When Maine forced the restaurants to go smoke free in 1999, we didn't go back. I know what you mean.
Before we moved there were a few non-smoking, by the owner's choice, restaurants that we occassionaly patronized. but when the whiners in the legislature forced every place to go that way we didn't even bother with them any more.
The grocers and local liquor stores may have seen an increase in business, but not enough to offset the losses from the bars and restaurants in terms of employing the bar and wait staffs that have lost their jobs. and are now unable to continue contributing at the same level to the local economy.
I truly don't understand this and I'm a former smoker who quit because I wanted to.
Are you all saying that if restaurants are all forced to ban smoking you will never go back to a restaurant because of that? I think that smoking should be the choice of the business owner, but I can't understand not going to restaurants at all. Aren't you the ones who are actually punishing the innocent employees? Aren't you depriving yourself of some great food? Can't you live for an hour or so without a cigarette?
Do you refuse to go to the home of a friend who doesn't allow smoking inside?