Did you vote this past November?
By sassy5d
@sassy5d (118)
United States
January 5, 2007 12:34pm CST
Did you vote for the smoking ban or against it?
What do you think of Ohio's new "Smoke-free" living?
Are people still smoking in your favorite bars?
Do you no longer go out to clubs and bars and bowling since you can no longer smoke?
Are you a business owner that was affected by the ban?
Do you dial the 800-nark line? What do you think of the posters?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@JKH5199 (7)
• United States
7 Jan 07
I did vote for the smoking ban. So far, I haven't seen a difference at local resteraunts and bars. I believe that this will eventually help local bars and eateries, because the people who refused to go to these places because of the smoke, will return, and overall there are more non-smokers than smokers.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
6 Jan 07
I'm really suprised you haven't gotten any responses! This is a great discussion!
I'm an Ohioan. I did not vote for the smoking ban....although, it passed. I was more inclined to agree with what they were calling 'the smart smoking ban', where smoking wasn't banned in adult places like bars. Luckily, I don't frequent or especially own a bar!
My cousin is a bartender and she said it has affected the business. The patrons are mad. She said they were hoping to add an outside patio-type place for smokers to puff away but I don't think they will get around the law. You must be so far from the property (30 feet???) and if they built a patio, no matter how far from the bar, it's still bar property, right? She says that some people fire up regardless of the law. I also heard that it will take years to go into effect???
I would not nark! Why should I contribute to a law that I don't agree with? Besides, I'm not a nark ; )
@sassy5d (118)
• United States
6 Jan 07
As I smoker, I voted for Issue 5, that didn't pass..I thought it sounded like a great idea.. A compromise for both smokers and non-smokers.. I completely agree that "Non-smoking" sections were a joke! I always sat in non-smoking when I went out to eat with my kids and we either had to walk through smoking to get there or we could smell it the entire time.. So a law that would have def. made seperate blocked off sections for smoking sounded good..
Also I thought giving the business owner the choice to be smoke free or allow smoking was a great thing.
Now nobody has any choices.. Except, well, if you want to continue to smoke, you have to do it in your house or in your car.. and even some employers are not letting people smoke in their cars. If you're a truck driver and you don't own your rig, you're not allowed to smoke in it.. That's nice huh?
I agree it hasn't been fair to non-smokers to be forced to breathe in stinky smoke all these years, but if they weren't going to make smoking illegal, there should have been a better way to compromise, so the only people who were hurting themselves were the smokers.
I think the text on both ballots were confusing. A lot of people said after the fact they didn't even realize what they voted for. I also think it's sad that the low turn out of voters sealed the fate of Ohios future.
The big interest group who was so "gung-ho" about making Ohio smoke free.. where are they now? Gone.. Why? Oh they got what they wanted.. they did their victory dance, their moking dance and they don't exist anymore.
I don't like subjecting non-smokers to smoke, so I don't smoke anywhere where non-smokers are.. I wish more people could be like me, and be respectful of others choices..
@craftwave (1338)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I'm an Ohian although I don't currently live there. I'm also a wife of a person who is allergic to smoke. Personally I think it is great what they did. A seperate blocked off room is not as great as it sounds. To keep the smoke in you would also need seperate entrances and seperate ways for the staff to get there as well. And what about the servers that would have to go in there and serve your food. they would be exposed to the smoking whether they wanted it or not. Compromise sounds wonderful until you stop and think it all through. I commend those who wish to keep their smoking to themselves and not harm others unfortunately the only real way to do is is to ban it in public places. I wish more states would do this.
@B_BORGERDING (34)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I deliver food to Restaurants and Bars, and I still see people smoking occationally. I personally voted for the smoking ban, just because I can't stand to be around it, when I go out!
@ChefMichael44444 (123)
• United States
16 Apr 07
I voted against it I am not a smoker but I hate the idea of the government telling us what we can do and what we cannot do.
Chef Michael
