Yay, I guess I will travel to MD to eat more often now until PA follows suit.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaysto...amp;format=html

I agree. There are bars and restaurants we really like, but have been avoiding due to the smoke inside (i.e. the Corner Pub, etc.). We look forward to being able to go out more!

Come on over Wrangler. This will only be inforce for awhile then it will not matter. Like any other law on the books.

With a sig like yours I'd have thought you'd be more "free market" guy than a supporter of another nanny-state law, Chip.

All I can say is YAY! Theres a rumor that City Hospital in Martinsburg is suppose to go smoke free sometime this year! I guess following Fredreck Hospital. No smoking by any employee on the grounds and no smoking by the public on the grounds. It'll be great. No smoke screen to go thru to get inside the front doors

While I believe free market forces generally lead to positive outcomes, I think unconstrained free market forces can have dangerous consequences and often fail to take into account externalities that shift individual costs onto society as a whole.

But mainly, I just don't like smoky bars.

You know, this is one of those issues where I'm sort of in the middle, just on the basis of how practically inconsequential it is. I don't think it's the government's business to ban smoking in privately owned businesses. If we've decided smoking cigarettes is that bad, let's ban them altogether. Otherwise, leave it up to the owner of the restaurant or bar or whatever.

At the same time, I can't really complain about more smoke-free places to eat. Smokers who cry foul because they say anti-smoking laws abridge personal freedom have really picked a poor place to fight that battle. I agree with them in theory, but it's hard for me to get excited about smoking as a civil right, especially since it's such an incredibly pointless and stupid thing to do.

One draw back to this new law is that it will mean everyone will have to walk through a gauntlet of smokers standing in the entrance way when entering a restaurant. At least when they are in the back of the restaurant, they are off in their own little world.

I'm glad I quit a while back. I noticed Wal-Mart is now selling a carton of Marlboro reds for $58. Ouch.

Yup--it will be no different than being in the office--walk thru the smoking area just in front of the doors to go in/out. Poor smokers--they freeze, sweat, get wet..I actually do feel rather bad for them..

I don't smoke but I find the law very offensive. If a person works hard to start a business and puts all of his money, blood, sweat and tears into running it, why in the world should the all knowing state of Maryland have the power to say what that person can allow in their business? I can understand banning things that are illegal to buy, but come on. I think a far better idea is to have businesses just post on the door whether they allow smoking or not and then people have the choice of whether they want to enter or not. Heard they are asking people to rat out businesses that don't comply. That is an uh no on my part.

All they should need is a big sign above the front door, Smoking Permitted.

But this Maryland.

After talking to one bar owner. He said you would have to be 15 ft. from the doorway to smoke. You still have to pass by the smoke. I agree with a sign at the door Smoking or none smoking.
I chew snuff once in awhile no band on that (yet).

Has anybody ever noticed how many cigarette butts litter the ground at major intersections? Next time you are driving east on Dual Highway and you are sitting at the light on Eastern, take a look to the side of the road. It is covered with butts. I don't understand why people can't just use the ashtray in their car. When I smoked, I never tossed the butt out the window. Seemingly everyone does now. When I drive to work in the mornings on 81, it's like a light show with the amount of people throwing smokes out the window. Why is this?

To annoy self-righteous pricks like you.

Back to the Beatitudes for me.

Way to be such a shinning example of Christianity.

Just for you Bent, just for you.

Did anyone notice that this bill also includes your personal car if there is a child in the car...
Now I don't smoke when my daughter is in my truck, but I think it is going way to far when they decide what you can do in your own vehicle...

no, i think you read it wrong... it said "Private cars where children are publicly transported or day care and health care vehicles must also be smoke-free under the ban."

so like if you use your car for daycare and such... not your own kid...

Patton, please control your language on here. Calling other posters derogatory names is against the guidelines under personal attacks.

And a reminder to others, please, let's keep the discussions civil and on-topic as much as possible. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.

So we're still free to suffocate our own kids. That's a relief.

Private vehicle, to me covers all of them if transporting children. Not just child care or what ever.

In South Myrtel Beach one of the areas now has NO Smoking in public buildings or outside. Not even on your deck or porch of a rental unit. You must be indoors or in your car.
So if you smoke and plan on going the MB this summer. You better check the local laws.

no, it SPECIFICALLY SAID if your PRIVATE vehicle is being used for PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OF CHILDREN.

not "you cant smoke in your own car with your own kid".

i think its for like, social workers, foster care, medical transport etc.

I think that is overstepping some boundries. If someone told me I couldn't smoke on my own private deck, I would tell them where they could shove my smoke.

Wow! Finally! A liberal law that Phish doesn't like! !

I will never agree with any law that tries to tell you what you can and cannot do with your own body.

Well.................it IS the People's Republic of Maryland!

Honestly.........no smoking on your porch?????

siriunsun,
That law for none smoking in public & on the decks is in S. Carolina Myrtel Beach.
Not in MD, SO Far. Give it time they will add more to it.

Oh no!!!!!

A Public, and a Private slap on the wrist.

