Anne F., Pierre

I think it is gross to smell smoke when you are eating. It makes me want to get sick.

Chelsey, Sioux Falls

Smoking in public areas is not only harmful to people walking by but it is also hard for people who are trying to quit and have to constantly be tempted by other people smoking. Also, those that are allergic to smoke can’t completely avoid people’s smoke. I think that it would not only be safer and healthier for everyone, but will also set a great example for other non-smokers.

Nicole O., Rapid City

The list against tobacco is endless. I can't think of a single reason to support their products. Why do we still allow the minority to dictate their agenda?

Ken F., Deadwood

The night of the very first tobacco prevention lock in we ever hosted in our school, I was torn between being there and a funeral I was missing the next day. The deceased was in his 40s and had died of a tobacco related death. The number of people I know that have been affected by a tobacco related illness or death increases which each year. My dad quit and our children know their paternal grandfather. I can't say the same about all of my nieces and nephews. Little Justin's question "Why could one grandpa quit and not the other?" hung heavy when his maternal grandfather passed away from emphysema. That decision to stay for the lock in was the right one! Education is prevention. Increasing taxes on tobacco products may be what it takes to get current users to quit. But a smoke free environment helps all!

Julie M., Garretson

I want to be able to go out and not come home smelling like an ashtray. I want to go bowling and not walk into a haze. I want my friends with lung ailments to be able to walk into any public place and not have to worry about their health.

James H., Sioux Falls

We still have a long way to go in SD. Fun Family activities, such as bowling is not worth it when weighed against the risk of smoke exposure. Restaurants that have smoking sections is a joke. The smoke goes everywhere. My heart really goes out to the asthmatics and children in which second hand smoke affects the worse. I come from a family of 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. My dad was a smoker. All 4 boys became smokers. Three have not been successful in kicking the habit even though my Dad had a massive heart attack at age 47. He is on Oxygen and has a defibrillator at age 69. I would love to see SD smoke free!

P., Brandon

I have helped many people over the years in their attempts at quitting smoking - some who have been successful, others who continue to struggle. I have learned many things from them. Most smokers want to quit and wish they had never started. Even though they know smoking is harmful to their health, it is not the biggest motivator to quitting. Increased cost of tobacco is a big motivator in quitting. Ex-smokers who return to smoking usually bum that first cigarette from someone at a bar. It is time for South Dakota to help its smokers succeed in quitting. Provide them with environments in which they can succeed. By banning smoking in bars and restaurants, all of us will reap the benefits!

Darcy E., Garretson

Recently I was visiting in Mpls/St Paul area and went to a neighborhood restaurant with my aunt and uncle. They have lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years and I had never been to this particular restaurant prior. After inquiring about why we had never eaten her before they told us that it was because of the smoking. It was a great restaurant and the food was spectacular and I was able to enjoy it because it was now a smoke free place. When I was paying the bill I was curious about the managers concerns at becoming smoke free, he told me that his business has increased almost doubled since the no smoking law came into effect. The best restaurant to have an inside out burger in St Paul is at the Nook off Randolph Street.

Charlene B., Mitchell

It is high time the state of South Dakota become smoke-free. EVERY person should be entitled to clean air when they go out to eat, bowl, etc. The smokers infringe on our rights by polluting our air, not the other way around.

Laura, Sturgis, SD

I enjoy gathering with friends and listening to local bands play, unfortunately that usually means meeting at a bar. My eyes start to water and soon I can't breath very well. I would love for SD to become smoke free and open up more doors for me and others to enjoy live music without choking.

Lori D., Brandon 

My grandpa was a smoker and when my mom was young he almost died. Now he is smoke-free and doing much better health wise. I am a member of the Teens Against Tabacco Use (TATU) and we are pushing hard for a smoke free South Dakota.

Nick M., Garretson

I want South Dakota to be a smoke free place because I feel it is the second hand smoke people that are getting punished from illnesses from smokers. No matter how much we love them our care should be shown to them by telling them and helping them stop smoke. Family and friends are important to me. I am sure they are to the rest of you as well. Let show our love and care and help people stop smoking one at a time.

