Smoking ban in public places?

I am a smoker - I am ok with banning smoking in places where children and/or sick people congregate, but I also feel it should be up to the business owners to decide if they want to allow smoking or not.

I dont have to smoke in restaurants, but banning smoking from bars is getting to me.

While I recognize the unfairness to smokers, I must say as an asthmatic and a non-smoker that I support the ban in SOME public places. I'm from the US (don't know if you're talking about the UK), so here one cannot smoke in restaurants, in some bars at the discretion of the owner, and within 20ft of a public building. I personally find it reasonable. While I understand it's an addiction, I feel that the more limitations placed on smokers the better. It's like letting an alcoholic drink and be rowdy wherever they are, they'll obviously bother someone with their addiction as they will effect others around them. Smoking is becoming more taboo because people are bothered by it. Frankly it stinks and it's an extremely unattractive and unhealthy habit. The more lives we can save by banning it the better. Lung cancer is a terrible thing to live through as it oral cancer, emphasema, and chronic bronchitis. I've watched relatives suffer through the adverse effects of smoking and it's unneccessary to die before your time just for a silly ciggarette.

Nonsmoker. Love the ban. It is about time.

Smokers always cite a misleading item. They claim nonsmokers can just go anywhere where there is no smoking allowed. They do not care to reveal the truth, that before the ban, almost every single place allowed smoking. Yet the ratios of smokers in the general public for the US are less then 25% of the population.

Translation, it was never fair and was heavily favoring the minority smokers.

I'm a smoker. At first I was a little annoyed, but to be honest, I personally do not like cigarette smoke while I'm eating. I won't smoke while I'm eating or anyone else around me. I think it is rude. I live in Vegas and was actually quite surprised it got passed here, considering the amount of smokers in this city. Of course then you have to think about all the smokers that are just like me who hate the smoke while eating. It still exists in bars here, just not anywhere that serves food, which really cut back the amount of smoking places. They have allowed it where restaurants can section off a smoking section as long as the ventilation units and section is completely separate from the rest of the place. I don't know if that is going to last long, but if they change it, I can see a lot of companies going out of business because they spent a lot of money to make these adjustments.

Though I myself happen not to smoke and appreciate the ban. I can completely understand why smokers would have a problem with it. I think that it is taking away some of their freedoms that they are supposed to have. I know that it is a health issue, but it is every individuals own choice whether to smoke or not to smoke. I think that it would perfectly acceptable though to legalize smoking in public places again, but to have a designated area for non-smokers that is garanteed not to have any type of smoke there. (And yes, I do realize that many restraunts had a smoking and non-smoking areas but they were most of the time right beside each other and didn't actually make a difference.)

I am a smoker and i think it's good that you can't smoke inside public places.

For other peoples health and my own really as i smoke less when i am out.

The old non-smoking sections in places were silly as they were right next to each other but years ago they used to have completely different rooms where it was a lot easier but the non-smokers used to go in there with their smoking friends anyway.

All of my friends that smoke always come out with the smokers still now.

I think if you own a bar/restaurant etc then the decision should be yours whether that be smoking or non smoking.

I am a smoker. I disagree with a smoking ban....not so i can smoke, but i think the decision of whether or not the establishment allows smoking should be up to the owner. I don't mind stepping outside for a smoke, in fact i try my best to avoid non smokers when i am smoking. But to tell the owners of their businesses that they can't allow smoking is just wrong.

I'm a non-smoker and I think it's a good idea to ban smoking in public places. If people want to smoke they can smoke on their own property. Second hand smoke is more dangerous than smoking itself in some cases and why should people who don't smoke have to put up with people who do in public places. It's a infringement on my rights as a non-smoker.

Non-smoker and I love the ban! I can go to a bar for a drink and not come home and smelling like an ash tray. I grew up in a house with smokers so I was forced to live with it through my growing up. Now as an adult I chose not to smoke and I dont feel I should be subjected to it in places I am paying to eat or drink.

I am a smoker and I really don't mind the ban. Every smoker knows it's bad and most really want to quit. Right now we're not allowed to smoke in the building at work anymore and I'm way too lazy to go outside so I don't smoke at work. If I wasn't allowed to smoke at bars and restaurants I wouldn't go outside and smoke in the cold. Eventually it would be a lot better for me!

(of course we'll have to see what happens in summer....)

Non smoker:

I feel even if I was a smoker I would agree with it. For it helps the people who do smoke cut down on thier intake of ciggerettes, also dosent indanger nonsmokers (second hand smoke) even at eating places and that