Will the smoking ban placed in New Jersey businesses hinder our civil liberties in the future?
543985
YES, I think it will. This is ONLY the BEGINNING of the end. OUR DICTATORSHIP GOVERNMENT that we have presently and the people who support these bans WILL not realize how bad these bans are until it is too late. And that will only happen when something is banned that they happen to like. BUT unfortunately it will be too late.
507034
Smoke free patios are the next wave, although the smokers will claim their rights are being violated (what else is new?)  I would like to enjoy the outdoor patios during the summer, but with the smokers flocking to them and puffing away on their dirty, smelly habit, it makes them an unattractive location to enjoy a meal or some drinks.\n\nAmazes me how smokers don't get it.  Smell your closets on a nice rainy day.  Will you ever understand that blowing your smoke in public places is inconsiderate and subjects others to your unpleasant odor (and rudeness).\n\nSuccessful lawsuits against smokers and establishments are just a matter of time.
740868
Boy this forum just got polluted by anti-smokers, offering "words of encouragement", but they are just veiled statements of their preference.\n\nBar business really does hurt when bans are forced and nonsmoking is not the choice of the owner. Owners do make choices to be nonsmoking when they know their clientele demands it. It just depends on your clientele. However, at this time, there is NO CHOICE for the private business owner in this land of supposed liberty.\n\n"Studies" showing business improvement when a ban is FORCED on a business are full of cherry picked data including everything from CARRY OUT receipts to McDonald's to 5 star restaurants. There has never been a study for stand alone bars.\n\nSmokefree lobbyists offer hollow promises of "business improvement", but that is all they are. Promises. Columbus bars have taken such a hit and made many cutbacks including reduced hours and waitstaff, cutting out live entertainment, etc.. to just survive.\n\nColumbus bars also immediately built patios.What does that tell you? The clientele they want to keep INCLUDE the smokers. However, smokers resent having to go outside in the cold and being treated like some neo Jim Crow experiment and generally do not patronize bars in the winter months.\n\nIf you serve food, you may be able to salvage something concerning all of this.\n\nI am SO sorry I cannot be more positive about this, especially since you seem like a very nice person who is new to the bar business. I simply cannot and will not sugar coat the situation, though as that would not be kind either.\n\nI have seen my business drop ever since the Columbus ban went into effect, it was immediate and it has not recovered. I took my bands out of town and did well in the bars, but now that option looks very bleak also.\n\nYou will have to be creative on this one until another repeal comes up, just as I was forced to do and will have to think through yet another plan with this statewide antismoking wrench thrown in the mix. \n\nPerhaps you should consider even "going underground". The reason why not many bars have closed in Columbus is many are not following the ban and are just paying the fines. I am sure Smokefree Ohio being the fanatics they are have put in some stiffer fines knowing that a good deal of Columbus bars told Smokefree Columbus to rightfully go directly to hell.\n\nThe ones that have closed generally do not make the local papers as the media is biased toward the antismoking side.\n\nBars must join together again to get some exemptions. Don't worry antis, you will have many smokefree choices as you do now with a partial repeal of this draconian law. Forcing your will on ALL the businesses in Ohio was not wanted and was not appreciated.\n\nI hope you were aware before of this possibility of Issue 5 passing and promoted Issue 4. If not, please be informed when the next repeal vote comes up. It is your business.\nI am not assuming you didn't know, but I have run into bar owners and bowling alley owners in different areas of the state that ignored this thinking it could never happen.\n\nIt did, but with only 8%+ of the votes needed to pass. Plus the election turnout wasn't 100%. There is still hope. Get busy, talk to your alcohol vendors and see if they have a plan in place yet to help you weather the storm until Ohio wakes up and says "no" to fascism and social engineering of people who choose to use a legal product.\n\nBut you will never see an antismoking lobbyist in favor of what would really solve the problem. Making tobacco illegal would "level the playing field". As it is now, the antismoking cartel are just playing with private business owners livelihoods while gathering a comfortable paycheck. They will never favor tobacco prohibition as they would have to find an honest job.
