Do the Bugs Smoke in NC? .....Seriously.... (Charlotte, Greensboro: movie theaters, school districts)

[CAKD]

What are the smoking laws there? Is smoking allowed in public places? In eating establishments? Also is there a helmet law? For children riding bikes?

[mm34b]

I think where one can smoke depends on local regulations (county-city).

Motorcycle riders are required to wear helmets on public roads within the state.

In 2001, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the Child Bicycle Safety Act requiring bicyclists under the age of 16 to wear helmets. Although the new law does not require adult bicyclists to wear helmets, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Some localities within the state have enacted ordinances requiring cyclists to wear helmets.

[Carolina Girl]

Originally Posted by CAKD

What are the smoking laws there? Is smoking allowed in public places? In eating establishments? Also is there a helmet law? For children riding bikes?

I believe state law requires establishment to provide separate areas for non-smokers if there is any smoking allowed. Many/most in our area don't allow smoking, thank goodness. And, they are becoming more and more scarce. It is absolutely awful if you are a non-smoker to be in the vacinity of smokers...especially if you have bad sinus conditions as I have.

[CAKD]

Yes Carolina girl. My kids and I have bad allergies and asthma. We take it for granted that there is no smoking in easting establishents here in CA. Nor in movies, malls (indoors) grocery stores etc. It got me to thinking that public smoking would be something that would be hard to get used to after having lived without it for so long. Thanks!

[Niki]

There is no smoking allowed here (I live in Greensboro) in movie theaters or grocery stores. Most restaurants have smoking sections, but I'm hoping that eventually restaurants here will go completely non-smoking. Just the smell of cigarettes is enough to get me coughing even if no one is actually smoking.

[mm34b]

Interesting Side Note

Not all NC school districts are smoke-free. Check your district here -

http://www.nctobaccofreeschools.com/images/TFSMap.pdf (broken link)

[Bethanytedder]

There is no smoking in most of the hospitals in the eastern area. As for smoking in restuarants, there are a lot in the east that have smoking and non-smoking areas.

[Carolina Girl]

Originally Posted by Niki

There is no smoking allowed here (I live in Greensboro) in movie theaters or grocery stores. Most restaurants have smoking sections, but I'm hoping that eventually restaurants here will go completely non-smoking. Just the smell of cigarettes is enough to get me coughing even if no one is actually smoking.

Yes, the greater Charlotte area is that way too. Most companies don't allow it in the building so workers will find a spot somewhere outside to congregate and smoke. My husbands won't allow smoking on the property.

[angelaf]

Ok, as long as we're talking about smoking, what's the price for a pack of cigarettes in NC? Say, Camel or Marlboro... not generic brands. Since they grow so much tobacco in NC, it should be cheaper there, right??

[mm34b]

Should be, but it's not due to state tax on tobacco. NC raised the tax last July and will again in July of 2006. I think a pack of name-brand ciggs are around $2.85 at the moment.