The Impact of County and City-Level Smoking Bans on Bars

I sit here puffing on a cigarette, and hoping with all my heart that they pass a state-wide smoking ban in Maryland.

Before you decide I should hang up the writing career and pursue a career in politics, since I've obviously got the whole hypocrite thing down to a science, hear me out.

Last week, Baltimore City's legislature passed a ban that will prohibit smoking in all bars and restaurants in the city limits. In doing so, the city joined several Maryland counties that have already done away with smoking in public places.

Yes, I'm A Card (or Pack) Carrying Member of the Dark Side

I'm a smoker. I have a cigarette with a beer when I'm out in a pub, because to me they go together like peanut butter and jelly. At work, I trek my way through wind, sleet and snow to the designated smoking areas where the outcasts of society huddle to get our nicotine fix.

Amongst my Marlboro-toting comrades, I am the snarkiest of banned smokers. I gripe long and loud about how if the government was really concerned about public health, they'd evaluate sending smokers out into the work world and making us slink off to Timbuk II for a quick fix. After all, if we really cared about people's health, wouldn't we also be banning ridiculously long workweeks, horrendous traffic, gas guzzlers, fast food and neighbors who can't do their gardening without showing plumber's crack?

We smokers are a bad bunch. We huddle together in our regulated corners under the glaring "Designated Smoking Area!" signs that brand us as pariahs, and sigh that the only way to keep from choking on our own tongues when we have to interact with "customers" in the workplace is to sneak out for a smoke. If we're banning cigarettes, can we impose fines on the rude behavior and blatant mistreatment of public servants that has the smokers among us constantly tweaking for a fix, too?

Smoking Is Gross. And Bad For You Too.