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Illinois hasn't permitted smoking in bars since 2008, but you can still smoke in bars and casinos in Indiana. A statewide ban passed there in 2012, and the gist of it is that 21 and up places are exempted, since supposedly(though haven't been able to confirm for sure) that I heard of an extremely limited number of restaurants that had liquor licenses that chose to go 21 and up, to retain smoking. It also has some odd provisions, such as regular motels and hotels unofficially can't designate even a limited percentage of rooms for smoking, yet if they're within the footprint of a casino's property they can. Mainly because the Indiana smoking ban mentions this is the casino exemption, but for hotels and motels it is silent on whether they can retain smoking rooms. As motel/hotel rooms weren't under the exemptions section listed in the text of IN's state ban, most Indiana motel/hotel operators interpreted that to mean they had to change all their smoking rooms to non-smoking. Different than say Wisconsin or Michigan, where it is definitely within the official text of their state smoking bans that motels and hotels can't designate any rooms for smoking.
Do have to say it was interesting, when I went to Whiting's(just east of the IL/IN border, and east of Chicago) Pierogi Fest last summer. I'd say about slightly over half of the bars on the main streets right by that event were surprisingly voluntarily non-smoking inside on their own accord, and I was thinking fewer bars than that would decide to prohibit smoking on their own. I just wish Illinois exempted bars from their ban, since I still see signs from time to time of closed down businesses(though for the most part, mostly bars catering to local/neighborhood people) that were sadly forced out of business as a result of IL's ban. I know at least 2 bars shut down in my Chicago neighborhood eventually, and as of late I'd noticed 2 more(1 in my neighborhood, and 1 in the next neighborhood over) that seem to have shut down for good as of sometime in 2013. IMO, Illinois should've passed a clear exterior signage disclosure rule that requires businesses allowing smoking inside to have clear exterior signage stating that, like what I've noticed Indiana bars and private clubs have had to do since their state ban took effect. I recall that Indianapolis bars seemed to have been required to do that before the ban expansion to bars occurred there in 2012, and from what I've read, Saint Louis(city) bars with exemptions have to do that as well.
And yes as you can guess, I am definitely an advocate that free choice should've remained on the smoking issue in Illinois with an exterior signage requirement for any business that elects to permit smoking inside, over a forced unnecessary statewide smoking ban that has led to a lot of neighborhood bars and clubs choosing to close down. Also I find it interesting that when I read a month ago that Evansville's smoking ban was completely struck down by a state court due to it exempting the casino over all the bars, that a few articles I've read show that numerous local bars there have publicly declared that they won't go back to allowing smoking inside. And that seems totally fair to me that more might end up being non-smoking, than smoking. I'm a very infrequent smoker who has never smoked daily, btw.
West Virginia does not have a statewide smoking ban for bars. Smoking IS banned in casinos though. Individual counties can pass stricter smoking bans. I live in Kanawha County, where Charleston is located, and there is a county ban. However there are some bars here that violate the ban and allow smoking and the law don't seem to care.
You can still smoke in bars in Richardson, TX (suburb of Dallas). There aren't many bars here so it's not much of an issue. I don't hear anyone complaining about it. Most people go to Dallas to go to bars anyway.
Here in PA, bars can allow smoking, as long as food sales are less than 20% of the revenue, and no one under 18. My husband plays in a band at some of these and it's pretty disgusting how smelly he is when he comes home.
I was gonna say the same, most have some sort of smoke filter or exhaust fan. The filters/fans work pretty well, but they have to be kept clean.
I miss the good ole 80's, the last decade when you could light up a cig after having dinner or while having some mixed drinks at a club. It seems like smoking bans have gone over the top, and the once proud American smokers ( which undoubtely gave males that macho attitude, and gave women that sexy, enticing look) are now treated like lepers. My dad has even told me about the time when ashtrays were available inside hospital rooms (ok, I agree this needed to be stopped).
So, if you live or know an area where smoking is still not seen as a vicious and disgusting act, please tell us.
from what I understand, you can smoke in bars in Wyoming. guess they do not like to intrude upon someone elses freedom concerning smoking.
I have been to a few chain restuarants in South Carolina (driving up from Fl. to NY) where they still have smoking and non-smoking sections, The other extreme is where in states that you cannot smoke within 100 feet of the resturant entrance. I will tell you that is not eforced and ignored. Restaurant don't want to stop customers waiting on lines for tables from smoking outside.
The only place i know of is Las Vegas. Where i live (Los Angeles), you have to go out to the patio to smoke.
Not true. Even in uber-liberal NYC, you can allow smoking on-premises as long as 70% or more of your business income is derived from tobacco sales. I enjoyed a cigar in Nat Sherman's on 5th Avenue last May when my wife and I were in town for our anniversary.
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