Ban Smoking in Bars??

[kjung]

As someone who only smokes cigars, allowing smoking in bars really doesn't bother me, although I DO prefer bars with good SmokeEaters, or other vent systems, if I do go out. Especially if I'm going to a blues bar or a jazz club, I kind of expect a smoke filled room. It adds to the atmosphere.
There is a place near me that carries nothing but craft beer, in Indiana where they haven't passed a law...yet...that is non-smoking, and they don't seem to be hurting for business.

On a side-note, they're trying to pass an exemption for casinos in Illinois, because the owners are complaining that they've lost too much business due to the smoking ban. Personally, I have to believe that the economy has just as much, if not more to do with the losses.

 

[Airborneguy]

Kjung, same thing in NJ. Casinos were battling it for years.

I would like to see what happens at this point if the states that have had smoking banned for a few years got rid of the rules. I think too many people enjoy the relief, and a lot of places wouldn't go back. I personally would never go into a place that allowed smoking ever again.

 

[DelftBlue]

It's been the rule in quite a few European countries for a couple of years now. Here in the Holland, the rule only applies to tobacco: you can still go to a coffee shop and buy and smoke a joint (legally), so long as it doesn't have any tobacco it!

 

[kjung]

It's been the rule in quite a few European countries for a couple of years now. Here in the Holland, the rule only applies to tobacco: you can still go to a coffee shop and buy and smoke a joint (legally), so long as it doesn't have any tobacco it!

(mental note: look into moving to Amsterdam!!!)

 

[Kikshaaz]

The majority of San Antonio will be smoke free in August, 2011.

The delay is to give business owners time to build patios for smoking outside. Seems like a very reasonable compromise.

Wouldn't a good compromise to be allow bar owners to chose to be smoke free or not?

 

[lamarguy]

Wouldn't a good compromise to be allow bar owners to chose to be smoke free or not?

Sorry, not taking the bait...

 

[RegionalChaos]

Eugene went smoke free indoors where their are employees (employee health issue) a while back.

I think business owners should get to choose, and if they want a smoking establishment, then they need to install some big, decent, air handlers that can ensure the inside has clean air.

The implementation was nice though. At the time I was a smoker, but I didn't mind the ban. Too many bars were so smokey that by the end of the night you just flat out stank..

One thing I thought was interesting, was that the local authorities really went after bars, and completely overlooked coffee houses. Completely. 2 or 3 years after the ban was in effect they caught on, and started to go after the coffee houses. Funny that they were overlooked for so long.

 

[Kikshaaz]

Sorry, not taking the bait...

Ok but how about steering me to some good brew pubs around Se World in San Antonio. I am headed down there for Christmas.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I agree that's it's a great thing. I couldn't be happier that they banned them here a couple years ago. Not a smoker myself. But enjoy being able to go into a bar/restaurant and being able to enjoy myself. It's easy for people to say that smokers have a "right" to smoke. No, you don't have a right to possible inflict disease on other people. "But they don't have to be there if they don't like the smoke", not so much the employees if they're trying to support themselves and families.

 

[lamarguy]

Freetail and Blue Star are the only brewpubs. If nothing else, I highly recommend you stop by Freetail.

Ranger Creek is a new brewstillery that may be having tours when you're visiting. Cool guys.

Flying Saucer is the best craft beer bar.

 

[Kikshaaz]

Freetail and Blue Star are the only brewpubs. If nothing else, I highly recommend you stop by Freetail.

Ranger Creek is a new brewstillery that may be having tours when you're visiting. Cool guys.

Flying Saucer is the best craft beer bar.

Thanks!

 

[elkdog]

I agree that's it's a great thing. I couldn't be happier that they banned them here a couple years ago. Not a smoker myself. But enjoy being able to go into a bar/restaurant and being able to enjoy myself. It's easy for people to say that smokers have a "right" to smoke. No, you don't have a right to possible inflict disease on other people. "But they don't have to be there if they don't like the smoke", not so much the employees if they're trying to support themselves and families.

Someone said in another thread that you have the right to swing your fist around as much as you like, but my right to not get punched is just as valid as your right to swing your fist. Smoking in a public place (such as a bar, which must meet other government regulations safetywise that my house is not subject to) is not a benign behavior toward non-smokers. I love our smoking ban here, but I also love that there are designated areas, usually nice ones, where those who smoke can do so. I go to bars more now, and I find them at least as crowded as they were before.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I agree. Bars around here are still just as busy as ever. Maybe for a few weeks people would avoid them, but then they realized, they like getting drunk and hanging out with friends more than smoking indoors.

 

[david_42]

Oregon used to allow bar owners to decide, but to protect the people too stupid to live, we now have a total ban. Too bad, it was a great way to eliminate dives with one sniff. Although I admit, I haven't been into a non-brewpub in years.

 

[Airborneguy]

...but my right to not get punched is just as valid as your right to swing your fist.

Actually your right to not get punched far outweighs anyone's right to swing their fists. Hence, criminal law.

 

[Rhoobarb]

It's been banned in all public places (that includes coffee houses) here for a couple of years now and personally, I love it. Bars lost some revenue when it first went into effect, but that trend reversed within 2-3 months - maybe b/c non-smokers realized the law had gone into effect!

My wife & I went to South Carolina a couple of months ago and smoking is still allowed in bars there. We went to two bars and it was a kind of a surprise to see the air thick with smoke. We'd been so used to it being smoke-free here that we forgot what that was like! The first bar had an outdoor area and we made a beeline for it to get some fresh air. We weren't so lucky at the second bar and it made for a miserable experience. We had one beer and left. On the plus side, the one brewpub we went to was smoke-free.

 

[beninan]

Here in Maine it's illegal in all public places. They have been trying to pass a law (maybe it did pass, I don't pay attention) to make it illegal practically everywhere except your own house or a designated smoking area. It's also illegal to smoke inside your car with a child under the age of 18 in my city, even if it's your own child. They are trying to make Maine nothing more than a tourist state (jacked up the taxes that make it difficult to live here, the licence plate says "vacationland" on it, the whole anti-smoking everywhere law is to help save the air in the forests and parks for the tourists, blah blah blah...)

 

[ChshreCat]

Just my $.02... I'm a smoker, at least at the moment and I don't mind the smoking ban in my state. Going outside for a smoke isn't that big of a deal for me and I like being able to come home and not reek like stale smoke. I always hated that.

Plus, when I've been trying to quit, it makes it a lot easier. In the past, I just had to stop going to bars when I quit. Now, the temptation is much less. If I want to bum a smoke, I have to get up and follow a friend outside rather than just grab their pack from the table and light up.