Smoking -- attitudes in Chicagoland (Orland Park, Virginia: house, allergy, taxation)

[HockeyFan]

This may seem like an odd post.. but please bear with me!

As someone who is very allergic to tobacco -- the plant and the cigarettes -- I am very unable to be around any cigarette smoke. Even 30 minutes can mean weeks, if not months, of infections and misery.

While there are issues in California, tolerance of my allergy has not been an issue. Many of my friends smoke, but they accept that I can not be around the smoke, and do not pressure me to be around them or say things like "quit being a wimp" when I tell them I can not go into a smoker's house, car, etc.

Unfortunately, I had a different experience entirely in Minnesota, and as a result, it was nearly impossible to meet people. It seemed non-smokers were expected to accept being around smoke there, and if you didn't, you were often excluded.

What is it like in Chicago? I know the smoking ban is on the way next year... but will I get the rolling of eyes and snide comments if, for example, I tell people I can't go to their house because they smoke? (even if they aren't smoking while I'm present, the smoke in the house is more than enough to cause the reaction). I know many will say there's all kinds of people everywhere... but my experience is, some places, this reaction comes from as much as a quarter of the population, while in other places, it's virtually unheard of.

Thank you for your help and understanding!

[kleer]

Man-up, wimp.

[prairiestate]

Shockingly, incredibly enough, the state of Illinois has finally managed to do something right. Illinois will be smoke free in January!!!!

[kleer]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Shockingly, incredibly enough, the state of Illinois has finally managed to do something right. Illinois will be smoke free in January!!!!

Boo!! No taxation without representation.

I'll wipe my ass with the $100-250 fine, Civil Disobedience.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by kleer

Boo!! No taxation without representation.

I'll wipe my ass with the $100-250 fine, Civil Disobedience.

You must have found a lot of inspiration in Hitler, trying to poision thousands of people with toxic gases.

[summers19]

The entire state of IL will be smoke-free in 2008? Not just individual cities but everywhere?
Great news! Currently I live in Virginia where tobacco is king. It sucks going into restaurants. Glad we're moving to a state that values people's health.

[kleer]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

You must have found a lot of inspiration in Hitler, trying to poision thousands of people with toxic gases.

Well you non-smokers are poisoning the blood lines of us pure, originally created citizens.

[NYrules]

Currently in Chicago I know there is a smoking ban already in place where people may not smoke in any public place or within 15 feet of it's entrance. I also know that Orland Park combated this topic as well by also going smoke free in Jan. 07 of which has caused the village to take much grief from restaurant owners and bar owners, but people believe it or not are adapting and it is becoming accepted by most to not be able to smoke anywhere but in your car or home just as Californian smokers found out years ago when that whole state went smoke free.

Basically don't worry about people's attitudes about people who don't like smokers or being around smoke. To be honest from what I have seen, most people here don't smoke and those of us who don't, don't really want to be around it either. I read somewhere that Chicago is currently has about 25% of the population who smokes, so that means that about 75% of us don't and I think as it becomes less convienent for people to light up, those numbers will only go down further.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by NYrules

Currently in Chicago I know there is a smoking ban already in place where people may not smoke in any public place or within 15 feet of it's entrance.

This is patently false.

Chicago had originally given bars until next summer to go non-smoking, but because Illinois passed the state wide law that goes into effect Jan. 1, Chicago will have to abide by that new law. it is Illinois that created the 15 feet law, which seems to me impossible to uphold in the city. 15 feet might well be the middle of the street

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by aragx6

This is patently false.

Chicago had originally given bars until next summer to go non-smoking, but because Illinois passed the state wide law that goes into effect Jan. 1, Chicago will have to abide by that new law. it is Illinois that created the 15 feet law, which seems to me impossible to uphold in the city. 15 feet might well be the middle of the street

Whether people choose to obide by the rules or not is not my problem it is the city's, but plain and simple the rules state, NO SMOKING WITHIN 15 feet of a public entrance. Smoke-Free Chicago: Join the growing number of Chicagoans who choose health. (broken link)