Hello guest, please Register your free account,
or Login. Registration is fast and easy and your information is kept private.
Browse our categories: gossip, politics, internet, business, sports, this-and-that, movies, world, personal-development, entertainment, news, crime, products, travel, ask-lupe, people, this-that, top 10
Illinois Is The Next State To Go Smoke Free
by Nancy Troxell in politics
Illinois Is The Next State To Implement No-Smoking Ban
The future holds fewer cigarettes for smokers in Illinois. Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently signed legislation
that will ban smoking in public places like bars, restuarants, and work places throughout the state. The smoking
ban goes into affect on January 1, 2008.
Some cities and communities already have smoke free environments, but this new law will make it so
that no one can smoke, except in designated areas - those being their home, car, at retail tobacco shops, some
hotel rooms and in the outdoors. Violators will be hit with a $250.00 fine and establishments that are caught allowing
a smoker to 'light up' could be subject to a $2,500.00 fine.
Needless to say, many businessowners aren't too happy with this new law, but like anything else they'll have
to adapt or die.
Ohio is another state that recently made smoking in public illegal, and retail establishment owners weren't
too happy about it, either. This upcoming winter will be the first that smoking indoors won't be allowed and it's reasonable
to say that most bars are going to have a sharp decline in patronage because of it. Some bars are already in the
process of building outdoor heated patios as a way to defend against the harsh cold winter, but it's hard to say if
that will be enough to bring smoker out of his house when it's 22 degrees out.
A few random thoughts on the smoking ban:
"I have a right to smoke if I want to, why should the Government tell me what I can or can't do. I think it's crap.- B. Holzman
"Why am I being treated like a second class human for smoking? I'm addicted, man. Making smokers stand outside like were
garbage is something that I never thought I'd see in this lifetime and is a violation of my human rights.- C. Carbon
"My business is already hurting and smokers make up about 75% of my patrons. I'm not looking forward to the upcoming winter -
I think people will want to stay warm forcing them to smoke outside, they won't come out at all. - M. Cafferty
Looks like the forecast is cold and cloudy for smokers and bar owners alike, especially as more states start putting stricter laws in place
concerning smoking and cigarettes. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.. but be sure to stand outside!
Published: Tuesday 24th of July 2007 06:43:11 PM
Subscribe to Email Updates