Looks like the Darling of the Chicago Dems and all their tree-hugging socialist friends is in jeopardy of being overturned by a silly piece of paper. What silly piece of paper, you ask? Oh, what’s that thing called…I can never remember. Oh yeah! THE CONSTITUTION! It seems that when Illinois passed the law, they completely forgot that there are certain specifics and details that need to be written into said law. If they’re not, the whole thing can get repealed on technicality. To paraphrase a quote in the PJS, the legislature passed a press release instead of a law. I’ll be following this story very closely. If the law gets overturned, I’ll be blowing smoke in a lot of pretentious socialist faces.

In all seriousness, I get the feeling that if the law is overturned, a lot of the larger sports bars (TnT’s, BWW, Old Chicago, etc.), in addition to the standard chains such as Applebee’s and Chili’s, will maintain their smoke-free policies on a private basis. I have absolutely no problem with this. The decision should have been left in the hands of the businesses in the first place. Furthermore, I have no problem going outside a restaurant to smoke. Even as a smoker, I find the smell of smoke while I’m eating repulsive. During college, there was a strict “No smoking at the table until everyone is done eating” rule, and it worked quite well. Since the 1st of the year, my smoking brethren and I have adjusted to life as pariahs. It just means wearing an extra coat to the bar when it’s cold. When it’s warm, we’ll just sit outside. The ones that are really getting hurt by the law are the smaller bars with a strong clientele of regulars who smoke, such as the Cooler, Whitey’s, the Office, Stagger Inn, etc. By some estimates, these places have lost 2/3 of their regular business, and many are in danger of going under. I know the owners of these bars will be more than happy to see the ban repealed.