Glad to be back home where the smokers aren't allowed while dining. I could really care less what people do unless it affects me and smoking affects not only the smoker but everyone around him. When will all states pass anti-smoking laws? The way I see it is a smoker has a choice to go outside and grab a smoke. What choice does a nonsmoker have - to take his meal out front to eat? Aren't we there to dine? I can't be the only one out there fed up about this and I'm sure there's plenty of you smokers who can't wait to give it to me. Bring it on.

Just stop yer bitchin and move to Californy.

Just think cough, not only do you get to breathe toxic second-hand smoke now, you will have the privilege of supporting Winston and others like him/her when they are on Meicare and dying of smoke-related diseases!

The tobacco industry, in partnership with the oil and insurance industries, owns the Republican Party. Their lackeys are called "Republican candidates." Use your vote to tell them what you think of their corporate representatives, oops, candidates. Haven't you ever noticed that the most staunchly Republican states also allow the most public smoking? It's no coincidence.

Just think, if the founders of this country had raised cocoa plants instead of tobacco, cocaine would be the legal drug of choice!

I for one am grateful every smokefree meal that I live in the state of California. Even our bars are smokefree!

my biggest exposure to stinky cigarette smoke now comes mainly when I'm in my car! (I live in Calif).

I've noticed that nearly all smoking drivers, like to smoke with all their windows down, & their cigarette arm hanging out the window.

If it smells & tastes so "good", why are they always hanging their cigarette out the window? You'd think they'd roll the windows up so they could concentrate the "aroma" in the confined space.

As 'Agent Smith' would say to 'Morpheus', "you humans have this
ssstench, a ssstink-k-k ...."

Tom - How true is your comment about the smokers hanging their cigarettes out the window? I can always smell when the person in front of me is driving and smoking with the window down. I also have the pleasure of living in California. So I can enjoy eating and breathing at the same time. It is frustrating when travelling and not being afforded that same comfort. Maybe one day.

And while we're bitching in unison, how about the car smokers who routinely finish a cigarette and THROW IT ON THE GROUND!! I'm so tempted sometimes, when I see this at a stoplight, to run over and pick up the butt and hand it back with a "Here, I think you dropped this".

down with the dirties.

What does this have to do with travel? Take it elsewhere...this garbage doesn't belong here.

Write your senator, find some friends to complain with...you're boring the rest of us.

Marnie, you seem to be the only bored one here. It sounded to me as if the original poster just got back from a trip where he/she encountered this problem he/she normally doesn't encounter "back home." Sounds related to travel to me.

This country was founded on tobacco. It's as american as apple pie. Love it or leave it sissy.

Why is it that smokers think they should have any rights when it comes to endangering the lives of others??? There are laws that prohibit people from drinking and driving. Why? Because innocent people can be killed. Its time for the same thing to happen with smoking all over the country. Every one should be able to live, travel freely without the risk of dying because of some careless person with an addiction.

Talk about self-rightous. Let's just wipe out everyone.

"I'm sure there's plenty of you smokers who can't wait to give it to me. Bring it on"

Now, now, is that any way to behave? Get some manners, my dear.

From past experience on this board I was expecting an uproar because of my opinion. Nice to see there's many more who agrre with me than disagree.

Thanks to us smokers your taxes are lower. If we all quit, you would be the first ones to bitch. YOUR taxes would go sky high. Why isn't smoking illegal because it's unhealthy? Give me a break. Well then, lets outlaw McDonald's and Burger King, et. al. How about motorcycles. Those can be dangerous/deadly. Same with automobiles, boats, pesticides on our fruits and vegetables, air pollution, auto emissions. Get a grip you guys!

Yeah, kate, I guess that's why individual states sued the federal government to recover tax money spent on medical care for dying smokers -- because the smokers funded their own illnesses - NOT. Smokers cost U.S. taxpayers far more in medical care than they give back in paltry cigarette taxes.

FYI, smoking is not illegal because the founders of this country were tobacco farmers. If they'd been marijuana farmers we'd have legal potheads instead. Tobacco is the only consumer product out there that will used as directed, will kill you.

Hi all.

I believe that there should be plenty of non-smoking restaurants and bars for those people who wish to be in a smoke-free environment. However for those who smoke/aren't bothered, I think there should be restaurants and bars for them to go to as well. For those who despise either of the above bars/restaurants, don't patronize them!

Happy travelling

Tobacco isn't the only consumer product that will kill you if used as directed. Guns do that too. But if you are shot, at least you won't stink when you die.

Gun manufacturers do not instruct you to point them at your head and blow your brains out. That's your own choice. To use a cigarette as the manufacturer intends, you put it in you mouth, light it, inhale, exhale, and repeat for 30 years until you die of lung cancer or emphysema, which ever comes first. And blowing all that second hand smoke will help ensure that you take a few people with you. It IS the only product that when used as the manufacturer directs, will kill you.