Senate passes ban on smoking in bars, restaurants

The state Senate voted today to ban smoking in public places including restaurants and bars, sending the issue back to the House, which has passed a similar bill.

[yeppers]

sounds great to me!!!!

[Bobbiez]

Perfect. Just what we need to create more jobs in Michigan...more government intrusion into a business owner's decisions on what group of people he or she wants to cater to. The government has NO BUSINESS telling someone what patrons they should or should not allow in their establishments. Oh, and by the way I do not smoke, I think it is a nasty habit. However, it is a LEGAL habit. If I choose to go to non-smoking restaurants that is my CHOICE!! However, my friends who smoke should have a place to go too.

[tom]

you mean you can own/operate a bar
and your customers can't smoke...if smoking bothers you...don't go there...
..what's next, no brewski's..oh well, whatever

[beatrice]

Pretty soon the only people with rights will be the non-smokers. This is complete bee ess.

[FireGirl]

I am all for it. If they want to smoke they can go sit in their car. No need to expose non-smokers to second hand smoke.

[Kim in gr]

Ya know I grew up here and I am beginning to despise this city and state and yes I know if I don't like it I can move (easier said than done). This government in this country is so greedy and dirty and bossy it makes me sick. I will vote for no one. You have NO RIGHT to tell business owners what to do. How about we don't pay our taxes anymore and quit lining your lying cheating pockets. This is total BS, what's next alcohol ?

[Smoker]

I think the government is going too far. I am a smoker but I do not smoke in my home, or in restaurants. It doesn't bother me to wait and hour or two to have a smoke. I think most smokers respect non-smokers rights. I wish non-smokers would respect my rights. I enjoy smoking. If you don't like it. TOUGH!

[Whatever]

FireGirl wrote:

I am all for it. If they want to smoke they can go sit in their car. No need to expose non-smokers to second hand smoke.

If you don't like it, go to a smoke-free restaurant or bar or better yet, don't go to a bar at all.

[news]

Being a smoker of 25 years this habit was extremely tough to overcome. Smokers should not be allowed to risk the health of others by being allowed to light up any place they chose. If we had tighter bans on smoking years ago just maybe a lot of us would never had started.

[Baruch HaShem]

Finally someone with the strength, determination and education to understand fully how harmful and dangerous second hand smoking is, nothing ruins a good dinner then someones else smoke coming across your table.
If we are serious about the danger of smoking, then it is our responsibility as a nation to stand up against the special interest of the smoking establishments.
If people or business owners feel that this will hurt there business, they are wrong. there is more then enough statistics, studies, or examples to prove otherwise. In fact, most restaurants will find an increase in business.
Not to mention, a break in there health care cost if they offer there employees insurance. This has been long over-due.
God Bless America.

[Brian]

I think this is awsome, I think you should have a right to smoke where you want but you shouldnt have a right to smoke and put the second hand smoke on others.

[Bobbiez]

Baruch HaShem wrote:

Finally someone with the strength, determination and education to understand fully how harmful and dangerous second hand smoking is, nothing ruins a good dinner then someones else smoke coming across your table.
If we are serious about the danger of smoking, then it is our responsibility as a nation to stand up against the special interest of the smoking establishments.
If people or business owners feel that this will hurt there business, they are wrong. there is more then enough statistics, studies, or examples to prove otherwise. In fact, most restaurants will find an increase in business.
Not to mention, a break in there health care cost if they offer there employees insurance. This has been long over-due.
God Bless America.

LMAO..."the special interests of smoking establishments." More like the special interests of non-smokers. Why shouldn't the owner of an establishment be able to make their own rules?? Many restaurants have already gone non-smoking. Why don't the ones that still allow smoking have a right to do business? The government needs to get their noses out of our personal and private lives and let individuals make their own decisions.

[Fro]

I'm sick of hearing about the "rights" of smokers, and smokers telling us if we don’t like it, "go someplace else".

I do not agree with the government telling us what we can and can't do, but I'm all for this one.

[Fro]

Baruch HaShem wrote:

nothing ruins a good dinner then someones else smoke coming across your table.

Well put - I agree with you 110%!!!

[Free America]

Baruch HaShem wrote:

Finally someone with the strength, determination and education to understand fully how harmful and dangerous second hand smoking is, nothing ruins a good dinner then someones else smoke coming across your table.
If we are serious about the danger of smoking, then it is our responsibility as a nation to stand up against the special interest of the smoking establishments.
If people or business owners feel that this will hurt there business, they are wrong. there is more then enough statistics, studies, or examples to prove otherwise. In fact, most restaurants will find an increase in business.
Not to mention, a break in there health care cost if they offer there employees insurance. This has been long over-due.
God Bless America.

http://milkandcookies.com/link/101779/detail/

[Torque]

Baruch HaShem wrote:

If people or business owners feel that this will hurt there business, they are wrong. there is more then enough statistics, studies, or examples to prove otherwise. In fact, most restaurants will find an increase in business.

This is a flat-out lie, bar/restaurant closings have gone up 400% per-year in the Twin Cities area since a smoking ban was first implemented three years ago so you might want to take a look at who's conducting those studies and what their motives are.

Nice government you got over there.

Instead of concentrating on unemployment and higher-taxes they decide to inflate a non-issue and pretend they're accomplishing something when they are just going to cause more problems.

[Outraged]

This is 100% BS!!!!!Hey "non-smokers" how about next we ban all beer tents and how about bars all together..........because a drunk behind the wheel is WAY more dangerous than a "smoker"!!! It's time we stop backing little ideas like this and start concerning ourselves with REAL ISSUES......like getting jobs back and lowering gas prices. oh but im sorry,thats stupid. My bad.oh yeah and the next smoke i have ill be sure to blow a BIG cloud os smoke in a nons face!!!!!!IDIOTS!!!!

[Miracle]

I think this is going way too far. Last I checked smoking was legal in this country. The state has no right to do this to a business. We are already struggling in this state, this is going to make it a lot worse. I ask Gov. Granholm to veto these anti business anti smokers rights bills.

BTW I do not smoke, can't stand it.

[It is Me]

OMG! Seriously, it's about time. As far as the comments go about "go somewhere else". I can say it the same way, why don't you go somewhere else and smoke.

[It is Me]

Torque wrote:

<quoted text>
This is a flat-out lie, bar/restaurant closings have gone up 400% per-year in the Twin Cities area since a smoking ban was first implemented three years ago so you might want to take a look at who's conducting those studies and what their motives are.
Nice government you got over there.
Instead of concentrating on unemployment and higher-taxes they decide to inflate a non-issue and pretend they're accomplishing something when they are just going to cause more problems.

I do agree with this... concentrate on something WORTH WHILE, like gas prices, taxes, and unemployment!!!!!