway.
I prefer to smoke outside anyway as I don't like the smell. I don't do it in my own home. So it was weird to me to go to Vegas and see people smoking in the casinos.
I think some smoking bans are ok. We shouldn't be forcing non smokers to breathe in our fumes. I understand smoking is our own choice and shouldn't be pushed on others. But I also think these bans can go to far. Most of it should be common sense. Don't smoke around kids, the elderly or sick people. Don't smoke in hospitals or at work. But I guess some people don't care so they had to create bans. I'm personally ok with it. I mean if you can't go an hour without a smoke, you have bigger problems than not being able to smoke in a night club anyway.
4 people like this
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
6 May 10
I guess being a non-smoker that I just never really paid attention to much about smoking bans and such....we have had several restaurants in the area go "non-smoking" and if you didnt agree with it you just went somewhere else....now that the ban has been put into law and everywhere is now "smoke-free" it has caught my attention and I am amazed to find out we are so much farther behind the rest of the states. 
that is great that it doesnt affect you and I have to agree 100% that if you cant go an hour without smoking you do have a bigger problem....LOL
thanks for sharing your information about California, I find that fascinating. Thanks for the response and have a great night!!
that is great that it doesnt affect you and I have to agree 100% that if you cant go an hour without smoking you do have a bigger problem....LOL
thanks for sharing your information about California, I find that fascinating. Thanks for the response and have a great night!!1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
6 May 10
Kedra, what one person thinks is common sense another person things is a ludicrous idea. I know a person who doesn't think twice about blowing smoke right in her kids faces. I have seen people sitting in restaurants with their kids, blowing smoke in the air that just floated all around their kids. People are idiots, that is what laws are made.
Good point about "if you can't go an hour without a smoke". I always thought that about people who insisted on smoking in restaurants. Nice to hear it from a smoker that it shouldn't be that hard!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
6 May 10
I honestly thought that all states had gone 'smoke free' in public places (including bars, restaurants AND workplaces).
In the UK we have had 'the ban' for a while now (since 1st July 2007). I was quite shocked when in France (I forget when, but after that law came into effect) to be told that it was quite OK to smoke at the table and that I didn't have to go outside.
I guess that I have always thought that my smoke could offend others but, until we had the law, I considered it THEIR problem. Once the law (in our country) came into effect, I completely understood that MY smoke was quite likely a nuisance (as well as a health risk) to other people and agreed that I should smoke outside whenever possible (or refrain from smoking when not). I still do.
I am, frankly, amazed that Michigan has taken so long to come round and astounded when you say that there are still 12 states which haven't!
I am a smoker (by choice, though I am trying to choose not to be) but I would NEVER say that anyone should inhale my second-hand smoke or be damned!
3 people like this
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
6 May 10
Good luck to you to becoming a non smoker... it isnt easy, I watched my mom try to quit and it took a lot on her part and dealing with her being so hard on herself when she would eventually give in....she has been a non smoker now for almost 20 yrs and I am very happy for her.
It is amazing to find out that we are getting in on the ban so late, I truly never knew there were so many states that had it and I applaud the ones that started it and it is catching on.
thanks for the response and have a great night!!
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
6 May 10
It has been for a while. I do smoke and don't mind going outside to do so. The clubs and bars are still fighting it. Some of them let you anyways, even though they can be fined.
2 people like this
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
6 May 10
That's what I am interested to see how it goes for us as well...how many people will protest and light up anyway...and how will the establishments handle those people.
I like that many of our restaurants have a patio that opens in the summer and the smokers can go out there and smoke and it doesnt seem to be so bad, its when you are trapped in a building with it that it tends to irritate the breathing for me...LOL
thanks for the response and have a great day!!
1 person likes this
@max1950 (2306)
• United States
5 May 10
florida has been smoke free for years in fact you cant smoke on some grounds at all outside. some restaurants let you smoke outside if you want to put up with floridas' bug problem, eat, swat,eat,swat i can do without the smoking in leu of the bugs.
