Free Talk Live

In many states, Gary Richards would not have been able to light up a cigarette before biting into his meat-lover's pizza, as he did at Satisfaction Restaurant & Bar this week. But in North Carolina, the nation’s leading tobacco producer, limits on indoor smoking have lagged behind those in much of the country.

RALEIGH - Now that North Carolina's no-smoking law has taken effect, most bars and restaurants across the state have thrown away their ashtrays and herded smokers to outdoor patios.

But a few bars are openly flouting the new law, allowing people to puff away indoors as much as ever.

The ones doing so are hookah bars, and their owners argue that, because of a linguistic loophole in the law, the smoking ban doesn't apply to hookah smoking.

Thinking of ignoring state regulations prohibiting smoking in restaurants? Then be ready to get arrested - states starting to do CRACKDOWN! People also arrested for *allowing* smoking to occur.

In a graphic new ad campaign, the government is trying to shock smokers into quitting with the sometimes-gruesome stories of people damaged by tobacco products. The new effort confronts a hard truth: Despite increased tobacco taxes and bans in many public places, the adult smoking rate hasn't really budged since 2003. When argument, alienation, ostracism, and harassment don't work, the next step is to terrorize.

The Hennepin County Board could consider the tobacco-free proposal next month. If passed, it would keep people from smoking on county property, even in their own cars.

BOSTON -- Fewer Bay State drivers are appealing auto insurance surcharges for accidents or traffic violations, even though the odds of winning an appeal are favorable, a study by the New England Center for Investigative Reporting has found.

Iraqi government wants to ban smoking in public places.
"The purpose behind approving the draft law to fight smoking is to protect the people from the social, health, environmental and economic risks of smoking," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh in a statement.
Let freedom ring!
Maybe they should ban occupying foreign troops with guns first?

Two Boston city councilors are proposing to ban smoking in public parks and beaches, carrying the decadeslong campaign to reduce tobacco use to some of the last remaining public spaces where lighting up is still allowed.

Only 20% Think Government Anti-Poverty Programs Really Work. This marks a steady increase in the number of those who think the programs cause more of the problem they’re supposed to solve – from 43% last September to 45% in April to 49% now.