i just got back from a weeklong trip to LA and beverly hills and i must say, it is hippocritical that California would take such offense to cigarette smoking since i smelled pot eminating in the air several times while walking on rodeo drive.

A person wouldn't stick his / her head underwater and breath in why would anyone put a cigarette in his / her mouth and breath in smoke (which contains 4,000 chemicals, including cyanide). Smoking is legalized drug addiction. Drug laws were enacted because of racial prejudice. Personally - if you want to shoot up herion - go ahead - just do it in the provacy of your own home. You want to smoke - do it at home. You want to eat yourself into a early grave - go right ahead. It is your body - but do not have the right to harm my body.

A relative who smokes is visitng us this weekend, and I'm so afraid my clothes will smell like smoke after she leaves. I'm praying the weather is nice so I can ask her to smoke outside. I've been told that if you stop smoking and really kick the habit, you won't be able to believe how much cigarettes stink. And if that and your health aren't enough to get you to stop, take a look at all the money the fat cigarette company and settlement attorneys are making ... every pack you buy puts money in their pockets. So, stop whining about laws banning smoking in restaurants ... grow up and give the rest of us a break, please!

I'm sorry, I really must be stupid. I was under the impression that this was a travel forum. This was an honest question and good manners should dictate that you provide an informed response - not a tirade of opinionated pomposity.

Yes, I am a smoker but I am always as considerate as circumstances dictate. For example, if I was visiting the home of a non-smoker I wouldn't dream of smoking in the house.

However, in response, although probably not much help(!), I got round the California laws during my last trip to the States by driving to Nevada!

Marion , If you want to be polite and smoke in public spaces might I suggest putting a Hefty cinch bag over your head and tightly close it so only you have to rebreath your obnoxious fumes - it's rude of YOU to force you drug-dependent, weak-willed , personality-flawed habit.

James: Ouch!! I'm almost hurt by your comments. Almost. Ha!

Dear "L": Not only does cig revenue put money in the cig maker's pockets but it also Keeps your taxes down. Could you imagine how much more you would pay in taxes if cigarettes were outlawed? A lot!

Also, I'm an ex-smoker and smoke doesn't bother me at all. In fact, sometimes it smells good. I agree that I can now smell it on my clothes when I get home from being around smokers but then I just wash them. As simple as that. But, if you don't want your inlaws (or anyone else for that matter) smoking in your house, ask them politely not to. That is your right and there is nothing wrong with that.

Well, ex-smoker, congrats on kicking the habit ... you're to be commended, and I imagine non-smokers cannot appreciate how difficult that must be. Congrats. I must comment, however, on your contention that Federal cig tax receipts by Treasury keep our general taxation down. I'm certain in today's climate, with the debate over lowering the rates, that people understand all too well the link between revenue and budgets. It would be interesting to price out the direct and indirect costs of smoking in terms of Federal health, etc programs. You can certainly judge the impact on state programs by the settlements taking place ... these only in small part cover the historical costs of smoking-related ailments to state and local jurisdictions. What about the impact on private industry? The overall economy? I would have to think tax collected on cigarettes is a rather poor offset. Ciao

I agree with John. It has become an issue of judgement and intimidation. I was in California last year and cut my tour short. I found the non-smoking laws oppressive and down right unconstitutional! I flew back to New york and continued my tour of the states there. They too have the smoking laws but not to the ridiculous extent as Cal. Keep your smoke free hypocritical over priced establishments and rot in them! I amd many other real people WILL NOT BE BACK!

Jah> hey buddy..its 2001, get your head out of ass and smell the roses. Ten years ago you might get away with that crap about being unconstitutional, but not today...take your fithly habit outside where it belongs

Well, L, you just shot down my last misconception. I had you smoking too. gt; Dunno why, just did.

As an ex 2-3 packs/day-er, I can certainly relate to both sides of this issue. Like one poster, the smell of a lone cigarette is still something pleasurable, and even after 12 years, I'll occasionally have a longing for one. I know how difficult it is for a smoker not to smoke with drinks, or after dinner with coffee. Ouch! It takes some of the pleasure right out of it, and for those of you who've never been there, it's next to impossible.

But I also know how nice it is now, as a non-smoker, to sit and eat in smoke-free air, and how unbelievably awful some of the pubs were in London. I'm not one of these gawd-awful reformed smokers shaking fingers at those still smoking, but they absolutely were TOO much!! How my husband, always a non-smoker, put up with me, I'll never know.

And speaking of the DOW, (what, khemi, your flights on Aeroflot are impacting the DOW? So you're the culprit! heeheeheeheeoahaahaahahhhahah--help me up off the floor someone...) I must say, despite their products, I'm sure sorry I didn't buy into MO 6-12 mos ago!

So ,just keep your butts out of California, eh?

My wife is a smoker and I feel downright sorry for her at times. We love to go out for wine and we will only go to places that alloww smoking. Furthermore, after a layover in La on our way to Tahiti last year, there was no place in the hotel for her to be comfotable. Needles to say, we will not be back to California, ever for that reason. I am not a smoker but do agree with the poster (who was rudely replied to) that in a way it is unconstitutional. Our country is about CHOICE! The ability to choose an establishment that offers a smoke free environment and to CHOOSE to allow it. NOT HAVE IT DICTATED TO PEOPLE! And to the man Paul, I found your response, vulgar,low class and God help us all, IGNORANT!

Very well put Martin! My husband smokes and we are re-routing our trip to AVOID California. Let the establishments STARVE!!!!!!!! I know many of the wealthy Japanese visitors are now doing their massive spending in Las Vegas rather than California. When hotel/restaurant/bar owners are hit in the wallet---only then will they reconsider their Dictatorship laws.

Hey Paul.... why don't you take your filthy rotten mouth and find another board that dictated to stupid non-smoking slobs like you. You fool!

I must agree with the smokers in this thread. I have family from Europe coming this summer. We have canceled our week portion of our trip to California and opted for Las Vegas. After all, who is anybody to forbid us to smoke everywhere? I understand it while dining, but to not privide a lounge for after dinner drinks and smokes is a bit dictorial to us too. The absence of choice is what bothers me too as mentioned by someone above. How does a dictatorship begin> And where does it end? So i say to all of California.........TA-TA to the land of salads, white wine and BORING BARS!!!!

Newest Laws in Califonia......NO SMOKING! NO DIED BLOND HAIRED MEN AND WOMEN!!!! Uh oh, I hear the stampede coming over to our Nevada border. Quick, light up your smokes, we must use our form of citronella to repel them and stop them from ruling our state too!

Lol......that was a good one! BTW, we too are not going to Cal anymore either. We are going to Arizona instead!

"They'll none of them be missed!"

Martin> you gonna feel sorry for your wife when shes coughing up a lung, and carry her O2 bottle around for her??
Been there done that..and trust me, its no picnic. And as usual, the "smokers" in here have completely missed the point. Must be all that smoke. Its NOT you smokers that the state of Ca. is worried about..and probably not the non smokering customers, its that person on the other side of the counter serving you. They are the ones who don't have a choice. But I guess if your stupid enough to smoke, that just doesn't sink in. Like I said, take it outside.