Smoking in South Carolina (Columbia: bars, food, vehicles)

[pburgess68]

Originally Posted by HHIslander67

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.

Or how about in front of stores and such!!! Still gotta gag going past the smoke to get to the non smoking area lol

[DFBonnett]

Originally Posted by HHIslander67

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.

I hate the smell also. I started in 1969 in the Army and quit in 1986. That being said, freedom isn't free. It should be up to the owner of an establishment to determine if smoking is permitted and the owner should be required to post a sign to that effect on the front door. At that point you can vote with your dollars. Go elsewhere if smoke bothers you. How hard is that?

[Columbiadata]

I didn't like being treated as a second class citizen by restaurants that thought I didn't have the right to breathe air I found as suitable to my lungs as smokers did to theirs while I was dining there. Local government went to bat for me.

[pburgess68]

Originally Posted by DFBonnett

At that point you can vote with your dollars. Go elsewhere if smoke bothers you. How hard is that?

Oh, we have, no worries there!! We only go where there is no smoking allowed. For a family of 4 with 2 teenagers, we spend quite a bit. Plus, we tip quite well, usually 20% or more. We definitely do speak with our $$.

[HHIslander67]

Originally Posted by DFBonnett

I hate the smell also. I started in 1969 in the Army and quit in 1986. That being said, freedom isn't free. It should be up to the owner of an establishment to determine if smoking is permitted and the owner should be required to post a sign to that effect on the front door. At that point you can vote with your dollars. Go elsewhere if smoke bothers you. How hard is that?

If we weren't talking about an activity that is clearly harmful to your health, I would concur with your free-market thinking. However, smoking kills and second hand smoke is harmful as well (insert scientific study cite here). Government intervention is appropriate. I used to smoke as well, but I don't think smokers have rights to smoke at any place where their smoke can infringe upon non-smokers.

[Columbiadata]

Originally Posted by pburgess68

Oh, we have, no worries there!! We only go where there is no smoking allowed. For a family of 4 with 2 teenagers, we spend quite a bit. Plus, we tip quite well, usually 20% or more. We definitely do speak with our $$.

But don't you feel you're being discriminated against not to be able to eat wherever you want to and eat some fantastic meals without harming your health?

[pburgess68]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

But don't you feel you're being discriminated against not to be able to eat wherever you want to and eat some fantastic meals without harming your health?

Oh, absolutely, but since the mindset down here seems to be quite behind what I'm used to when it comes to tobacco and smoking in restaurants, etc., I figure they have to catch up eventually. Until then, I'll take my money elsewhere. Since I'm not the only one that feels this way, businesses will have no choice but to follow suit someday. Until then they will continue to lose customers and revenue to other restaurants. Even smokers I know prefer go to non smoking restaurants.

I think the "rebel" attitude is far outdated and seriously has to go lol.

[Sassy8722]

Sumter has also banned smoking now and most places do not allow smoking within 50 feet of the entrance as well.

[dumpstermcnuggets]

Originally Posted by Sassy8722

Sumter has also banned smoking now and most places do not allow smoking within 50 feet of the entrance as well.

50 feet radius from building entrances? Wow, that's excessive as hell, since the most I can recall some smoking ban ordinances I've read requiring a smoke-free radius from entrances are 25-30 feet(such as the bans in Washington state, and Houston, TX). I'm starting to wonder now if Sumter's council was stupid enough to include all outdoor areas of parks....

No wonder I despise how excessive the smoking ban movement has gotten(and despise this movement in general, as someone who's a libertarian and has always believed smoking bans should only be required for truly public settings, and that business owners(NOT government units) should make the call whether to ban smoking or not), especially when it comes to ridiculous moves like banning smoking in ALL outdoor areas of parks!

[Columbiadata]

I don't think people should be allowed to smoke, period. I'm tired of walking my dog and breathing up cigarette smoke from people smoking on their porches and in their yards. And I am not being sarcastic. The stuff is toxic! I can tell how dangerous it is just by getting a whiff of it.