By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The glamour days of enticing ads, with women in beautiful gowns, balancing delicate cigarette holders between perfectly manicured fingers, or the handsome cowboy, who'd rather fight than switch, are long gone.
Cigarette ads are no longer allowed on television. Groups have formed to campaign against cigarette advertising in places where young children can see them.
The Clean Air Regulation becomes law in Berrien County, June 1. It has been criticized, by those who smoke, as yet another law regulating, what should be left to adults as a matter of choice.
Those in favor of the ban in public enclosed places say it does not go far enough. They want to see smoking stopped everywhere, especially in restaurants.
With the law coming into effect within the next two weeks, this week the Star asked the question: "How do you feel about the ban on smoking?"
"They are pushing things just too far. Everything is about the smokers, what about drinking? That is just as bad," said Nancy Bakeman of Niles.
Kathy and Gary Luster were just leaving the Bell Plaza Restaurant after having lunch. Here smoker's can enjoy a cigarette with their after dinner coffee.
"Personally, I think it should be our choice. I do understand people who don't smoke not wanting to smell it, or get it on their clothes. Restaurants need to do a better job of sectioning off space for smokers and non-smokers. We should all have our rights recognized," Mrs. Luster said.
"It's like with the seat belt issue. A select few make the laws for everyone. If you are 18, or over, you need to be able to decide for yourself. Kids who are not old enough to decide, I can see needing to be regulated, not the adults," Mr. Luster said.
Destiny Wallace and her son Devon, 2, were getting ready to head home from playing in Riverfront Park. As a mother, she is protective of her son.
"I think it's a good idea. Everybody doesn't smoke and those who don't hate smelling like smoke. It's offensive if you don't smoke. I don't like my son being around the second hand smoke," she said.
The Zieleniewski's were spending the day in the area, from their home north of Detroit. They had brought their three sons to the area to look for a new home, closer for Ed, who works out of Chicago.
"We both smoke, but not around the kids in the house. And we don't smoke in the car. I'm okay with banning smoking in public places, Maybe if they did, everybody would quit," Wendy Zieleniewski, said.
Her husband said he did not really think it was the government's business to regulate adult decisions.