Is Knoxville NONsmoker friendly? (college, live, young professionals)

[TinaOz]

Can anyone tell me how hard it is to avoid second-hand smoke in Knoxville? My husband and I want to move to Knoxville, but I am terribly allergic to cigarette smoke. I have lived in cities that allow smoking everywhere—a real bummer for me because I could never go out. I have also lived places that had smoking ordinances on the books, but enforcement was so lax that going out was a gamble. I am not aiming to start a debate on smoking, so please don’t take offense with my question or the responses it elicits. I researched the laws, but what is on the books and what actually happens can differ, so I welcome the observations of the locals! I have read that you can’t smoke in a restaurant if minors are allowed in. Does that mean most restaurants are reliably smoke-free? What about bars? Are there many venues that voluntarily restrict smoking, even if not required by law? Any input on what I can expect to encounter in Knoxville would be appreciated.

[jabogitlu]

AFAIK only 21+ bars (not 18+) can allow smoking.

No restaurants or anything like that have smoking anymore. You will find some people smoking outside but we're generally very courteous and stand to the side. The exceptions will generally be downtown; there are people smoking in Market Square and stuff like that.

[NJDevil]

We go out to eat A LOT and since the non-smoking law was put into effect, it's really sweet. We have not encountered many people at all standing outside puffing away. The only issue is outside seating at restaurants, we like to sit outside but of course they can smoke there. The hosts/hostesses/managers haven't seemed to figure out to put smokers on one side, non on the other (even though the smoke moves, this would help). I believe all bowling alleys are smoke-free also, it is just allowed inside the alley's bar.

There are of course some businesses that allow smoking, so you may encounter it occasionally at mechanic shops or other small locally male-owned places.

[jabogitlu]

Why male-owned, NJ? Don't be hatin'.

Some restaurants won't let you smoke outside in their patio area. Just depends on the establishment.

[knoxgarden]

The law is generally enforced here. UT has banned smoking inside Neyland Stadium and enforces that ban at all its venues.

[NJDevil]

I know you're poking fun.... but I've never walked into a small grimy place and seen 3 women smoking. I was thinking about this sign-making place I went to. A lot of these types of places are all men all the time. I know a lot of female owners smoke : )

I have NOT encountered ANY outside seating areas that are smoke-free yet. If anyone knows of any, please post!

[hiknapster]

There's been at least one woman in all the auto mechanic shops that my husband has worked at. That's how we met each other! And there's one now, although he works out of his house! That would be me!

[BST]

Don't worry about 2nd hand smoke...it's the pollen in East Tennessee that'll kill ya.

[TinaOz]

Thanks so much for the info on restaurants. Sounds like I would still be able to go out to eat, maybe even bowling. Are you familiar with the bar scene? I was hoping to meet and hang out with other young professionals 25-35ish. Where do they go? Do people my age mostly hang out in smoking bars 21+? Are most bars in Knoxville bars 18+ or 21+?

[knoxgarden]

For the young professional scene, check out Metropulse, the free weekly.
Metro Pulse: Knoxville News, Issues, Entertainment, Culture, People
A lot of venues are 18+ because of all the college students.