Repeal the smoking ban (Joy, Time: college, zoning, restaurants)

[BROADCASTER1317]

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER FOR SMOKERS RIGHTS.

SMOKING SHOULD BE ALOWED IN BARS, LOUNGES AND RESTAURANTS.

I AM NOT A DRINKER AND I DO NOT HIT THE BARS.

I GO OUT FOR BREAKFAST SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND I DO ENJOY SIPPING ON A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AFTER I FINISH EATING. I ALSO ENJOY HAVING A SMOKE WHILE READING THE NEWSPAPER AFTER BREAKFAST WHILE INSIDE OF A RESTAURANT.

LETS GET BACK TO BASICS FOLKS, THE GOVENOR OF ILLINOIS DOES NOT SMOKE, YET HE INSISTS OF FORCING RULES AND INTRODUCING LAWS ON US ILLINOISANS. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HIM ANYMORE, HE WILL BE WITH HIS BIG BROTHER GEORGE RYAN FOR A WHILE.

[RdytoGo]

The thing is, it's not just Illinois. I was raised in IL, but now go to college in IA. My college has banned smoking anywhere on college campus, even in your car in the college parking lot with the windows up! I'm currently studying abroad in the UK. They have recently banned smoking in public places as well, and I think there is a higher percentage of Brits that smoke than Americans (from what I've seen). I used to agree with you, and now I don't really have an opinion about it, since I haven't smoked in 16 days. It's getting too expensive IMO, especially for a student .

[anr_black]

This ban isn't really enforced downstate. The bars lose too much $ if they don't let people smoke, so they pony up the $100 fine IF the local cops decide to press the issue.

[cubssoxfan]

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER FOR SMOKERS RIGHTS.

SMOKING SHOULD BE ALOWED IN BARS, LOUNGES AND RESTAURANTS.

I AM NOT A DRINKER AND I DO NOT HIT THE BARS.

I GO OUT FOR BREAKFAST SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND I DO ENJOY SIPPING ON A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AFTER I FINISH EATING. I ALSO ENJOY HAVING A SMOKE WHILE READING THE NEWSPAPER AFTER BREAKFAST WHILE INSIDE OF A RESTAURANT.

LETS GET BACK TO BASICS FOLKS, THE GOVENOR OF ILLINOIS DOES NOT SMOKE, YET HE INSISTS OF FORCING RULES AND INTRODUCING LAWS ON US ILLINOISANS. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HIM ANYMORE, HE WILL BE WITH HIS BIG BROTHER GEORGE RYAN FOR A WHILE.

Yes you have the right to smoke. I also have the right to NOT inhale your 2nd hand smoke. The restaurant workers have the right to a safe workplace where they are not subjected to the 2nd hand smoke. So you view it as smoker's rights and I view it as a personal right to breathe clean air.
So it's really nothing against your choice to smoke. It's the uncontrolled 2nd hand smoke that is objectionable. Heck, even when I smoked, I hated 2nd hand smoke. It's noxious and unfiltered.

[oakparkdude]

Repeal the non-smoking ban? I didn't realize there was a ban on non-smokers. I've been lucky not to have been ticketed so far.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by anr_black

This ban isn't really enforced downstate. The bars lose too much $ if they don't let people smoke, so they pony up the $100 fine IF the local cops decide to press the issue.

I'm from downstate and they 100% enforce the smoking ban. Maybe it's just your city.

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Repeal the non-smoking ban? I didn't realize there was a ban on non-smokers. I've been lucky not to have been ticketed so far.

HA!

[JustJulia]

I say leave it up to the establishment owners. The people who don't want to work in smoky restaurants will work somewhere else, the owners who don't want smoky restaurants will ban it, and people like me who can't stand smoky restaurants will find the places with clean air.

I've heard complaints from bartenders and waitresses in California who say their tips suffer because smokers go outside or don't patronize their bars anymore, and I'm sure the same is true in Illinois. However, patrons and employees certainly have the right not to hang out in smoky establishments if they don't want to. Maybe it evens out. Maybe the server who doesn't want to breathe second-hand smoke can trade jobs with the server who likes the better tips and having smelly hair.

[stewartthrower]

Unfortunately you can't leave it up to owners of restaurants because for the most part the owners choose to allow smoking. Perhaps a better way is to utilize zoning laws...The way it used to be...If you didn't smoke, had asthma, etc. there were little options for you...

By the way..Smoking is stupid!! Period!!

[cohdane]

Secondhand smoke causes cancer and triggers heart attacks. CDC says it causes 50,000+ deaths a year. Any other product that-- when used appropriately-- caused that much death in non-users would be banned flat out.

Sorry. Go somewhere non-public when you want to light up.

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by BROADCASTER1317

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER FOR SMOKERS RIGHTS.

SMOKING SHOULD BE ALOWED IN BARS, LOUNGES AND RESTAURANTS.

I AM NOT A DRINKER AND I DO NOT HIT THE BARS.

I GO OUT FOR BREAKFAST SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND I DO ENJOY SIPPING ON A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AFTER I FINISH EATING. I ALSO ENJOY HAVING A SMOKE WHILE READING THE NEWSPAPER AFTER BREAKFAST WHILE INSIDE OF A RESTAURANT...

LETS GET BACK TO BASICS FOLKS

I assume you mean "get back to Basics."