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Just out of curiosity, do all the folks who don't like smoke-free restaurants smoke around their kids or while they were pregnant? And if you are considerate enough not to do around your loved ones, especially kids or elders with health problems, why would you be willing to do it to complete strangers who would have to breath it for hours a day? Just asking...

And there is a statewide ban on smoking in Vermont. I'm not going to post a link, they're easy enough to find. But for those who don't believe me, feel free to light up and see what happens.

I was born into a house of smokers, I grew up with smokers, I worked with smokers for many years. I smoke.

It wasn’t until about 8 years ago that the ban became really bad.

I hear the truckers refuse to stop in Vermont now, because of the smoking bans.

I also heard there are U-Haul It’s taking people out of California every day now. So, that doesn’t sound like CA or VT are doing too well, to me.

Just out of curiosity, do all the folks who don't like smoke-free restaurants smoke around their kids or while they were pregnant?

Yes, I do smoke around my children. While I'm in my house or in my car I do smoke around my children. I didn't smoke around my wife when she was pregnant because I wasn't around much, I was in the Navy at sea most of the time.

And there is a statewide ban on smoking in Vermont. I'm not going to post a link, they're easy enough to find. But for those who don't believe me, feel free to light up and see what happens.

Which is why Vermont is on my list of places to never visit.

I have no idea why waitshtaff would be thrilled. When I waited tables, I noticed the smokers tipped better. They were also more playful and complained less.

"And there is a statewide ban on smoking in Vermont. I'm not going to post a link, they're easy enough to find. But for those who don't believe me, feel free to light up and see what happens."

Vermont? Isn't that the State that made same sex marriages legal? Yes, what happens in Vermont is VERY important to me, NOT!

Just out of curiosity, do all people that don't like the idea of a restaurant owner making his/her own decision about a smoking policy, see to it that their children are not taught to accept without question what is said by the media? Do you yourself accept without question what is told you by the media, if it disagrees with your opinion?

If you are considerate enough to teach tolerance of opposing viewpoints to your children, are you going to teach that same tolerance about everything?

I will be more than happy to answer you questions - are you willing to answer mine????

Just out of curiosity, do all the folks who don't like smoke-free restaurants smoke around their kids or while they were pregnant? And if you are considerate enough not to do around your loved ones, especially kids or elders with health problems, why would you be willing to do it to complete strangers who would have to breath it for hours a day? Just asking...

You must be very young not to realize that virtually everyone over 30 grew up around people who smoked everywhere because no one cared. My parents grew up in a smoking home, my siblings and I grew up in a smoking home, my children grew up in a smoking home, my grandchildren are growing up in a smoking home. Women smoked while pregnant and babies came out fine. All that secondhand smoke hasn't hurt any of us. I wouldn't smoke around someone who was ill with a respiratory disease, but if someone is that vulnerable, he or she won't be working in a restaurant or bar. If someone with compromised health DOES work in the hospitality industry, there are plenty of smokefree venues for them.

Realize also that many of those people who work as servers smoke themselves. Why shouldn't THEY have the choice of working in a place that's comfortable for them?

Simple CHOICE will solve all these problems brought on by the desire of one segment of the population to control what others do. The CHOICE of a proprietor whether or not to permit smoking; the CHOICE of customers whether or not to patronize a particular place; the CHOICE of staff where they want to work. Keep government out of it, and particularly, keep non-governmental, unelected agencies out of it.