Who is with me on requiring that the Iowa legislature pass a law saying that local gov'ts can decide to ban smoking in public places? Who is with me in saying Iowa City should have at least one bar that remains non-smoking ALL of the time? Because to my way of thinking, yes, I could just stay home and not go to bars at all because of the health risks and nasty aspects of it. Well, sure, but then when would I get to see my friends? Iowa City should have at least one place that I can go, and sit and have a drink (if I want) or at the very least sit and converse with my friends without having to soak up second hand smoke, and all the horrible icky side effects I get. I am allergic. Seriously allergic to cigarette smoke. If there was an alternative place for my friends to go out downtown, where I could join them without suffering, I probably would. I can't even go and play pool anywhere past nine pm in this town without being exposed to it. I can't go bowling without being exposed to it. So I ask, where is the place that if my friends really want to see ME, they'll come? The vis versa happens often, I go to the bars because this is where my friends hang out when they come home from overseas, and then, I suffer for wanting to spend time catching up with them. Well, screw that. Donnelly's was smoke free, for awhile, and now, they allow smoking after 10 pm, so I can't go there any more. It is frustrating to say the least. I can talk my non-smoking friends into going there with me to hang out, because drink prices are the same as other places too. However, now where will I get people to go who want to go dancing? Donnelly's doesn't have a dance floor. The Mill will have non-smoking events for the back room (yay for wylde nept performing smoke free concerts) which is awesome. I will gladly go there and not subject myself to smelling like an ashtray when i get home, and having to shower immediatly upon my return to my home.
Also, I think it's really rude for people that know of someone's allergies, to continue to smoke right in front of them, or in their face specifically. It would be the same thing as feeding strawberries to someone who is allergic to strawberries. Actually no, that's a little wrong. The person allergic to strawberries can ask and be told strawberries are in the food and then not have to eat it. If I ask a smoker to not smoke around me, and they don't oblige me, what's my course of action? I have to leave the establishment. I'd be fine with just leaving the establishment and going somewhere else, if such a place existed that had the same other amenities sans smoking. It's like telling someone who is a recovering alcoholic that they can not go out to any bar anywhere because there is always going to be drinks served to people around them. Where is their bar that doesn't serve alcoholic drinks, where they can go and not be tempted? Answer is, there isn't. No bar would survive without serving the drinks people want, and that's alcoholic. Sadly, that has become the case with bars for smoking also. No bar in this area can feel as though they do as much business and make as much profit if they don't allow smoking. I understand in some sense the "discrimination" claim that smokers may make if suddenly they can't smoke in a bar, however, what about the discrimination that we feel for not being able to find a place where such activities DON"T occur?
There are two places in Coralville that are non-smoking resturaunts. Mondo's and Sluggers. People, GO THERE!!! Support local establishments that choose to be smoke-free.
And I'm done with the rant for the day. Feel free to tell me your thoughts folks...