It's been five years since you have seen smoke in the air of restaurants and bars in the Quad City area. At the time, it was a controversial move in both Illinois and Iowa. On January 1, 2008, the "Smoke Free Illinois Act" went into effect. Months later, Iowa passed a similar law, banning people from lighting up in most public places.
This week the Illinois Department of Public Health released a statement saying since the ban went into effect, smoking in the state has gone down. Officials say the number of people who reported smoking in Illinois dropped from 21 percent in 2008 to 17 percent two years later. Calls to the Illinois Tobacco Quit Line have also increased by 45 percent in the last five years. Meanwhile, both non-smokers and smokers we talked with say they think the ban has been a good thing.
"I think most people are used to be it by now, I couldn't believe it's already been 5 years," said Donald Malzewski.
Malzewski is a smoker, but says he actually enjoys not having to smell cigarettes when he's out to eat.
"It's actually really nice. My wife and I were just out to eat talking about it. It's just nice to be able to go into a restaurant and be able to smell the food and not the cigarettes."
Malzewski says not being able to smoke in public places has rubbed off on his habits at home as well.
"When it's cold, kind of keeps you from smoking as much, from going outside. We actually don't smoke in our home either, so it's been a really nice change."
The Windmill Family restaurant owner Miltos Diakogeorgiou agrees.
"It was kind of rough. We had to ask customers if they want smoking or non smoking and customers were complaining they could smell smoke here. A lot of people didn't like it, I like this way better," he said.
He says the ban did not impact his business. He says if anything, it made the restaurant a cleaner and more enjoyable atmosphere, especially for families.
"I would rather go in a restaurant and not have to breathe the second hand smoke and smell it on your clothes," customer Joan Kramer said.
"Now you can go somewhere and enjoy it without smoke in your face," customer Jim Beert said.