665734
I am all for the smoking ban. I used to smoke, and even then, when I smoked, I was right behind the ban. It is not fair that non smokers should have to inhale smoke, and I think the arguement of 'well, just don't go into a pub then' is horrible. It is penalising the non smokers, not the smokers! \n\nBut by all means, puff away in your own home. Freedom to do what you want I say, unless it hurts others.
348524
I would but NO. And why? By keeping it illegal I think they are just trying to make a private thing. Ya know, people complain about the second hand smoke from cigs could you imagine the mass witch fest that would go on because of that & the fact o contact buzzes. Then wht about the job market? Don't already have enough problems with drunk driving too? It does sound great but the reality is just to impracticle. Maybe you are fine & still live life happily but many others would not. I just say becareful when you have it in tow & I do what you like in private. I've seriously thought about it.... More than once. The cops really don't bother anyone, people are just gonna be at the wrong place at the wrong time & catch the heat. That's just life. Most smokers aren't really winning at the game of life, really most of them aren't.... I guess there's just some it works for & say cool!
314600
Propose bills that would allow landlords to NOT allow their tenants to smoke in the units.\nMake cigarettes SO expensive because of taxes that people would NOT buy them.\nAsk family members of people who passed from lung cancer or other smoking related deaths to allow the family member's images be used for a nationwide commerical, targeting smokers.\nInstitute fines for not disposing of cigarette butts properly.
901671
Once the liberals have made smoking illegal,[which in some cities it has been and people are getting arrested in Omaha,Ne for smoking in public now],and they are trying to ban guns,they are now going after the beverage industry ie.coca cola and the fatty food police are working on suing Kraft,Nabisco and other companies for the fat content in their foods.And who wants govt in our private lives?Its not the republicans policing fat foods,but we do have common sense.In other words,once they ban the smoking and fire arms,they will start taxing coca cola and hostess twinkies at 2 dollars a six pack or serving.Just watch in a few years,it will happen.
409257
The Nazis launched a major anti-tobacco campaign that is so clsoe to the current anti-tobacco campaign in America that it is scary.  Propoganda everywhere and the complete disregard for individual liberties.  America seems to be headed down a dangerous road with this one.\n\nSee, freedom is freedom....even if it is a freedom that you don't exercise - or more important one that you disagree with.
870228
Private clubs ARE exempt from this law; unfortunately, they have to operate as non-profits which you will NOT be able to do with your bar. There are very few loopholes if you read the full text (available at http://www.smartvoter.org/2006/11/07/oh/state/issue/5/). \n\nYour best bet is going to be to open up (or add on, if you have to) an outdoor patio that meets the requirements of this stupid law, and get a nice outdoor heater or two for winter. Maybe put up a roof with a tv or speakers (depending on your gimmick - tv if you broadcast sports games, speakers if you've got live music, you can pump it outside.) It will cost a little money initially but I bet you'll bring in more business if you have a somewhat comfortable and entertaining place for the smokers year-round.\n\nTo the last person: this new law goes beyond smoking. It's telling business owners how to run their personal businesses. It is NOT illegal to smoke. If most people don't want to be in a smoky bar, let them vote with their feet and not go there. I live in Ohio and there are bars near me that are non-smoking by the owner's choice. Some restaurants are completely non-smoking - owner's choice. If you don't like seeing people drinking, respond by not hanging out in bars - NOT by banning alcohol.\n\n(Voted against issue 5, needless to say!!)
798613
I'm still not sure why smoking was banned in public places like restaurants and bars. Non smoker have had their non smoking areas with fans, wasn't that enough? I guess not. People just want to dictate what others do so they can get their way. If non a smokers right were seemingly violated they would and do get their way. How about smoker's rights?
141942
I was in Ireland last year and I loved the smoking ban. I realize that many like to smoke, but the smoke effects all. The pub life was much more enjoyable than previous visits. The smokers that complain the loudest are just not being reasonable towards others. They can go outside and smoke if it is that important to them.
