What are the laws in your state?
Illinois just passed a now smoking ban in bars and restaurants.
Why are are they legal if you can't smoke them anywhere?

(Mods-delete if you think question is not appropriate.)

Our laws are the same...just went into effect the other day.

Why are they legal, indeed!

As harmful as they are, I don't think making cigarettes illegal would be a great idea, if Prohibition and the "Drug Wars" are any example. That doesn't mean that "anywhere, anytime" should apply. It's perfectly legal to run around naked in your own home, but generally not so in public. Owning a horse is legal, but taking one onto city streets or into restaurants and stores, not so much. Drinking is allowed in restaurants and bars, but in many areas not allowed on the streets (where smoking generally is allowed).

same thing passed here, I believe...

Smoking in bars and restaurants in California has been illegal for about 10 years. With some rare exceptions, for example, if a restaurant is considered to be "open-air" -- it might permit smoking. Makes sense to me that California would be the first or one of the first to have this law since much of the state has pleasant weather most of the year; it is not like the smokers are banished to the blizzard outside to smoke. Most of the smokers I know here accept it well, and don't mind going outside to smoke. It keeps everybody happy. Most of the smokers I know don't smoke inside where they live either; it has become an outdoor patio activity. In Illinois I can see where it might meet with more resistance -- BRRR! But as far as I can tell it seems to work well here.

Hawaii has just CELEBRATED the one year anniversary of the smoking ban:
No smoking allowed in enclosed or partially enclosed facilities (owned by the state or counties); open to the public (this includes private business); places of employment. Private homes used for childcare, adultcare or health care facilities are considered places of employment. In Hawaii airports from cabin to curb; within 20 feet from doorways, windows, ventilation intakes for prevention of secondhand smoke drifting into enclosed areas. No smoking in enclosed or partially enclosed and seating areas of sports arenas, outdoor arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters.

All above info taken from hawaii.gov/health/healthy-lifestyles/tobacco/resources/documents/Hawaii%20Smoke%20Free%20Law%20Overview.pdf

I am 100% for this law and am breathing easier because of it. In fact, I had a really hard time adjusting to the casinos in Las Vegas where smoking is allowed. I think this law is great, although enforcement is not always easy to do.

It's been two years for us for resturaunts,
One year for bars and pubs and other "smoking establishments"
Just this year, no more smoking in bingo halls or casinos (except for the Native reserves... which is really ticking off city casino owners).
No more smoking on outdoor balconies of a public place (resturaunt, business, malls etc)

You must stand 10 metres from an entrance to a building, bus or transit platform to smoke outdoors (of course, I always have... I respect non smokers). Many parks are now "smoke free". And stores have 2 months to get rid of their "power wall" no more displaying cigarettes, or tobacco products of any kind. They can still sell, just can't allow their products to show. By March 1st, if any stores have any tobacco products showing, they'll be fined.

Oh yes, it's also illegal to smoke in your car if you have a passenger 18 years of age or under.

5 years ago, a pack of smokes went from $5.50 a pack to almost $10.

I agree with kaplods. Here in NY, smoking's been banned pretty much all of the place except balcony/patios/sidewalks portions of bars/restaurants, private homes, cars and on the street. Though they are considering banning smoking in cars if there are minor children in the car. It took effect citywide in 2003 and statewide later that same year.

I have asthma and smoking has sometimes triggered breathing trouble in the past. I've had to cut a number of nights short before the ban because I had trouble breathing with the smoke. So for me, it's worked out well. We all have our vices, and as an overeater, I'm not going to lecture smokers on what they should or shouldn't do about their health, but no one has a right to impose their vices on anyone else (2nd hand smoke). I find most smokers to be pretty considerate anyway, but the law helps with the handful who aren't.

I live in Jersey. New York was first (in my area) to ban smoking in public places and then Jersey shortly followed. I'm not a smoker, so I am happy for the ban.

Edited to say: You can smoke in casinos in Atlantic city...in designated areas only.

I don't know how long it's been in effect here, but you can't smoke here in ANY public buildings. One county even had talk of making smoking outside your own home illegal...including in your own car IF your windows were down or you had a child in the car with you. Don't know what happened with that.

about three years ago, calgary alberta made it illegal to smoke in a building where minors were allowed. Then the was modified to state that at resturants you could smoke INSIDE in designated areas but not on the patio. About a year ago smoking was banned, except in bingos. Smoking is now banned in all public establishments province wide.

I'm all for it. I'm a non smoker and I worked in a smoking resturant for years and I constantly had lung problems. It was awful.

We've had the smoking ban in restaurants for quite a while, but starting in 2009 all places of employment (meaning BARS) will ban smoking. I think some places have filed for exemptions...there is a microbrew near here that on their property they have a "cigar shack". It is a tiny bar completely separate...its across a parking lot from the other bar that is purely cigars and scotch. I dont know if they will get their exemption or not. I hope not, because if they do, other places will file and we'll be right back where we started.

I have heard pushes to ban smoking in homes and cars where children are present, but I dont think those laws will get very far...the rights of the parents to give their kids asthma and worse seem to trump the rights of the kids not to get it.

Spinymouse was right about the decade long California ban on smoking inside public buildings (restaurants, clubs, etc.). CA has gone further than that in recent years as well. It's illegal to smoke within 20 feet of the doors and operable windows of state owned buildings (such as airports, libraries, etc.). Also, this year a new law went into effect banning smoking within a vehicle containing minor children. Several CA cities have banned smoking in public places like sidewalks and parks all together. Basically, if you're a smoker in California you get segregated.

I live in NY as well, and I just wanted to add that you can smoke indoors at casinos. I believe that certain bars/restaurants can get a smoking permit if they prove that the smoking ban has significantly hurt their business, or something to that effect. Locally one bar was recently shut down because of repeated smoking violations, and there has been a lot of outrage on both sides of the story.

I'm a smoker, but not for long (today is my last day!) and I was never opposed to the bans, even when I smoked a ton. I can't smoke in my own house, so I have to go outside, and it's freezing. That's a little part of my motivation to quit.