Columbus Residents (and other Ohioans, if interested): The smoking ban

[realisticphish]

what do you think of it? Yea? Nay?

[Kolesar]

1. I don't like public policy that isolates people

I think there is something to be said for "liberty". Yes, smoking is stinky, obnoxious, and causes disease, but these people are addicted. They may also have other psychological problems gnawing at them and they use nicotine as a bridge to sanity. I don't want to single them out and make them more isolated. That's the kind of politics that drives people over to the party of the insane, the GOP.

[KaliTracy]

2. I think it's wrong for a ban to be instituted for something that is still

legal, when most establishments offer "smoking and non-smoking" areas. I also feel that those who wish to have other establishments "smoke free" (especially bars, dance clubs, bowling alleys, pool halls, etc.), that they should open their own "smoke free" version and see how business goes.

I am allergic to smoke. I prefer to sit in non-smoking areas. But I don't understand why an establishment needs to exclude someone totally (and don't tell me they can just "go outside" -- that's not always feasible).

I've seen in Toledo clubs, like RagTime Ricks -- which had been around for over 20 years close because of the ban there. I know there were a lot of other establishments affected, too.

Here in Cincinnati, they are talking about one that is sweeping (currently bars and clubs and restaurants are exempt). If Ohio goes totally "smoke free" -- it's only a hop, skip and jump away to go to Covington Kentucky for entertainment. Our already depressed downtown (because of the riots several years ago), would completely die.

I think any city which established a total ban should look to neighboring areas to see if they lost customers to other establishments where there is no ban. Toledo is close to Michigan, and they did lose business, not necessarily to Michigan, but to places where they could still smoke. There is a group of people contemplatig making the WHOLE STATE of Ohio smoke free in public spaces as well as restaurants and bars, which does not seem fair to me at all. Those of us on the border of States who are NOT smoke free will suffer the most.

[MeDeMax]

4. wow ! amen ! n/t

[mosin]

3. Personally...

I hate smoking and being around smokers. The smoke stinks. The smokers stink. My clothes stink after I've been around them.

That said, no one makes me--or anyone else--patronize or work in a smoking establishment, so I am opposed to government-imposed smoking bans. (I'm all in favor of establishments voluntarily banning smoking.)

[realisticphish]

5. As for myself

on the one hand, I do think people have the right to smoke. However, unlike basically every other habit, the action itself has an effect on the person right next to them. And that person most definitely has the right to NOT be around smoke.

so, i have no idea

[mongo]

6. Here in Zanesville

We have at least one bar and restuarant and a couple of other fine restaurants that are totally non-smoking. The bar at least is doing a blockbuster business.

Of course, all the fast food joints are already non-smoking.

I think that the market is starting to take care of the problem itself.

I have heard many stories about the Columbus ban having a really bad effect on local bar owners. I think it should be left up to the individual business owners.

I smoke, but I go outside my store to have a cig, when the store is empty. It would put too many customers off and stink up all the lingerie. We don't have a store cat for the same reason - although if I was ONLY adult and didn't sell lingerie and hosiery I think we would have at least one store kitty to keep us company.