NC officially bans smoking in bars / restaurants

[olllllo]

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/smoking_ban_heads_to_governor

The House narrowly agreed to the Senate version of a smoking ban, sending to the governor a bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants.
"This bill has come a long way," said Rep. Hugh Holliman, the House Democratic leader and champion of the bill. "It's had a much debate as any bill has ever had in this state."
Gov. