Smoking Ban on the Peoria.com Forums

Let's have some fun and get input on the Jan 1 2008 smoking ban

I think it's ridiculous! Restaurants are adding on smoking sections...why not just leave it like it is? You know that's just going to raise the price of food~

I laugh in smokers faces-ha ha ha ha.

I have 11 months of being a non-smoker under my belt...and you smokers know how self rightous the new non-smokers are, some are even worse than the self rightous people who never smoked.

Actually, I find it frustrating that all these laws are going into effect discriminating against smokers. I made a choice to smoke, and I made the same choice to stop, because I wanted to...not because the cost or that others wanted (demanded) me to.

I'll go back to my semi lurking duties.

Dave, It doesn't make sense to me...No smoking but they can add on a smoking section and it's alright? Restaurants already have smoking and non smoking sections...

why does it seem like, though, when you sit in a n/s section you have to walk through the entire smoking section to get to the restrooms?

I'm all for it.

Let's not forget, that smoking is completely legal (for now) and smokers are well withing their rights to smoke. If a restaurant wants to allow or disallow smoking, that's their choice. When the governments steps in, it tramples on individual rights.

What's next? I say we ban wearing too much perfume or talking onc ell phones in restaurants, those are much more offensive to me than smoking.

Only cheap perfume StfRon!

Now let me get this right, someone asked me this question, if you are out celebrating New Years Eve and the clock strikes midnight, you had better put the cig out before the cig squad comes and take you away?

Yep- that's the way it is, but I really don't believe that local municipalities are going to spend the $$ or resources to enforce this law, especially in blue collar type taverns, where the etire customer base smokes.

Does anyone know what would happen if you lit up after the law goes into effect? Will you be arrested? Or just asked to leave...

I hate smoking and hate to go to smokey bars. However, I am disturbed by the "Nanny State's" smoking ban. I would have liked to have seen some alternatives bandied about, like maybe tax incentives to go smoke-free or requring better ventlation systems or something. The lack of other potential solutions is appalling.

I see both sides of this issue. As a person who doesn't smoke until I've had a couple of drinks under the belt, I can see the potential for this law helping me quit entirely. But, on the other hand, since I'm not a heavy smoker, I don't really think I need to quit. I guess I'd certainly rather have the choice to go out to bars that would allow a smoke, if I so choose. But, then again, who am I to infringe on the other guy's clean air by lighting up a cigarette?

I don't know. I guess I wish the ban would not affect bars. It seems that most people who work at the bars smoke already, so the argument that the law is protecting the employee doesn't seem quite valid. On the other hand, perhaps these bar employees are simply victims of circumstance and will all rush to quit once the ban arrives -- perhaps they've just been waiting for the proper environment and lack of negative patron influence. Hmm . . . somehow I doubt it. I think you'll see a lot of bar employees sneaking off to the bathroom for a quick "break."

Okay. I've stopped talking to myself now.

At least Illinois isn't as bad as California.. I heard a story where they want to ban smoking in multi-unit apartment complexes and ban smoking in cars where kids are present.

I have never been a smoker, but I'm not sure I like the government making more and more of our choices for us. I must say I will enjoy coming home from bingo or the bowling alley and not smelling like I've been smoking all night. It will be interesting to see how they get all the bingo players back inside after the half-time break. We probably won't get out of there until midnight. Bowling will be the same thing. I think you will see beer gardens in January and February. Smoke has never really bothered me a whole lot, but I know it does some people.

Personally, I think the law sucks and I'm a non smoker. People have put their lives, time, money, effort, etc. into establishing a clientle. Except for corporate chains, these people have private business that are open to the public. No one is forcing the non smokers who are verbally and blatantly bitching about smoke into these smoking establishments. If family or peer pressure is greater than your own morals and beliefs, don't blame the restaurant owner. To whine and cry and stop your foot because you "can't" (which really means you don't want to) go into somewhere like Kellehers because there is smoke is childish. Start your own non smoking bareatery then.

I see a lot of little neighborhood bars that offer little to no food closing shop. These places offer four things: drinking, smoking, a lot of BS and maybe a jokebox or TV. Take away smoking and they lose a large element.

Adults can make a decision for themselves and not go into smoking establishments, but the government thinks they need to step in and make it OK for everyone. However, the 2 year old strapped into a car seat can't get away from a parent sucking down a pack of Marlboros driving around town. Which seems like it should have been more of a prerogative to you?