Smoking Ban in Your city?

[scraperboy]

Yesterday Louisville passed a comprehensive smoking ban that will ban smoking from all public buildings, bars, and restaurants. The only exceptions are private homes and ironically, Churchill Downs.

Anyways, does your city have a smoking ban? If so, for how long have you had it, and does it ban smoking everywhere or does it allow for exemptions?

[lammius]

My entire state has an indoor smoking ban in public buildings. I love it and most people I know (even many smokers) do too.

[Xusein]

The whole state of Connecticut has a smoking ban in public places.

Only businesses with less than 5 employees are exempt...

[Bay2Bay]

California has been smoke free for years. When the state first went smoke free we were mocked. Now, other places are tripping over each other to catch up to us.

[bob rulz]

I think smoking is banned in all public buildings in Utah. I have no idea how long it's been in effect. It's nice walking in to a restaraunt and not always being asked "smoking or non-smoking?"

[-Corey-]

In San Diego beaches and parks will become no-smoking zones after the City Council voted to ban the practice, citing public health and the environment.

[Justadude]

I'd like a ban on heavy automobile exhaust in public places. I'm pretty sure that's going to give me cancer before the second-hand cigarrette smoke does.

[ReddAlert]

Dumb. The business owner should be the one who chooses...not the government.

[Bay2Bay]

Originally Posted by ReddAlert

Dumb. The business owner should be the one who chooses...not the government.

Second hand smoke is a legitimate health concern. OSHA and state health departments should do their job and put in place public smoking bans, just as they enforce other safety hazards, instead of punting this issue to politicians.

[wheelingman]

Wheeling has a smoking ban.

[scraperboy]

So thats it? As I understand it, many large cities do not have a smoking ban. I know Chicago doesnt. How about Atlanta? Dallas? Houston? Lets here it people!

[gaviidae]

Parts of the Twin Cities area have smoking bans, but it's far from unified and the laws change from county to county and city to city.

Hennepin County bans smoking in all establishments that sell more food than liquor, although at one time the ordinance covered bars as well, but was recently and controvertially lifted after outrage from bar owners over steep losses in business.

The city of Minneapolis and the suburbs of Golden Valley and Bloomington have bans indepedent from Hennepin County which ban smoking in all indoor areas, including bars, and in some cases outdoor dining is covered as well.

Adjacent Ramsey County (St. Paul) bans smoking only in restaurants after witnessing the detrimental effects it had on bars Hennepin County.

Several other cities have smoking bans in Minnesota, too, but in my opinion I think we should just make the entire state smoke-free and get it over with.

[ArchiTennis]

I just moved to Houston and was told that there IS a smoking ban in restaurants and bars...but almost every place I've been to, I see people smoking! - that's a good thing, I smoke too-

[scraperboy]

Originally Posted by gaviidae

Parts of the Twin Cities area have smoking bans, but it's far from unified and the laws change from county to county and city to city.

Hennepin County bans smoking in all establishments that sell more food than liquor, although at one time the ordinance covered bars as well, but was recently and controvertially lifted after outrage from bar owners over steep losses in business.

The city of Minneapolis and the suburbs of Golden Valley and Bloomington have bans indepedent from Hennepin County which ban smoking in all indoor areas, including bars, and in some cases outdoor dining is covered as well.

Adjacent Ramsey County (St. Paul) bans smoking only in restaurants after witnessing the detrimental effects it had on bars Hennepin County.

Several other cities have smoking bans in Minnesota, too, but in my opinion I think we should just make the entire state smoke-free and get it over with.

I was actually talking about core cities here. What is the situation in minneapolis PROPER?

In Louisville (includes Jefferson County), currently smoking is banned in all restuarants that do not make more than 25% of slaes on liquor. Obviously this exempts all bars and lounges. However, a COMPREHENSIVE smoking ban passed the other day. By next July, the entire city will ban smoking in every indoor building except private homes and Churchill Downs. Many of our suburban counties are moving to pass bans, with Jeffersonville (Clark county in Indiana) being a leader. It looks like Oldham County, KY and its many suburbs like Crestwood and La Grange are next. It may be awhile before other metro counties join the ban.

[Chicagoago]

Chicago just banned smoking in the womb

[Avian001]

Originally Posted by scraperboy

I was actually talking about core cities here. What is the situation in minneapolis PROPER?

He answered your question. Read it again.

[Promiscuous Boy]

I'm not sure but I think Pennsylvania does have a smoking ban on public places, or at least where I live they do!

[AndySocks]

I don't know if it's statewide, but at least all the counties of of southeastern NY do, including NYC.

[SRG]

Oklahoma (you may have heard of OKC and Tulsa before) has been breathing smoke-free for about a year and a half. We had one of the more interesting smoking laws, that I think Texas tried to copy cat--where places could have smoking sections, but they must be sealed off from the rest of the restaurant, and must be served by a seperate AC/Heating and ventilation system.

[eweezerinc]

That was what Louisville did with its first ban, but I think this new one throws out the closed off sections. Its a rather dumb idea cause who wants to be isolated in a little box just so they can puff their cig?..