The same by-law was passed in Guelph last year, and was already in affect in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Toronto passed a similar by-law, however you are able to smoke in bars. But that might change come this summer or next.
I am a smoker (who's trying to quit by the way) and I do anjoy having a smoke with my drink, but I don't have a problem with taking it outside.

I wonder about that too. some restaurants say that we dont have a smoking section anymore. others say that we do not have to enforced the ban until september.. whatever:confused:

yeah but Hootie, my liver is affected by the drunk sitting a few tables over from me...

What the objective is: to limit tobacco consumption and bring down all the healthcare costs associated with it. Restaurants are the first place to be targeted because it's where the greatest amount of usage is...then, you'll see it affect all public places.

What about perfume?
 

It's been my experience that the people who work at perfume counters are much less aggressive than they were a few years ago. I know people who work at department stores, and they have been told NOT TO SPRAY unless a customer specifically asks for it, and often times not at all (which is why they have samples of the perfume sprayed on little cards). This is a compromise, in my eyes, equal to the smoking ban in restaurants and bars.

Non-smokers don't smoke. Period. People that only smoke when they drink are smokers, that only smoke when they drink lol.

Men that like only blow other men when they are drinking are not wholly straight lol.

hahahahhahaha.
p.s. how's the ponch, big guy?

The new law is great! I can sit down and have dinner at a restaurant and not walk out smelling like smoke. I wish they would ban smoking at all public establishments but, for now, it's at restaurants only.

We've had this law in California for years (all public facilities) and while there was much complaining and hand waving initially, it's been great for overall. You can dine and drink without the stink of cigarettes/cigar/pipe (and yes, I do love the smell of pipe-but not required while I'm munching on a linguine entree.)

Whenever I go to Las Vegas, I forget what it's like to smell smoke EVERYWHERE--and your lungs to react to it (last time, I got sick from standing over a smoldering cigarette at a roulette table).

BTW, California also does have limits on when you can serve alcohol: no liquor sales from 2:00 AM-6:00 AM at grocery stores, bars, clubs and resturants (yep, that's why our clubs often close at 2:00 AM: what's the point of being open, from their perspective, if you have to do last call at 1:45 AM?) :rolleyes:

Generally, I think that California is an over-regulated state, but I can't say that I'm going to protest too much over valid environmental/health issues.

I would personally be extatic if IL passed that law. I hate coming home from the bars smelling like smoke...even when I stay in the sections that are less smoky...also smoke is a VERY common allergy and I guess you could say if you were allergic just stay away, but when you live in a town like I do, nothing but the bars are open past midnight. I would also be in favor if they made the law (I'm not exactly sure how they would regulate this but...) one out of every two resarunts and one out of every three bars in each county/city/town must be smoke free...I suppose that would be a soultion, but the problem would be determining who gets to be what... oh well, I guess I'll just live in my dream world for now.

They tried to pass this in Pittsburgh and there is some state law that said they couldn't. I'll post a link later.

I think that in California where it's usually warm this would work, but asking someone to go outside in 2 degree weather to smoke? Total BS in my opinion.

If individual restaurants/bars think their clientele would go for it then fine, be smoke-free all you want, but there are places around here that would probably close if people weren't allowed to smoke there and that would suck for the owners.

smokers will still go outside no matter how cold it is....here, the restaurants without patios lose business to the ones that do. Once the nice weather hits, everyone wants to be outside to enjoy it. But these establishments were already at this disadvantage before the by-law was passed.

I think Delaware has similar laws that ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

that's a ridiculous statement. if you smoke a cigarette, you are a smoker! period! it doesn't matter if you smoke one or 50 a day.

thank god for this law! it just started last weekend in my county in NY and i am so excited. i can't stand not being able to breathe when i'm out at night. it has gotten to the point that i will leave the bar that i'm at when my eyes and lungs start burning.

i'm so tired of people screeching about how "the government is limiting MY rights!!". whatever:rolleyes: if i didn't have to smell your stank and have that stank stick to me until i wash my clothes, then i would agree. i'm sick of people blowing smoke in my face. i'm tired of being in a small enclosed space not being able to breathe because others are exercising their "rights". when cigarettes are created so that the gross smoker only has to smell it, then i say take away the ban. but until that day happens, don't infringe upon MY rights to not stink and choke.

smoking is gross. people look like idiots when they do it.

thank god some politicians finally have gotten some sense to them.

i have NO pity for those POOR, helpless smokers who now have to go out into the cold to smoke.

i wish they'd make a law to lock up those idiots who throw lit cigarettes out of their cars. are these people kidding/??? keep that crap in your own car and don't hit my car with your burning cigarette.:mad:

I hate these laws. They are a bit much. If you are coming home from a bar, you can wash the smoke out of your just as easily as you can wash away that alcohol seeping out of your pores & making you smell like a brewery. Both smells are gross, and I don't want to smell anyone that reeks. Period.

And I'm afraid that I'm going down the same slippery slope line of thinking as others. What's next? Alcohol? We've been down that road before.