Smoking in NC (Raleigh: daycares, living in, restaurant)

[saturnfan]

Smoking is on the decline, but some restaurants still permit it in certain sections.

This is no help since the smell usually spreads all over despite ventilation systems.

The law to ban it in Raleigh public places did not pass. Bad for those with allergies and asthma.

[Dire Wolf]

Originally Posted by ausmerika

Some towns have bans on smoking in all public places. Chapel Hill is one of them. We were at a restaurant, and opted to sit outside, thinking that my mother could smoke on the patio. No such luck. Not allowed anywhere on the premise, even outside.

Are you sure about this? I didn't have much look searching online.
I thought the tobacco lobby won a fight about this and towns in NC could not pass their own rules more restrictive than the state.

Edit: found the state law about local laws not being harsher than the state:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedL...S_143-601.html

Any local ordinance, law, or rule that regulates smoking adopted on or after October 15, 1993, shall not contain restrictions regulating smoking which exceed those established in this Article

[rnc2mbfl]

Regardless of the political struggle at the state level, the Triangle has been chipping away at "smoking" for a long time. Case in point: A new sports cafe (ironically named Tobacco Road) is being planned on Glenwood South in Raleigh and its owners have asked people to vote on their blog about whether or not the entire place should be non-smoking. As of now, 82% of respondents want a completely smoke free experience. Businesses are wising up that people will "vote" on this issue with their dollars and their patronage. I have seen many of my favorite hangouts become more and more non-smoker friendly over the years. Even some bars have gone smoke free by their own choice.

Polls last year showed that, no matter how you sliced the state demographically, smoke free restaurants were prefered statewide. While it's clear that the will of North Carolinians support tougher smoking rules statewide, many politicians in rural parts of the state are more reluctant to make changes to the laws. But, over time, even they are moving in the direction of cleaner air for all. I'd be surprised if there wasn't significant change to state law in the next 5 years. I'd imagine that the state would ban smoking in restaurants first (like Florida's law) and follow that up a few years later with a ban in bars and clubs as well.

I agree with previous posts regarding smoking elsewhere.
I haven't seen anyone smoke in malls, stores, etc. for decades in the Triangle. While there may or may not be laws demanding clean air, businesses have made the choice themselves. in the end, there's been a cultural shift on the issue. Whereas 20 years ago the default position was that it was okay to smoke almost anywhere, now the default position is that it isn't okay. That's a significant change in culture in just 2 decades in the nations largest tobacco producing state.

[Herd33]

I have to say that I was surprised at the number of smokers here. I'm used to entire restaurants being N/S...........the first time we were asked "smoking or non?" was odd. No one in my family smokes, and I am very sensitive to smoke myself.

However, it's not a reason to not move here. It's just something different that you'll observe and learn to ask for non-smoking in restaurants. :-)

[Liza54]

I agree w/ HERD....also when I was asked w/ my kids in tow, "smoking or non?", I was like 'huh?" We left. My hospital also went smoke free and folks had a fit. Unfortunately, as stated in a different post, I don't know how health conscious NC is as a whole, though I''m sure it differs area to area. I find obesity and smoking a suprising problem here. We're from southern California by the way. I suppose it's all in what you're used to.

[SALUKI_LOVER]

Coming from CA where smoking restrictions are tough, I'm looking forward to the day when NC does the same. If you do go to a restaurant just make sure you stay away from the bar areas. Once in a while I will go out alone and have sat at the bar and nine out of 10 times a smoker(s) shows up. It is annoying but not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

[mm34b]

In this state, private property owners have their own tobacco use policies. Smoking or any other activity on state or local government public property is regulated by the specific government in question. Around 22% of adult NC residents smoke, which is very close to the national average.

Questions?

[Funky Chicken]

I haven't really noticed or been bothered by smoke in the 5 years I have lived here, but I don't really spend time in places where people would tend to want to smoke like nightclubs, downtown restaurants, bowling alleys, and the like.

I think as a rule the Triangle is a more health-conscious area than other locations within North Carolina.

[geoff2v]

Originally Posted by amymcc

I agree w/ HERD....also when I was asked w/ my kids in tow, "smoking or non?", I was like 'huh?" We left. My hospital also went smoke free and folks had a fit. Unfortunately, as stated in a different post, I don't know how health conscious NC is as a whole, though I''m sure it differs area to area. I find obesity and smoking a suprising problem here. We're from southern California by the way. I suppose it's all in what you're used to.

I find it hilarious when people complain about hospitals which forbid smoking. I mean, really, hospitals!

[findingmesomeday]

It hasn't been that long since the tide has turned elsewhere, so it will most likely turn soon in NC. In the late 1980's, I worked in downtown San Francisco and many of my co-workers smoked. In fact, I used to hold team meetings in my office rather than the conference room because I could set the (no) smoking policy there! Look at California's smoking policies now.

In the early 1990's a restaurant in downtown Seattle shocked the city by going completely smoke free--including the bar. People all over predicted its demise. Business increased instead.

Of course, as others have mentioned, here in MA, smoking in most, if not all, public places is banned.