Smoke-Free Work Place? What's your opinion?

I only support businesses that do not discriminate against me (evil smoker). Thus- Ballwin is out. No Buffalo Wild Wings, No Sky Music Lounge, etc.
In fact- if a restaurant or bar chooses to be non-smoking (not forced by city ordinance), I will walk out and patronize a place that wants my business. The non-smoking places apparently prefer to serve 100 glasses of iced tea to the red hat ladies and clean up after kids spilling their drinks. I, however, will be at the smoke-filled bar- patronizing the establishment that doesn't look down on me.

I guess I'm more free-market than that. If a restaurant wants to be "family-friendly" more power to them. Go smoke-free and hell, even market yourself that way.

Last time I checked, smoking wasn't illegal. And no one MAKES you go to a bar that allows smoking. I see no need for that to be legislated at any level.

I live in Illinois where you can't smoke period....anywhere. Only when I go into a Missouri establishment am I reminded how disgusting cigarette smoke is.

While I enjoy the smoke free environment, I do feel for the business who may lose clientle based on the ruling. Surely, smokers could at least be able to make it through dinner with out a puff on a dart.

I hope St. Louis does become smoke-free! Finally I could go out for drinks without getting a sinus headache and smelling like an ashtray. I don't care if some one wants to smoke as long as I don't have to breath it.

A smoke-free environment should be guaranteed to all patrons of restaurants, offices, shops, stores and other public and public/private mixed environments, as at least a public health concern. While I don't agree with the "tax the hell out of it" approach of sin-taxes to discourage smoking and other poor choices, I do believe that there is a greater societal concern with health related costs of smoking, and sharing the poison with your neighbors through second-hand smoke.

A business owner should be able to decide if they want smoking or non. It's their money. There are plenty of places that decided for themselves in Missouri to make it non-smoking. Go there!

I guess I am a little partial since I am a smoker, but why not do someting like have a smoking license like what they do with alcohol? That way the individual communities can put it up to their citizens and people who support smoking restaurants can have their say too, and then whoever has the most people wins

Many of you are missing the point: "Smoke-Free Laws Protect ALL Workers". That is what it is about. Our society owes it to all employees, bar, restaurant, and casino employees - to protect them from secondhand smoke.

We all know it - smoking hurts people. Had we known a long time ago, what we now know about smoking, non-smokers would have had their rights protected a long time ago! The right to clean air. No one is saying that smokers can't smoke - just do it in a place where it isn't going to affect others. Smoke-free cities, states, and countries have been successful AROUND THE GLOBE! We can do it too! Come on St. Louis - let's be proud & make our city more healthy!

Now, wait, are you guys afraid something like this might happen if smoking continues to be allowed in bars? Read the story here

there was a time when busuness started making room for non-smoking public, now they have taken over. the government need to but out and leave it up to the indivdual business, they keep putting laws on the books and only enforce the ones they want. it's time for the law makers to back off!!!

each business should be allowed to decide for their self if they want to be smoke free. if someone does not want to work or do business in that environment then they do not have to. they can be like casinos that circulate the air so often that one cannot tell there is smoke in the building. stop taking our rights away!

I live in Illinois were it is a smoke free state. I personally appreciate this because I struggle with asthma, although controlled by medication cigarette smoke can trigger an attack. Why should people have the right to cause another to suffer? Non smoking sections don't help because often you have to pass through the smoke to get to your seat and smoke travels. In Illinois we are starting to see no smoking within 15 feet of the building. Now we don't have to pass through a screen of smoking people to get to cleaner air in the building. The law isn't taking the right to smoke away from smokers, but allowing others to have the privilege and right to cleaner air. Smokers still can smoke, just away from the rest who wish to have cleaner air, like your car. It is your right to smoke, but your responsibility to do it respectfully. If you have a right to smoke around those with respiratory problems, then I feel you have the right and responsibility to take on their medical bills from the effects of your smoking. If smokers can't do it alone, then a law has to be made. I appreciate a smoke free building and I'm sure smokers would benefit from cleaner air too.