I sat in the Italian restaurant drinking my conscious-inhibiting beverage while inhaling my smoke-of-addiction.

It was July 23, 2003.

The important thing about this day was it was the last of its kind. After dinner, my friends and I got on the subway and headed to one of our favorite bars downtown.

We walked into the bar where the typical crowd was present. The atmosphere was that of a second-hand-smoke hell. On this night, cigarette smoke would cast its light gray shadow on the people's faces for the last time.

The next morning New York City's Smoke-free Workplace Law took effect.

This law bans smoking in a couple of places. Included in this list are bars, restaurants, places of employment and public transportation places (including all ticketing, boarding and waiting areas).

Also, smokers can no longer light up at schools, public and private colleges and universities, hospitals, indoor arenas, zoos and, let us not forget, Bingo facilities.

Who exactly is this helping?

It can be said this law does not help the smokers.

When I walk around NYC, I do not find myself breathing deeply to smell the sweet (more like sour) smell of the streets.

But at the bar, I cannot help but sit back and feel so relieved the air is free of smoke. The clean air allows me to enjoy the glorious aroma of alcohol.

My sarcastic New York tone is warranted, believe me.

As a smoker who happens to be from New York, I can not help but reminisce about all of the price increases and dwindling outlets which have allowed me to enjoy a smoke as much and wherever my heart craves.

I look forward to going to the local convenience store to buy a pack of cancer sticks and opening my wallet to discover I only have $5. Unfortunately a five will not cut it in New York because of the $1.50 special tax increase the city recently added.

So instead, I buy a candy bar and move on. Actually, I am blowing smoke up your butt. I really go back home and Sherlock-Holmes it until I find the additional funds.

What about the children?

There are those who say this law helps the children. I would argue that comes down to social responsibility.

When I am in a public area where a bunch of youngsters are running about, I do not light one up and blow it right in their faces.

I started smoking on my own accord, but I remember who my heroes were as a child. I would not want a kid to see me and want to smoke because I am "just so cool."

Hey, ya never know.

I am also used to hearing the "Hey, I'm eating here."

Yes, I get it. Smoke and food do not mix, but when I get that nicking feeling after a good meal, I ask if there are any objections. If there are, I walk away from the table and enjoy the company of myself and my smoke elsewhere.

Now not everyone holds to such a high sense of civic duty as I, but just remember being courteous is a virtue.

What goes great with a cigarette? Apparently more than we thought. As a result of the law, my friends and I took our charred lungs to the bars in Connecticut and New Jersey "cause really, what is a beer without a cloud of smoke around your head?"

We were not the only ones. Then after a while, the travel pains got old and we returned to our favorite downtown bar.

What changed? No smoke. The same old crowd was there, the wonderful smell of sweat, beer and tears, but no smoke.

In the end it is just the same old story, I gotta go outside away from the crowd to smoke. That is until they take that away from me. Well, I guess that is the smoker's life for me.

Megan Smith is a senior journalism major from New Rochelle, New York, and serves as a staff writer for The Tech Talk.