Besides the many reasons being sick sucks … my town just went smoke-free a couple nights ago and I’m not able to go out and support my local establishments.
Actually, Urbana went smoke-free at the beginning of January and I have been enjoying the $2 pints of fresh Guinness (natch!) the last couple of Mondays at Crane Alley. Although last week some jackass was in the bathroom smoking. I don’t care if it’s cold out, dude; it’s the law! I let it slide and didn’t turn him in because I wasn’t in the mood, and I’m not a narc either.
But I really want to go support a few places in Champaign. Blind Pig, for instance, and a few others. I cannot wait to experience these places smoke-free!
It’s about time we entered the 21st century on this one. To all my smoking friends or even non-friends, I am sorry for you. But, really, too bad. You never did have a right to pollute the public environment and make others stink and, worse, sick. You only had the privilege. There are things tha others must remain at home and do. Now it’s your turn.
Thank you Champaign-Urbana for becoming an even better place to live!
Now if we can only make it through this dumbass Super Bowl thing. 
7 responses so far ↓
1 Jenica // Feb 2, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I spent three hours at a local bar this evening, for a union-sponsored happy hour (fight for my rights, and buy me drinks, too? Rock!), and it was blissfully smoke-free. It’s my favorite NY law.
2 Mark // Feb 2, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Very nice! I hope to get well soon because I *so* love reading in the bar over a few pints.
And, dangit, I just know I’ll get hit on one of these days reading Svenonius in public! Of course, maybe I should try the Bean & Green book on relationships.
3 Jeremy // Feb 4, 2007 at 6:50 pm
I agree! I encourage all communities to go smoke-free! I love this movement!
4 Leo Klein // Feb 5, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Tell your friends who smoke to stop. It’s the best thing you can do for your heath — with the least amount of effort.
I know. I was there!
5 Jason // Feb 5, 2007 at 7:26 pm
I support bans on smoking in public places, mainly because the solid majority of us don’t want to inhale others’ carcinogens. Now, as a live-and-let-live sort of person, I don’t begrudge people the right to smoke in their own homes. However, in return, I don’t want smokers to begrudge my right to breathe (relatively) clean air in public places.
In any case, I refrain from being a scold or a rat, even if I witness an “infraction.” I even let slide the waitress working on Christmas at Waffle House, who served me dinner with cigarette in hand. (She seemed frazzled enough as it was.)
6 Mark // Feb 5, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I definitely agree with folks doing what they want in their own houses. But then–not that I have an answer–I do have to say I get pretty pissed when those adults are filling the lungs of basically helpless children with all that second-hand smoke.
It’s one thing to be a consenting adult and a completely different thing to not even know what consent means or to be able to choose.
And, yes, as I said I definitely decided against ratting. One fool smoking in a stall is much better than 90% of the bar being smokers.
7 Jason // Feb 6, 2007 at 9:53 am
Yeah, the issue of children is a tough one. I’d hate to see the cops busting into someone’s house for smoking, so one can only trust that parents will exercise discretion and take it outside (and that they won’t throw butts in the yard, especially if there’s a drought).
My dad puffed Chesterfields until I was about twelve, so I lived with second-hand smoke for a while. He quit when he started hacking up blood from his lungs one day at work. I suppose Philip Morris would deny the connection, but…