984372
I think smoking is a personal choice.  I used to smoke and I quit, but I still believe this is a free country and what people do in their homes/cars etc. is their business as long as it's not hurting anyone else.  Second hand smoke is annoying, however, if I don't want to experience it, I don't go into places where there is a lot of smokers or bad ventilation.  I don't think it's fair to try and regulate everything because this is still the United States.  Not to mention, what do you think they will move to next?
243072
There is no right answer for this question...banning smoking and drinking in public is no more or less an infringement of civil liberty than allowing it is.\n\nYou ban it, the people who are bothered by smoke and would rather not see people drinking in public are vindicated, you allow it and those who indulge reap the benefits.\n\nPublic drinking is illegal in most parts of the US where I live and frankly I think that law was put in place for those who would abuse that civil liberty.  Look at Pre-Katrina New Orleans.  Public drinking is legal in the French Quarter...even almost encouraged with the myriad open air bars, take out places serving alcoholic beverages, etc.  As a result, you often have people who have overindulged roaming the streets, disturbing other people and engaging in various kinds of unnacceptable behavior.  The law in that case would have been effected for them...the ones with no control.\n\nThe smoking ban on the other hand was put in place in my opinion because of the connections scientists are making between second hand smoke and various cancers.  If an actual, solid connection can be made, I'm 100% certain that thousands of lawsuits, if not more, will be brought against various venues that once allowed smoking indoors by people afflicted with cancer who frequented those venues...particularly lung.\n\nIn some ways I think the smoking ban was created to help curb some future lawsuits as well as protect public health.
225694
I think we are drowning in our political correctness in the U.S. It is not only unfair the way smokers are treated, it is unethical and unpatriotic.  Even if we disagree with it, people have the right to be stupid in this country...it's a constitutional right as a matter of fact. I also believe that it interferes with the free-market system we are supposed to have when business owners cannot decide whether or not they want their establishment to be smoking or non....if only  people would remember that you have the choice not to patronize that same establishment...and if it hurts business, then the free-market system will take effect and that business owner will change his policy.  BUT THAT IS THEIR RIGHT AND THEIR POLICY TO CHANGE...not the government.  I do believe that some smokers are inconsiderate but that doesnt mean it should be legislated.  \n\nThis whole business is just a slippery slope that is leading us closer to George Orwell's novel "1984".  Why stop at smoking. Why not tell all fat people that it is against the law to overeat, because it's for their own good and their obese bodies are offensive to skinny people who want to enjoy life without looking at your grotesque figure. Or why don't we tell people who do extreme sports that they can't do that, because it's too dangerous.  \n\nI think it is deplorable that we are allowing the government to rule or personal lives.  Terrorism is not the biggest enemy of the U.S.....COMPLACENCY IS!
231379
These states ban smoking in restaurants and bars: Calfornia, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey (casinos exempted), Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Montana banned smoking in restaurants - bars are exempt till 2009. South Dakota had a ban - status unknown.
801439
your rights end where another persons rights begin.  smokers should have the right to smoke and you should have the right to not smoke.  \n\nnon smoking restaurant rules in florida has caused heavy financial damage to places late night smokers used to visit -- like dennys.  \nbars don't have such rules in florida because bars like to cater to smokers.  if they didn't allow smoking then they would lose too many customers.  vices go with other vices -- smoking, drinking, eating grease in the middle of the night -- etc etc etc.\n\nif you want a bar that caters to nonsmokers than open one -- it is your right.  don't expect it to stay around long.  most states in the west have lots of non-smoking bars if you feel the urge to go out clubbing in smoke free atmospheres you can head for new mexico.
818161
None. don't want to litter. I thought the best protest would be purchasing cigarettes from a state which doesn't have a smoking ban. Have to travel about an hour but gee at least that other state without smoking bans will be getting my cigarette taxes. Imagine if every smoker did that? Might have to purchase a few cartons at a time but let the state feel the lack of smoking dollars.