It's heartening to see that there is some continued interest and discussion in State College about increasing the presence of smoke-free bars and smoke-free nights, as shown by Tuesday's article on the topic ("No-smoke Mondays not trend," Sept. 27).

But since places where you can drink and eat without being bothered by smoke are still a tiny minority, this idea has a long way to go. Please don't let it die.

Living in New York now, I have to say that one of the greatest improvements to the quality of life here in recent years has been the smoking ban in bars and restaurants. I like taking it for granted that I don't have to go home after a night out, smelling like smoke -- so much so that it took me by surprise the other night when I visited a bar elsewhere.

I realize that short of statewide legislation, banning smoking in certain bars and on certain nights is a challenging stance to take, but if you think it's a good idea, support it in any way you can, either by frequenting places that are taking the chance or by advocating for broader change.