Do you think that PA will have a smoking bann for all restaurants and indoor workplaces eventually? (Philadelphia: homes, to live in)

[memoriesbre]

I know that Florida put that on the ballot a few years back and now restaurants throughout that state are non-smoking. What do you feel about this happening in PA?

[toobusytoday]

I think it's coming. The majority of the population are non-smokers. It happened in Philadelphia without that much of a fuss.

[Pensypat]

Absolutely! I am already seeing individual restaurants that are non-smoking in our area. (and as an asthmatic, I support those restaurants) It's only a matter of time.

[MermanMike]

I think we'll see this happen. And I think in twenty years from now the kids won't be able to believe that people used to smoke in restaurants. I support this kind of a ban for state or city maintained parks as well.

[weluvpa]

The state ban is coming but when who knows????? If the local govt's would stop pushing these illegal local bans that have to tie up the courts to be proved unconstitutional. They are actually holding the state ban up by pushing the issue into letigation.

[Suzer]

It's been non-smoking in California, where I'm from, for 10 years, if memory serves. My husband and I walked in to a downtown establishment in Milford where people were smoking and it felt like a throwback.

[memoriesbre]

Originally Posted by Pensypat

Absolutely! I am already seeing individual restaurants that are non-smoking in our area. (and as an asthmatic, I support those restaurants) It's only a matter of time.

Hey you! It's Rosanna. I sure hope they do it soon. I hate to sit there and eat while somebody is smoking. It is horrible. I didn't know you are asthmatic. My sister is asthmatic too and she is having a terrible time with the pollen right now in NJ.


We need to open our mouths more and get this ban going soon. Write letters to your local papers and also to the state officials. I need to find out the emails for the state officials. Anybody have them?

[BravoSix]

How about some personal freedom?

I couldn't care less about "smoker's rights", so don't get me wrong. What I am talking about is the right of the property owners.

You have no right to eat in my restaurant, and smokers have no right to smoke in my restaurant. I, as the restaurant owner, am the only one with ANY rights to my property, and as such, I should decide whether to permit smoking in my establishment.

Now, I'm speaking figuratively - I don't actually own a restaurant. I certainly feel the pain though - as we all should when an overgrown government pushes us further towards facism.

Personally, I prefer to live in the "Land of the Free". It's a shame it no longer exists.

[Suzer]

What's being legislated is our freedom to breathe safely. This situation is a prime example of rights coming in to conflict (i.e., protection of the public's health vs. property rights).

I don't agree that legislation that mandates property owners protect the health and safety of their patrons and employees is a move toward facism.

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by Pensypat

Absolutely! I am already seeing individual restaurants that are non-smoking in our area. (and as an asthmatic, I support those restaurants) It's only a matter of time.

I'm with you. I'll be moving to W-B soon, so would love to enjoy being out & about, or should I say inside. In Boston, now I can finally breathe & enjoy a restaurant/pub, not leave with a headache or wreaking of smoke & don't have to reach into my pocket for my Proventil. It used to be that I had a 1-hr limit before a migraine kicked in, if I were not sitting neaby smokers. Now, I'm fine.

Even if I didn't have asthma, I pay too much $ for my perfume & clothing to have them saturated with the smell of burnt tobacco. It's often come down to people stating rights, but I feel this way. If I sit next to you snapping chewing gum, you may find it annoying but it won't harm your health (perhaps raised blood pressure, if you allow yourself to become annoyed) & you won't suffer any of the above unpleasantries. Not so with smoke.

I'm all for making smokers move away from doorways of buildings, as well. I heard that some town wanted to make it 20-ft. I'm recovering from foot surgery, so have bi-monthly visits to the hospital. It's a huge hospital, taking up an entire city block. Every doorway has multiple workers standing next to them no matter which time I've been there or which season. I've seen elderly men with oxygen tanks have to pass them. They stand right next to the door. I've seen it at many downtown office bldgs, too. I have to hold my breath when I'm so far from the doorway, lest I be assaulted with smokers' cigarette smoke. One breath & I suffer for hours. Same with restaurants who spray empty tables with Windex when I'm within 10-ft. One whiff & I have an instant asthma attack.

I understand that the world can't cater to me, but I can't believe I'm the only one who has such delicate lungs. I don't make people uncomfortable or shoot nasty looks at anyone, but people need to be aware that when they're standing at busstops & I'm walking against the wind, I can catch a whiff & an asthma attack, 1/2-block away.

You can't drink alcohol in the streets. Why smoke in the streets? That's what homes are for. Am I being too rigid?

Have fun... VV