PEOPLE

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought about the move of some national fast-food chains in setting a smoke-free policy for their restaurants.

Lane Austin, Cape Girardeau: "It's great. I eat out about once a week, and I try to go where there are no smoking areas. We ought to have all places with no smoking. Smoke makes you sick. It's not pleasant to be eating next to a smoking area."

Sandy Schooley, Jackson: "I think it's a great idea, because I'm scared to death that secondary smoke is going to kill me. I always ask for non-smoking areas, but even so, the smoke comes over from the smoking area. I would patronize smoke-free places."

Joe Hutchings, Cape Girardeau: "I think it's stupid. You should have the right to smoke where you want to. If people don't like it, they don't have to be there. That's why there are smoking and non-smoking areas. I like to smoke after I eat, and we usually sit around and talk for a while."

Mary Alsup, Sikeston: "I'm very much for it, being a non-smoker, and I feel it would be a tremendous advantage for the restaurants. Nowadays, there are so many non-smokers, and it is offensive to many of them to be around smoking when they are trying to enjoy a meal."

Burton Bock, Cape Girardeau: "If they are going to allow smoking, there should be barriers so the smoke doesn't drift throughout the restaurant. I prefer not to have smoke when I eat out, but it's difficult to balance the rights of smokers and non-smokers."

Tim Hughes, St. Louis: "I don't think that smoking in fast-food restaurants is that big of a problem, because people are in and out so fast anyway. If you try banning smoking in more-expensive restaurants, you will have a problem, because a smoker will want to smoke and spend time relaxing in the restaurant."