Up in Smoke

I’m not a smoker, but I think it should be up to the owner of the establishment. Some bars/restaurants may have a lot of customers who are smokers and it may be costing them business.

It matters on the establishment. For a general use restaurant or a
public place, especially connected to other stores, definitely not. But
if it’s a bar that’s been a smoker’s haven for years, let them have
their place. There should be a way for some places to stay open.
Smoking causes cancer, no doubt. I just found out today that a friend
of mine has lung cancer. But the fact remains that it is their choice.
As long as people can make an educated decision, and they aren’t
infringing on the rights, liberties and health of others, they should
be able to do whatever they want. There’s plenty of data showing that
smoking bans actually increase business. I’d let the market decide if
it wants to patronize these places. If not, they’ll go out of business.
I’d also be in support of a ban in all public buildings, atriums, as
well as hospitals.

And finally, I would ABSOLUTELY start to enforce littering laws for
those who smoke and toss their cigarette butts out the window. I live
near the beach and they are the largest source of litter. I don’t see
the difference between throwing out a McDonald’s bag full of wrappers
and throwing out a cigarette butt. Same thing. 

this is so interesting. kentucky – highest percentage of smokers in America (28%), one of the cheapest to buy ($2.90)direct correlation?

oklahoma has a restaurant and partial bar ban.  i think the decision of whether or not to ban smoking in an establishment should rest with the employees.  in most restaurants, the employees are more affected by second-hand smoke than either customers or ownership, so their concern for their own health ought to be the largest concern.

I live in Georgia. I do not know of any restaurant in which smoking is allowed. The graph apparently does not recognize that fact.

Michigan has the workplace ban.  We’re crossing our fingers for the rest!

Indiana has at least restaurant ban, workplace ban – not sure about bars.

I am an Oregonian and Oregon has placed work place, restaurant, and starting January of 2009, will ban smoking in bars.

As somebody already said above, Oregon’s ban on smoking in bars went into effect just a week ago…http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/06/bar_smoking_ban_wins_final_pas.html

Starting sometime around October/November of 2008, Restaurant’s had to be smoke-free in PA.  This also applied to bars that made more than X% of their revenues from food.  I believe the magic number was 20%.

Cigarettes in New York are 8.50, not 6.50. That’s Eight dollars and fifty cents.Where can I find them that cheap?

Alaska also has a ban in bars and restaurants.

@Antidote In Tennesse, the restaurant ban is effectively setup to allow owners to make their own rules. It only applies to restaurants that allow guests under 21. A restaurant owner could institute a 21 and over policy and allow smoking if he or she chooses. I believe children should be protected so I don’t think it should be entirely left up to owners. What owner would choose to prohibit a person who wants to smoke from doing so and risk losing even one customer?

Oregon’s ban on smoking in all public places went into effect on the first but it is not shown here.

someone should have checked their information before dumping it in to such a cool interactive map. I know that the information contained therein is wrong for at least three states.

raise those prices! smokers will go down. economy is sucking, why buy cancer sticks when you can invest?

As far as I know California has a workplace ban as well. I’ve never worked anywhere in the state that has allowed smoking in the building.

Um, all places of business should be non-smoking… if they want our business.  Us non-smokers are the Majority…  Duh!  Any business manager/owner that allows smoking should be fired or be put out of business.  Us non-smokers should band together and outright ignore places of business that allow smoking and therefore damage our and our children’s health.  I’m sick and tired of breathing in cancer just because someone else is addicted to this stupid habit and can’t even eat without lighting one up.  At least they’re dying faster, so they’ll be even a less of a minority when my kids grow up.