Smoke-filled bars in DeKalb are now a thing of the past.

This will be a literal breath of fresh air to students and DeKalb residents who do not smoke and who do not wish to smoke – but who are forced to breathe in the polluted air of many popular locations in DeKalb just to have the resemblance of a social life.

I, for one, know that going to the bars will be a much more enjoyable experience now that I won’t be rubbing my dry, irritated eyes every two seconds because the smoky bar has dried them out. In fact, I may even shed a tear of joy just to keep them moist.

I will admit I have been known to enjoy a nice cigar with friends. Smoking in my garage will be a change from smoking, occasionally, in the bars. But it is a change that I am ready, willing, and maybe even eager to become comfortable with if it means that I can enjoy a smoke-free bar.

This change not only creates a more enjoyable experience for most bar and restaurant goers, but it also makes for a safer work environment for employees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site.

According to the site, “Smoke-free indoor air ordinances protect employees and customers from secondhand smoke exposure, which is associated with increased risks for heart disease and lung cancer in adults.”

DeKalb isn’t the only place in the U.S. implementing such smoking bans. According to the CDC, several states and dozens of municipalities have already implemented such bans.

According to a 2004 article published in the New York Times, not only did the smoking ban in New York City not drive down revenues, but it appears to actually have helped businesses by bringing in more money. The city’s Department of Finance found the city collected an increase of more than $1 million in tax revenue from bars and restaurants in the first nine months after the ban.

What will this translate to in DeKalb area businesses? We can’t yet know for sure.
But rest assured that my friends and I will enjoy our bar-going experiences much more.

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