jpguinness

Banning smoking in bars. Health issue or neo-puritanism at it's ugliest?

I am not a smoker but I have no trouble when other people smoke but this idea of banning smoking in bars still bothers the hell out of me. yes smoking is bad for you but so is alcohol. I have been in non-smoking establishments and I am afraid that the atmosphere while clean air-wise, I find the nightlife absolutely docile and boring. Once they start banning it in Seattle, I am afraid the nightlife is going to be depressing and diluted. I may even stop going out. I don't smoke but there is a certain crowd that is loose, free-wheeling and devil may care that smokes and drinks and dammit I would rather hang out with them. I think that the nightlife will die off once you ban smoking everywhere. It is eventually going to lead to bars closing earlier and maybe make bars enforce crazy ideas like a "drink maximum" where you'll only be able to drink 3 drinks in a bar. Maybe I am getting carried away but I think the lounge lizard culture is dying as a result of this neo-puritanism sweeping the world in disguise as a health issue.