Smoking in South Carolina (Columbia, Sumter: restaurant, law, dangerous)

[Skyliner]

The city of Greenville led the way for municipal anti-smoking laws in this state. Shortly thereafter, other cities followed suit. There is an upscale cigar club and smoke lounge on Main Street, if you want to purchase and/or smoke your cigars.

[Columbiadata]

Columbia had their ordinance ready to put in place while waiting to see whether Greenville's ordinance held up in court.

[Slipmagt]

Gf and I stopped at a place in Conway for lunch while looking at apartments. Neither of us had thought about that before a guy a few tables away was smoking.

[skyegirl]

Originally Posted by sudont

Keith,
I'm considering moving to South Carolina to escape the kind of petty laws you seem to favor. I moved from Chicago to North Carolina for that reason, but they've recently enacted anti-smoker discrimination laws there. You see, my one little pleasure in life was to go down to my neighborhood bar, have a couple of beers, and enjoy a cigar. There were already voluntary no-smoking bars in my town, (Wilmington), so people were able to exercise their freedom, but that wasn't enough for those who wish to impose their lifestyle upon others. Please don't join these folks, Keith. Think of the things that you enjoy, that others would like to put a stop to. We need, all of us, to get away from imposing our morals upon others, and learn to let others live as they choose, whether they're gay, gun owners, smokers, or just someone who wants to have a soda.
There are alternatives to forcing others to comply with your own particular lifestyle choices, such as patronizing establishments that cater to non-smokers, or vice-versa. Feel free to open your own no-smoking bar in your area. This is, ostensively, a free country. You have to remember, these bars and restaurants are not owned by the government. As a former bar owner, I can tell you, you would not want the government telling you what you can and cannot do in your own establishment.
Or, like me, you can move. You might like Chicago!

You are responding to a post that is 2 years old...

[Chromekitty]

Originally Posted by skyegirl

You are responding to a post that is 2 years old...

what's wrong with that?

[GJBenn85]

Hilton Head Island banned smoking inside bars and restaurants. I think it is one of the best moves the town has made.

[TheKellyn]

I wish they WOULD ban smoking anywhere they serve food. As an ex-smoker myself - two things I NEVER did was smoke while eating (or in an eating establishment) and smoke inside my house.

Glad to be smoke-free for over 9 years now and I can honestly say that there's almost nothing quite as disgusting as cigarette smoke when you are trying to enjoy a good meal. There are several great restaurants in Charleston, however, where smoking is NOT permitted - thankfully.

I too have nothing against smokers persay - just breathing smoke.

[pburgess68]

Originally Posted by TheKellyn

I wish they WOULD ban smoking anywhere they serve food. As an ex-smoker myself - two things I NEVER did was smoke while eating (or in an eating establishment) and smoke inside my house.

Glad to be smoke-free for over 9 years now and I can honestly say that there's almost nothing quite as disgusting as cigarette smoke when you are trying to enjoy a good meal. There are several great restaurants in Charleston, however, where smoking is NOT permitted - thankfully.

I too have nothing against smokers persay - just breathing smoke.

Agreed. I walk out of places where people are smoking. I have asthma brought on by allergies and smoke, and prefer to breathe without the use of an inhalant. Even my 2 teen kids can't stand the smell.

Congrats on the 9 years!!

[namaw]

Originally Posted by pburgess68

Agreed. I walk out of places where people are smoking. I have asthma brought on by allergies and smoke, and prefer to breathe without the use of an inhalant. Even my 2 teen kids can't stand the smell.

Congrats on the 9 years!!

Kudos to your teens, pray for us trying to quit! I would never smoke inside. Although I'm not happy about pulluting the air outside either. It's just a consideration for others who do not.

[HHIslander67]

Originally Posted by GJBenn85

Hilton Head Island banned smoking inside bars and restaurants. I think it is one of the best moves the town has made.

I concur 1000%. It's nice to be able to enjoy a drink indoors past 10pm and not be encased in smoke.

Alass, if we could only get a law passed where no one can smoke within XX feet of the entrance to a bar or restaurant.