Smoking Laws in NY and NJ

I went with my family to Spain several years ago and we wanted to sit in the non-smoking section of a restaurant there one night. They had no concept of "non-smoking section" Someone was smoking at every table. It was late at night and there were 10 of us and we were starving but my parents refused to sit with all that smoke around.

Eventually they put together a table for us in their only non-smoking section. We sat in the kitchen


LOL! I swear its the same way in SA. Question for you........how are the smoking laws in PR? I'm sure they're similar to the ones here.

LOL! I swear its the same way in SA. Question for you........how are the smoking laws in PR? I'm sure they're similar to the ones here.

Effective next year smoking is banned in all restaurants, bars, and enclosed public places. Casino owners aren't too thrilled because they think they'll lose business to other Caribeean islands that allow smoking in their casinos.

I smoked for about 6 years, started in college and quit back in '97. For a long time after I was just a social smoker if you will, only having a few if I was out drinking. Now I'm totally done with smoking.

I can see both sides of these new laws, but overall I tend to side with the non-smokers. It's so nice to be able to go out to a bar and not come home stinking of smoke.

The smokers want to say it's taking away their right... but when you have a habit that directly affects those around you, I can't have too much pity for you.

Effective next year smoking is banned in all restaurants, bars, and enclosed public places. Casino owners aren't too thrilled because they think they'll lose business to other Caribeean islands that allow smoking in their casinos.

Speaking of casinos, when I went to Vegas the first few days there were rough until I got used to all the smoke. People smoke everywhere out there, it's ridiculous.

i dont smoke and love going into bars that are non smoking.i dont mind people smoking,just the idiots that think because they are talking to me or someone in my group,that gives them the right to blow their smoke all over me

Oh, I don't hate it at all. I just think it would be awesome if bars banned it. Seriously I don't have a HUGE issue with it, just would "prefer" if it was banned in public areas.

Ditto. Do it in your own home all you want, although I'd want someone with a small child to be responsible about it. In public places, because of the number of IRRESPONSIBLE and rude smokers, it needs to be banned. They had their chance and didn't make good with it.

I just wish they'd start enforcing littering laws on smokers. If I ate some chicken on a stick from the Chinese restaurant and tossed the stick out of my car when finished, I'd expect to hear sirens and a $500 deduction from my checking account. I didn't even light my trash on fire! :)

Yup, same here. Littering laws are DEFINITELY not enforced on smokers. And yes I can see the other side's argument, but how can you seriously justify a habit that's been proving to be more damaging to others than yourself?

In that same story I quoted above, one girl was like, "Well they can just avoid us." Why should we have to go out of the way to accommodate your habit?

....I've heard that in Europe everyone smokes....I mean EVERYONE. I had my first hand experience in South America and let me tell you, kids down there start smoking much earlier than here.

I was there last summer and let me tell you, people there smoke, a lot. I was shocked to see so many people smoking. Hell, when I arrived in Amsterdam airport I was impressed to see people smoking inside the airport as they walked about. I latter learned that it was illegal to smoke inside the airport but nobody gave a damn. Italy took the cake though, the streets were littered with cigarettes buds. You should have seen Saint Peter's Square!

To me, the issue isn't about smokers rights vs. non-smokers rights. It's about private property rights.

If I started a restaurant, why should the government be in a position to decide for me whether I can or cannot allow smoking on my property?

To me, the issue isn't about smokers rights vs. non-smokers rights. It's about private property rights.

If I started a restaurant, why should the government be in a position to decide for me whether I can or cannot allow smoking on my property?

Just because I own some land it doesn't mean I can set up shop and do whatever I want with it.