Smoking Bans

[Carrie]

I'm not being considerate. I prefer a few puffs of fresh air inbetween my puffs off my cigerette. I am just about to quit because not only is it unhealthy, it's ruining my voice and I'm a singer. LOL. Good reason, huh.

If I'm in a bar where I can smoke, I smoke in the bar. When you're sitting around having a few beers, singing, socializing and others are smoking and that's just the kind of place it is, then I smoke there too. It's gross sometimes, all right, but I don't go out that much....once a week or so. In Idaho, you can't smoke in bars if the restaurant is open to the bar. It has to be completely walled off. That's a new law. If it's purely a bar and that's all, even if they serve food in the bar, then you can smoke. Weird, huh.

I actually prefer to smoke outside for the most part, and NEVER in my house. So, I kind of like the local place here where I go sometimes. I can go out on the porch with a beer and have a smoke with some other people. I don't tend to smoke as much and I don't go home with it all in my clothes so much. And other people who don't smoke are happy. So, it's kind of good. However.....(big however) I still don't agree with making it LAW. I still would rather let private people decide how they want their business to be run and let patrons decide who to patronize.

It's like, I'm adamant about wearing my seatbelt. They save lives and there's no two ways about it. I'm a stickler. But..I don't agree that it should be a law to wear your seatbelt. That's the government sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong.

[Gerald]

We have bans here in ohio and I thought there was a loophole where you can establish your business as a "club", the requires membership. You charge a dollar, someoen becomes a member and therefore you can have smoking in your establishment.

Anything like that for your state?

[Carrie]

I think so. In fact, this is such a tiny community. But there was one little resort restaurant and they hadn't gotten their renewed liquor license on time. People wanted to hang out and have drinks. They couldn't serve without the license. So, they did something like that...took down the open signs, turned down the lights, called it a private party. LOL. This one wasn't about smoking, but drinking.

But, my question is... why should businesses have to go through loopholes to run their own business?

[Tiffany0204]

There's that members only thing up here as well, although it wasn't referred to as a "loophole".

It's either or, in fact, most of the establishments have seen an increase of buisness since the ban went into effect, when at first everyone thought that they would be going out of buisness. Although they do go to great lenghts to accomodate the smokers. It's almost like a fad, seeing which bar/nightclub can make the most smoker-friendly patio. There's portable heaters to keep the air warm, the decor is great (lots of plants and such) and inevitably the patios are more favoured for hanging out than the actual bar.

Although the one establishment that has suffered is the Bingo hall. It's closing down because 90% of it's patrons are smokers.

[shandoggy1]

I think it is stupid that they won't let people smoke in a smoke shop. However, I am glad I don't have to deal with smoking in resteraunts anymore I hate smoke, pollute your own lungs not mine!

[kparx]

Originally Posted by shandoggy1

I think it is stupid that they won't let people smoke in a smoke shop. However, I am glad I don't have to deal with smoking in resteraunts anymore I hate smoke, pollute your own lungs not mine!

I agree, if it is a *Smoke Shop* then the people who chooses to spend their money on those things should be allowed to use them in the presence of other smokers. I am also glad that I dont have sit and choke on smoke whilst I am eating!(what is the point of a "Smoking or Non section? Unless it is enclosed then it doesnt to do much, does it?)

Quincy, how is your shop doing? Well, good luck with it! and be sure to tell us what happens with the ban!