Alysha K., Garretson

Our consciences are clean as all our businesses and properties have been smoke free for several years!

Tom and Danielle Aman Enterprises, Aberdeen

Making South Dakota entirely smoke free would truly make our state the greatest! Having dinner or going to a bar to listen to a band or a casino without the smell of cigarettes would be so terrific. We currently have some restaurants and bars who have gone smoke free and I make a point of thanking them - let's go all the way!

Laurie J., Rapid City, SD

I refuse to go to any bars or restaurants that allow smoking. Not only do I dislike smelling of smoke but one of my asthma triggers is smoke, so I risk an attack if I am trapped in a building with secondhand smoke.

Barb G., Vermillion, SD

My grandpa died of lung cancer when my mom was only eight years old. He smoked cigarettes almost all his life. Because of that I'll never get the chance to know him.

Kyra, Mitchell

Linda R, Sioux Falls

HURRAH! It's time to make South Dakota totally smoke-free! We need to keep working hard at this very important project. I want SD to be totally smoke-free for our future generations, for my own health issues (respiratory problems, etc.). I want to see a total reduction in the cases of lung cancer in SD, and other tobacco use related illnesses. For the past few years, I have been involved with the ACS/CAN Legislative Day in Pierre, and am planning to be there on Feb. 11th. I feel that our American Cancer Society Media Relations Dept. in SD needs to be "out there" with ALL kinds of publicity about this and what your organization is doing, all the time! Your strong supporter, Karen D., 35-year volunteer.

Karen D, Platte, SD

It is very unenjoyable eating out for a meal and have to be around other people's tobacco smoke. Not only is it an awful smell during the time we're in the eating establishment, but it's an awful smell later on because it gets on our hair and clothes. My voice gets raspy, and I cough after being exposed. I choose not to smoke, but my choice is irrelevant when I'm exposed to 2nd hand smoke. I'd like to see a statewide law banning all smoking in public buildings, including bars and casinos. However, if this is too "radical" for SD, then the logical 1st step is to make it possible for local governments to make every building smokefree. I don't see smokefree laws as an infringment of people's rights because 2nd hand smoke is already an infringment on my and other's right to be smokefree. I had the pleasure of eating at a smokefree eating establishment (by choice, not by law) in Rapid City who chose this option because they were losing more customers who chose to walk away rather than sit in a smoking section to eat. I wish other eating establishments would realize and understand this.

Deb B., Webster

This week was a week of bittersweet remembrances. One family member gave birth to a beautiful little girl. Unfortunately, that little girl will never know her maternal grandparents. They both died of smoking related illnesses, one of heart disease related to smoking, the other of lung and brain cancer. We also lost a friend this week, a man who worked outdoors farming, breathing good, fresh South Dakota air all day long, but one who also filled his lungs with smoke daily. His children suffer from asthma, repeated ear infections and other chronic illnesses related to second-hand smoke. I have 4 wonderful granddaughters and 50+ students whom I would love to not have to be exposed to second-hand smoke any time and any place. Please, people, let's not lose any more loved ones to the greed of tobacco companies. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Whose life is next?

Carol G., Webster

I think SD needs to be smoke free for the same of all the children here now and that will be in our world later on down the road. I also think that pretty much wherever kids go they are exposed to smoke/secondhand smoke and tobacco. I also think that alot of lives will be saved by making SD more tobacco free.

Cassandra V.,Mitchell

I would love to stop in a bar and chat with friends but avoid going there because the tobacco smell is so strong. It fills your clothes, hair and airways with the horrible smell. It just isn't fun to deal with the offensive odor and health risk. What a wonderful step and statement our state could make by making all public places smoke free. 

Brenda H., Waubay

For the health and safety of our children, grandparents, uncles and aunts, sisters, parents, brothers, cousins, relatives, friends, neighbors, human beings with severe health problems such as asthma, etc., senior citizens, restaurant employees, bar employees, and pregnant mothers who cater to those establishments - PLEASE PROVIDE many more SMOKE-FREE eating establishments and entertainment venues. DO THE RIGHT THING TO PROVIDE CLEAN INDOOR AIR!!!

Russ and Lynn F., Sioux Falls

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