I think I'll go PRICK myself on the finger and see if the pin PRICK bleeds!

insert mickey rooney "diabeeeetus" here...





anyway... i cans ee how the smoking ban can be appreciated... i was a waitress for years and i did not smoke.. yet i was breathing it in all night... now of course, the same thing can come of being around friends who smoke, BUT when you are a server etc, you cant exactly ask your table patrons not to smoke when youre around. maybe they should have some sort of outdoor smoking pavillions or something? so smokers arent exposed to the elements...

See you in a week.

WOW, WHAT A MOD. GOTTA THIS GUY.

The less I smoke, the better. Bring on the bans.

That does not mean that I don't hate you for it.

So, it's war if they tell ya ya can't smoke on your deck, but it is just fine if they tell you you can't have a loaded gun in your own home, is that right?

You know how I feel about gun control, just like I know you're a rootin tootin member of the NRA. Do you really want to go off topic in this thread?

There's a difference in the government telling me something I can't do when it only impacts me, and nobody else. I think it's only smart the government set restrictions on something that has the ability to take away life in only an instant. I think owning something that powerful should only be in the hands of a strict few instead of given out like candy on the corner.

I know you whole heartedly disagree and this is a topic you and I will never agree on so I suggest we drop it here and continue to discuss the topic of the thread.

Heather - You trying to quit? Good for you! It's super tough, but a lot easier if you're not allowed to smoke in the bars.

It is a personal freedom issue, so I think it was an appropriate post.

I feel bad for the few smokers that actually respect nonsmokers. But I see alot that throw them out the window or just drop them to the ground or empty their ashtrays onto the ground at stop lights to. For this reason a couple of bad seeds will ruin it for the rest.

I never understood smoking and nonsmoking sections. You usually have to walk through the smoking section to get to the so called nonsmoking section. I mean its not like smoke knows it can't go in that section.

I'm a smoker, The Goverment can stick the bann, well you know where.
I'll just travel out of Maryland. I don't have to spend my money in this state.
I sure don't have to go to bars here either. But of course I'm just one person.

I don't see why it couldn't of been left up to the Owners, but no that's not good enough.

You all non smokers better make up for the lost in income that comes from the smokers. So Drink Up.

Clean Air Act my b*tt.

So what state still alouds smoking in Bars? I want to know, just may pay them a visit.
I can get my cousin to take me, she don't drink. She can drink and I'll drink.

Actually, places that have already enacted similar smoking bans say business increases. People are more likely to go to a bar if they don't have to worry about smelling like an ashtray by the time they they leave.

This Govenor took care of that already. He raised taxes.

I have been watching this whole argument with interest.

The government keeps increasing the taxes on cigarettes with the abysmal promise that it will pay for the medical treatment they(smokers) require. So now they increased a buck a pack recently.

But at the same time the government then passes Bans on Smoking.

With this logic, we'll soon be taxing a very small segment of the population and then won't they be a 'protected minority class'---and turn the tables on us? They could claim to be discriminated against and then be allowed to smoke when and where ever they want?

I think this cause needs an AL SHarpton type to bring it to the attention of the media morons..

Yeah the whole lawsuit business has gone downhill since Johnny Cochran died.

They aren't being discriminated against because of the color of their skin or the number of arms their favorite god has. If they are being treated differently, it's because of an activity they choose to partake in. They choose to smoke.

It's not even so much as having the freedom to smoke. It seems that smokers want the freedom to smoke around people that don't smoke.

Hopefully, the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars along with the recent hike in cigarette taxes will encourage more people to stop. If not, I only hope I wont have to walk through a crowd of smokers when I want to go into a restaurant.

Careful with that argument--What about obese people? They are considered an upcoming minority these days--and their main argument is that they did not 'choose' to be fat...

there's some dude in mississippi ( repub. rep who is obese himself) trying to make it illegal for restaurants to serve obese people. no joke. http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/heal...D.No.Serve.Law/

Who considers fat people a minority? Personally, I think we are getting to be the majority.

I don't care how much they raise the taxes on cigarettes in Maryland. I don't have to do business in this state, nothing said's smokers have to spend there money in the state they live in. I may have a nasty habit, but it's my nasty habit.

They want the right to smoke if they choose to in a bar/restaurant whose owner chooses to allow smoking. No one ever forced you or any other non-smoker to be around those that smoke. You could choose to not go to bars that allow smoking. Businesses could decide which group they wanted to cater to. But apparently MD owners of bars and restaurants have no idea what their customers want.

That about the way I feel. Why can't we have both.

Since I'm a smoker. Like I said before, I won't go into a place that doesn't allow smoking, but that's my choice.
Since most places didn't allow you to smoke anyhow, I didn't have a problem with that. As far as restaurants
goes, I didn't want to sit in a restaurant and someone next to me is smoking while I'm eating. No I didn't like that.

But when I go out to a bar, I want to be able to smoke and drink a few beers.
I'll just go else where now. I'm sure other smokers will follow.

It should of been up to the Owner to make that choice.

Liberals often seem to be better able to make personal choices for you than you are for yourself...

That is not just a Liberal trait - conservatives are just as guilty of making personal choices for you. Especially if you are a woman, or if you are gay, then they can tell you who you should or should not marry.

SweetLiberty - as far as I know, you can still smoke in most bars in PA, except if you come to Philly, where it is banned.