Weed

[MrSkeptic]

As for the public smoking ban... I think business owners should be allowed to make the decision of whether or not smoking can happen in their establishment, and patrons can decide if they want to go there based upon that. Here we can smoke in bars, but not restaurants serving primarily food. It took away from the dining experience for me, and now I rarely eat out. My friend, who has owned a restaurant for the last 16 years has reported a 30% average decrease in business since this all went down, and while he is not a smoker, and does not like the smell either, he wishes the government would let him decide what goes on in his place.

I completely agree. Blanket bans are silly in my opinion (I am a smoker so there is probably a little bias in that opinion!). It should be up to the proprietor if they want to allow smoking on their premises. Here in England pubs (the staple of British life!) are closing at record rates since the smoking ban. People want to enjoy a cigarette with their pint without having to stand outside in the freezing weather. On the odd occasion I go out I am forever going backwards and forwards from my table to the outside smoking area and it totally ruins the mood! The government is even considering legislation to ban smoking in cars, even if one is by themselves!

Don't get me wrong, I am a considerate smoker, I never expose my kids to my habit and will not smoke around non-smokers unless they specify it doesn't bother them.