Is smoking really noticeable? (Raleigh, Cleveland: live in, restaurant, cost)

[GucciLittlePiggie]

i had completely forgotten about this. i'm thoroughly disappointed, now. :-(
I'm from NY originally and been in MA since 2000. No one smokes anywhere, even at amusement parks or in front of buildings (except maybe bars).

So can you smoke in malls, and grocery stores, offices? Or is it just restaurants and bars? I do remember being very little (I'm 25) and going to visit a mall in MA from NY and seeing people smoking, and was blown away. I can't imagine in this day and age with all that has been proven about second-hand smoke, that people can still smoke around others in public.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by GucciLittlePiggie

So can you smoke in malls, and grocery stores, offices? Or is it just restaurants and bars?

Depends on the folks who own the property? Some owners do, some don't permit smoking on their property. Check before spending your money.

[sbanawan]

Originally Posted by Chicky

I was in Chapel Hill at UNC in the early-mid 90s, and I could have sworn that smoking was banned for restaurants (but not bars) during my time there... Did I imagine that, or did the ban get lifted?

We must have been at UNC at the same time because some time between my sophomore and junior years, I think, establishments that served food (over a certain %age of revenue) had to be non-smoking. I remember it vividly because I was a smoker and Cafe Trio (my own personal library during my 4 years at UNC) went to non-smoking until after 9 pm. As soon as 9pm hit, the entire back of the coffeeshop got smoky.

[MrsSteel]

Originally Posted by GucciLittlePiggie

So can you smoke in malls, and grocery stores, offices?

Technically, if the owner of a building is okay with smoking, it's allowed. But in the 2 years I have lived in NC, I have not encountered a mall, store, or office where smoking was allowed. Not a single one. Most businesses have voluntarily banned smoking in their establishments.

There are some restaurants were smoking is allowed in the smoking section, but many restaurants do not permit any smoking indoors whatsoever. Actually, I can't remember the last time I ate at a restaurant that had a smoking section, so I've found that cigarette smoke is easily avoided in buildings here.

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by MrsSteel

There are some restaurants were smoking is allowed in the smoking section, but many restaurants do not permit any smoking indoors whatsoever. Actually, I can't remember the last time I ate at a restaurant that had a smoking section, so I've found that cigarette smoke is easily avoided in buildings here.

I can remember because the smoke was thick yesterday at LongHorn SteakHouse at Brier Creek and the week before at Applebee's on Six Forks and the week before at Sawmill Tap Room on Lead Mine Rd.

[JQ Public]

Yeah real noticeable. ick!

[MrsSteel]

Originally Posted by kelly237

I can remember because the smoke was thick yesterday at LongHorn SteakHouse at Brier Creek and the week before at Applebee's on Six Forks and the week before at Sawmill Tap Room on Lead Mine Rd.

Well, I don't eat at those restaurants. That's why it hasn't been a problem for me.

[MAtoNC!]

The Triangle Grille has smoking and Iwon't go back because of it.

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by MrsSteel

Well, I don't eat at those restaurants. That's why it hasn't been a problem for me.

I need to know where you eat out because we are bothered by smoke at
most of the places we eat . We eat out about twice a week . At Ruby Tuesday's on Falls of The Neuse Rd I hold my breath from the front door all the way past the bar to be seated or use the restrooms.

[MrsSteel]

Kelly, I'm in Durham and I tend to eat in restaurants here and in Chapel Hill. That's probably why my experience has more in common with FrongAndToad and WeLoveDurham. My husband says he encounters smokers during lunch in the Brier Creek area, so I'm not surprised that others have had that experience, too.