3 people like this
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
6 May 10
Yes that could be bad having to fight off the bugs to eat just to enjoy a smoke.
thanks for the response and have a great night!!1 person likes this
@checkmail (2039)
• India
6 May 10
Hello bookreadermom08 here too in our city there have been certain changes made by the government and the peoples to reduce the rate of smoking.As there have been increase in the cases due to excess smoking habits of peoples.There have been ban of smoking in offices, restaurants, even in bars, and public places.Even have made a few facilities like smoking rooms for specifically smoking reasons.It seems we could only reduce the pace of smoking through this measure, but if we ourself take on it might be able to curb it out completely.Anyways keep it up with your mylotting, Happy mylotting.
2 people like this
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
6 May 10
I havent been out yet to any of the places that have gone smoke free yet...granted it has been only 5 days since it started...LOL, but I am excited to see what changes it will make when we do.
that is so great that your city has gone smoke free....it is a wonderful thing.
thanks for the response and have a great day!!
1 person likes this
@MsBlakely7 (4)
• United States
6 May 10
Wisconsin just recently went smoke free as well. The law was passed over a year ago, but they gave businesses a full year to prepare and make necessary changes before enforcing the law. I, personally, am SO thankful for the new law. I can't stand being in an environment where it is really smokey. I have asthma and my children do as well. One of my sons has very severe asthma and allergies. It used to be that we were unable to eat in several restaurants due to the smoke. It really was a pain! I always had to consider closely where we would go, and how seperated their smoking section was from non-smoking. On more than one occasion, we had to get up and leave before out meal was complete because my son began wheezing due to the smoke. It has always seemed unfair to me that something that is known to have harmful affects on others (second hand smoke), is legal in public places. I understand that people have the right no smoke. And I understand that it is an inconvenience not to be able to smoke in certain venues...however, and inconvenience should not be more important than the health of those who choose not to smoke. Anyway...that's my piece. But I LOVE the new laws and so do my kids!!
2 people like this
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
6 May 10
Exactly they have been talking about second hand smoke since basically the late 80s and it took this long to make thing environmentally smoke free.
I am happy to hear that your area has gone smoke free and that we now have more places to go out and enjoy with out having to worry about the smoke.
thanks for the response and have a great day!!
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
6 May 10
Yes my state has gone smoke free, I'm in Michigan too :)
I was soooo happy about it b/c I feel like a lot of smokers are just rude. Some are nice, like your husband, and don't force you to be around it. But there are those out there who don't even think twice about smoking in your face. Keep your nasty habits to yourself, that's what I say.
So far I haven't heard any negative effects of this, although many smoking advocates argued it would bring the economy down. However my argument always was that 37 other states (and some countries) already successfully passed the law and have had no problems.
Some people are still fighting the laws. I live near Dearborn and the Hookah bars are not happy about this at all. I don't know if they will get the law changed just for them, but honestly I don't care b/c I never would go to a Hookah bar anyway.
@shaggin (72240)
• United States
6 May 10
I live in Pennsylvania but very close to New York so I go to both states shopping and to resturants. I actually wasent sure if these two states were smoke free or not so I had to do a search online to find out. In New York all bars, resturants and workplaces are smoke free but in Pennsylvania none of them are smoke free. I found that surprising. I know the bar down the street from me does not allow smoking but the other 6 in town do allow it. Thats a main reason I think why the bar down the street from me isnt as popular as the rest of the bars in town. I do not smoke but when people are drinking I definitly understand why they want to smoke as I was a smoker for quite a few years. I hate smelling smoke in resturants when I'm trying to eat its gross but we would take the smoking section like you said if the wait was shorter.
@bucklord (349)
• United States
6 May 10
My current state, North Dakota, has not yet gone smoke free. However, the discussion about doing so is heating up. I can not go out too often due to my asthma and allergy to the smoke. I hope it does pass here. I used to live in Minnesota, and they passed it while I lived there.
@Kisha14 (117)
• Philippines
6 May 10
Wow your state are really concerned with their people. I hoped it happen here in the Philippines.Well i think it wont. I am still hoping a lot of the people here are smoking as if they are smoking a branch of a tree. Wherever they want to and just drop the trash anywhere.:(
