If you've ever hung out at a restaurant or bar that allows smoking, you know it doesn't matter if you smoke or not, you're going to smell like an ashtray after the night is over. And unless you enjoy the smell of cigarette-soaked clothes and hair, it's not a very pleasant thing. But more and more cities, communities, and states are choosing to enact legislation to make public areas smoke-free. For those that enjoy going out for a bite to eat or a drink without having to make a trip to someone in scrub tops because of a wheezing, hacking cough, this is good news. Actually, this is good news for just about everyone from a health perspective, since you'd be hard-pressed to find someone that would actually take the position that second hand smoke is good for you or doesn't have any ill effects whatsoever.
Many doctors, in fact, will say that they believe second hand smoke can bring about many health problems, sometimes just as many as if you were actually a smoker yourself. That's why many feel the health effects of smoking bans will not simply be felt by the smoker themselves, but by the cook in the back, the waiter serving food, or the busboy coming to clear the table. If all of these people work day in and day out in a smoke free environment, some say, they will have a much lower risk for health problems. And you really don't even have to be wearing a scrubs uniform to say something like this and be taken seriously. Many people feel that this is simply common sense. Whatever the case, there are many who are excited about the potential health benefits of smoking bans.
From a business standpoint, many bar and restaurant owners do not support the bans, especially if their restaurant cannot allow smoking while bars or restaurants in neighboring cites can. In this case, these business owners may feel that they are at a competitive disadvantage because their establishments are being asked to play under a different set of rules. Of course others will say that if you always want to make sure you have a job either own a bar or wear scrub pants. There will always be people who will drink and there will always be sick people. It's up to you to make your bar one that people will actually want to go to.
