Nightlife / Stephanie Depasquale

Smokeouts, campouts and no longer smelling like an ashtray

By Stephanie De Pasquale | Thursday, May 08, 2008 | () comments

I ran into two women at Fumbles Sports Bar and Grill in Bettendorf who live in Illinois but began coming to the Iowa bar when the Illinois statewide smoking ban went into effect Jan. 1.

When July 1 comes and the Iowa ban becomes law, they plan to stop going to bars altogether and spend the rest of the summer camping so they can smoke as they wish.

I also stopped by Phil and Larry’s Saloon in Davenport and learned that the bar is hosting a smokeout party June 30, the last night Iowans can legally smoke in bars.

The smokeout will be on the second floor of the bar, and if you’re not a smoker, you’re not allowed to attend.

I’m a nonsmoker and personally will enjoy being able to go out without coming home smelling like an ashtray, but I understand why smokers are upset and why Iowa bar owners are angry that the casinos were given an exemption from the ban.

What do the rest of you think of the bans? Are you headed to the woods so you can smoke and drink at the same time? Is anyone else planning a smokeout? And how about you nonsmokers? Are you looking forward to being able to go anywhere you want and not breathe smoke?

Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Comment on this column at qctimes.com.