I agrree with you except in that having a "no smoking section" in a restaurant is as effective as having a "no peeing section" in a swimming pool.M/i>

That allegedly witty little soundbyte makes absolutely no sense because the water in a swimming pool is changed maybe once a year while the air in a restaurant is changed about 35,000 times. Believe what you want, but at least think about it before passing it on.

Ah, but, "The rate at which gases diffuse is inversley proportional to the square root of their densities" (Raoult's Law) Smoke diffuses far quicker in air than urine does in water..

35,000 times ? more like 4 times per hour.

Indoor Clean Air Ordinances

Summary of Restaurant Smoking Regulations in Texas

This is an abbreviated summation of city ordinances; for the full regulations and legal guidelines, please refer to the full text of the appropriate city code.

Alvin (01-11-01)

Smoking prohibited in restaurants. Exceptions for a cocktail lounge, tavern, or other facility that constitutes a "bar." Bar area in restaurants are not considered a "bar" because minors are admitted into this area.

Arlington (07-27-99)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Exceptions for for an eating establishment, bar, night club, adult entertainment establishment, billiard hall or bingo parlor that does not allow or employ persons under the age of 18. Exceptions for smoking areas that do not exceed 30 percent of the net floor area, provided that the designated smoking area be physically separated from non-smoking areas with barriers (walls) and separate ventilation systems. (A ventilation system must provide an air change every 15 minutes, exhaust the air to the exterior of the building, and the air from the smoking area cannot be drawn across the nonsmoking area.)

Austin (02-17-94)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Restaurants prohibit smoke from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Smoking is permitted after 2 p.m. in restaurants while dining services are discontinued. Enclosed and stand-alone bar or lounge areas are excluded (separate ventilation systems).

Bryan (02-27-01)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Restaurants with a seating capacity over 50 people prohibit smoke from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stand-alone and enclosed (separate ventilation system and a four foot separation distance from smoking and nonsmoking areas) are excluded. Restaurants with a seating capacity of 50 people or fewer prohibit smoking..

Carrollton (12-01-98)

Smoking prohibited in restaurants unless smoking section with special ventilation is provided. (A ventilation system must provide a total air exchange every 15 minutes and shall exhaust that air to the exterior of the building, and the air from the smoking area cannot be drawn across the nonsmoking area.)

College Station (02-27-01)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Restaurants with a seating capacity over 50 people prohibit smoke from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stand-alone and enclosed (separate ventilation system and a four foot separation distance from smoking and nonsmoking areas) are excluded. Restaurants with a seating capacity of 50 people or fewer prohibit smoking.

Corpus Christi (09-01-86)

This is an example of a compromise and "accommodation" at its worst. The ordinance exempts bowling alleys, private functions, shopping malls (where smoking is already allowed), movie house lobbies, and restaurants. Restaurants may designate certain areas non-smoking and the ordinance is enforced by the city director of health. A citation may be issued which would then go to the "appropriate" court. This is very difficult language and very much an example of what not to do.

El Paso (06-26-01)

Smoking prohibited in all public places: including all restaurants, bars, taverns, and work places. No exceptions. This is a strong, exemplary ordinance that ideally would be duplicated across the state.

Fort Worth (07-15-97)

Smoking prohibited in restaurants unless smoking section with barriers (walls) or special ventilation is provided. (A ventilation system must provide an air change every 15 minutes; exhaust the air to the exterior of the building and the air from the smoking area cannot be drawn across the nonsmoking area). A restaurant with 50 seats or less must post a sign at the restaurant's entrance that states "A NONSMOKING SECTION IS NOT AVAILABLE." All enclosed dining areas, regardless of occupancy, in city buildings are nonsmoking.

Irving (07-17-97)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Exceptions for restaurants with smoking sections that are identified to customers and employees by signage and physical barriers that separate smoking and non-smoking sections are permitted. Designated smoking areas must have separate ventilation systems and must maintain an air pressure sufficiently less than that in the non-designated area. The separated ventilation system must provide a total air change every fifteen minutes.

Leander (03-01-01)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Exceptions for that portion of the restaurant that is utilized as a bar, provided that area is fully enclosed and separated from the main area of the restaurant.

Lubbock (06-14-01)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Exceptions are made for full-service restaurants if the designated smoking area does not exceed 30 percent of the dining area. The proprietor must petition the city for smoking section (physically enclosed area with separate ventilation system). Exceptions also exist for private clubs (sports grills), which are owned by their members.

05-04-02 - Voter referendum keeps ordinance by 64%.

New Braunfels (02/12/01)

Smoking prohibited in all public places. Exceptions are made for private clubs, stand-alone bars and bars that are fully enclosed with separate ventilation systems. This is the 'model ordiance' and is considered a strong ordinance.

Odessa (06-26-01)

Smoking guidelines for restaurants are instituted. Restaurant owners have three options: 1) restaurants that prohibit smoking, 2) restaurants that are solely designated as smoking restaurants, 3) smoking prohibited in restaurants with a designated smoking section that is physically enclosed with a separate ventilation system.

Plano (08-28-95)

Smoking prohibited in restaurants unless the establishment provides a smoking section with a physical barrier or air barrier system between the sections and an air purification system (electrically powered hospital grade, hepa media filter that will clean all of the air in the designated smoking area every 15 minutes as with not less than 95 percent of three-tenths (0.3) micron particulates efficiency) or separate ventilation system that exhausts the air to the exterior of the building. This section of the code includes cocktail lounges and private clubs ("bars") that are regulated by the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission.

Robinson (04-09-02)

Model ordinance passed after recommended by the county health board. Prohibits smoking in all public places except bars and tobacco shops.

Rollingwood (03-21-01)

Smoking is prohibited in all public places. Exceptions for indoor employee smoking areas that are independently ventilated and outdoor dining areas that designate 25% of outdoor dining area as "no smoking" with a fifteen foot separation between the outdoor smoking and non-smoking areas.

Schertz (12-03-01)

Passed ordinance November 2001, prohibits smoking in restaurants public places, but if sales receipts are 25% alcohol, then it is considered a bar and exempt. Other small clauses are included and this is a medium to weak ordinance.

Sunset Valley (04-07-98)

Smoking is prohibited in all public places unless the establishment designates an area within the public place as a smoking area, provided that the smoking area be completely physically segregated from non-smoking areas, with a separate HVAC system and air filtering system, to minimize the effect of smoke in non-smoking areas, and so that the air from the smoking area is not drawn across or into non-smoking areas.

Waco (05-21-02)

Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. smoking is permitted in a designated area, no barriers or ventilation systems required. Smoking at all other times must be in a separate room with separate ventilation systems. The ordinance takes effect in May 2003. Restaurants with less than 8 employees (16% of county) are exempt from any ordinance.

West Lake Hills (09-08-93)

Smoking prohibited in all public places.

Wichita Falls

This city was included in a recent Texas Department of Health study indicating that ordinances have no economic impact on business.

So, I get to breathe your rotten stink while eating my meal for up to 15 minutes if we happen to be seated nearby ? Sorry, I'd rather not.