[QueenAngie]

Here is another debate topic on smoking in public places and locations.

There is a poll for you to choose.
You can list your thoughts and
reasoning about smoking
in public places

[Alejandros Mommy]

Where I live many towns and cities have gone smoke free in any place that a child is present. This also includes the "outdoors" of public areas. Personally I hate when anyone smokes near me...esp when I was there first...and esp if my kids are with me.

[twinzplus3]

I agree. . .I hate it when people smoke near me but I really hate it when they smoke near my kids. If they want to ruin their own health fine but leave my family out of it and take your (collective smokers) cigarettes away from us.

[angelic_ky]

amen... i hate it, smoke usually upsets my reflux so i end up feeling sick on top of possible passive smoke relate illness they may have given me

[pattiewrites]

I'm a former smoker who never smoked in public places or in my home. Now that I've been smoke free for years, it doesn't bother me if the person is outside and my kids aren't with me. But if we are out somewhere that is for kids, like an amusement park or the pumpkin patch, it really bothers me. Move to an area where there aren't kids before lighting up.

[mcmama]

Originally Posted by pattiewrites

I'm a former smoker who never smoked in public places or in my home.

Where did you smoke?

We have laws in NJ about smoking in public buildings, especially restaurants. I came to appreciate these when we went to Virginia, and ate breakfast at waffle houses where everyone smoked except us. Waiting for a table in a busy restaurant, and then taking one after someone has finished their cigarette is pretty awful when you are not used to this.

Here in my town we have a pub which is really a good family restaurant with music and irish dancing on sundays. They used to have smoking/nonsmoking areas that worked pretty well. Now the restaurant has to be non smoking throughout, so the smokers go out on the sidewalk. So to get into the pub, you walk through smokers. There is no other place for them to go unless they go to a narrow alley. And before they put an old fashioned industrial ashtray that can't be moved out there, the sidewalk was littered with cigarette butts.

Places like this used to have "smokers rooms" which I think makes more sense for someplace like this. And I'm a non smoker.

[MommyDee]

Nonsmoker, and prefer to keep it away from me. DH just quit about a month ago, and he always used to go out on our front step, away from DS and me. All public buildings here have gone smoke-free, but there is one thing that irks me -- for bars and clubs, smoking was also banned on all outdoor deck areas. This to me makes no sense... Unless the deck includes an eating area, I think people should be allowed to have a cigarette there so they don't have to physically leave the bar. It's particularly ridiculous to see someone open the gate, step two feet off the deck, and light up a smoke while still conversing with those ON the deck. KWIM?

[QueenAngie]

I can recall before when I was pg w/ DS#1 (21 years ago),
during my regular work hours as a floor RN or Charge RN,
we had shift report in the nurses lounge.
I was pg as could be, a nonsmoker, and sitting among all
these RNs smoking during report.
It was accepted back then.
And as I look back, I cringe at the thought.

My community is now smoke-free zones at the hospitals,
in restaurants, and in bars. I think that is how it should be.

Many bars have a smoking 'area' as Mcmama described
in the alleyway. It's not really legal, but smokers do this.
Or they go to their cars to sit and smoke.

Last night, I went to a wedding reception. It was their
2nd one, so it was very informal, relaxed.
I went because it was family,
in another town,
with smoking everywhere, no laws against it.

I'm so accustomed to having smoke-free where ever I go now,
I didn't realize there was still smoking issues like this.

I have asthma. I do not smoke. I do not tolerate smoke.

Luckily, I stayed on the edges and just held my breath
while I walked by the smokers.

When I got in the car, my clothes smelled like smoke, and
my hair smelled like smoke. Ick!

Immediately upon my drive home, got into the shower
and shampooed my hair.

It is one thing to dislike smoking.
It is another to be medically allergic to it.

I'm crossing my fingers that I don't come down with
bronchitis next week.

[Jaycobsmom620]

I do not smoke and never have. I cannot stand the smell and nothing makes me more mad than to go into a store or somewhere with my kids and someone is standing outside the door smoking!! I mean come on, we have to walk right past them to get in, you would think they would be a little more thoughtful and MOVE!

[poohsbrana]

A new law in Tennessee passed on the 1st stating no one can smoke in any stores, eaterys, anything. Even bars for people over 21. [only a select few can.]
I know it made a lot of people mad, considering that places with smoking sections aren't there anymore. Vandy hospital, you now have to walk off their property, which is a good thing.
Any state property, even outdoors, you can't smoke.