Smoking in Columbus (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Kent: neighborhoods, restaurants, agriculture)

[jtdc]

I've noticed people smoking here way more than in the Northeast. Walking outside, I had to speed up to get ahead to avoid the 2nd hand smoke. I was even asked if I had a cigarette. I also noticed several people smoking with infants and children in tow. I 'm sure the incidences of lung related illnesses have got to be higher in this region than others.

[Zen_master]

Originally Posted by jtdc

I've noticed people smoking here way more than in the Northeast. Walking outside, I had to speed up to get ahead to avoid the 2nd hand smoke. I was even asked if I had a cigarette. I also noticed several people smoking with infants and children in tow. I 'm sure the incidences of lung related illnesses have got to be higher in this region than others.

Ohio implemented a smoking ban in 2007 and if I remember correctly Columbus initiated a ban before the state as a whole did. However this only affects public areas indoors. I think you can still smoke walking down the sidewalk just not in a restaurant or store.

If you think it's bad here then don't even stop your car if you're traveling through Kentucky. Tobacco is a big cash crop in that state (27% of national total) and they're in no hurry to ban smoking - indoors or out. Visiting a restaurant there is brutal.

http://stuffaboutstates.com/agricult...ps/tobacco.htm

[Natural510]

It's the KY influence; the further south you go in Ohio, the higher the smoking rate.

[JKHOSU]

I am from the northeast and have definitely noticed this in Columbus as well. Attitudes on smoking are similar to the 1980s and 90s. People are not otracized for smoking. Many people still think it looks cool.

[Zen_master]

Originally Posted by Natural510

It's the KY influence; the further south you go in Ohio, the higher the smoking rate.

Do you have any evidence other than anecdotal data? i regularly travel the I-71 corridor between Cincinnati and Cleveland and have not noticed any significant difference in smoking rates from north to south. If anything I notice a difference by occupation with the highest smoking rate I've witnessed (not empirical) among nurses. Guess smoking is one way to break up those 12 hour shifts.

[chalcedony]

It's definitely noticeable in Indianapolis--the south side of the city (with more of a Kentucky/south/Appalachia influence) has a much, much higher rate of smoking than the north side. But then, the north side is also mostly white collar, whereas the south side (particularly the neighborhoods closer in to the city) is still heavily white working class. Working class whites in the Midwest probably have a smoking rate closer to 75%...purely empirical I'll confess, but it was the same among the working class white neighborhoods (usually a certain "side of town") in southern cities too.

[WRosado]

I certainly have noticed a difference in states when it comes to smoking. I was out in Missouri this past summer and was surprised as I was being seated to eat whether I wanted seating in smoking or non smoking. I had completely forgot that is still a question being asked at restaurants in this country. Same goes with Indiana and practically every state in the South. I don't care if you put me in the non smoking section, I can still smell the smoke.

[Natural510]

Originally Posted by Zen_master

Do you have any evidence other than anecdotal data? i regularly travel the I-71 corridor between Cincinnati and Cleveland and have not noticed any significant difference in smoking rates from north to south. If anything I notice a difference by occupation with the highest smoking rate I've witnessed (not empirical) among nurses. Guess smoking is one way to break up those 12 hour shifts.

Well, Kentucky has the highest smoking rate in the country, with Ohio second, so yeah, I made the correlation...
Ohio Trails Only Kentucky In Smoking Rate | WOSU News - WOSU Public Media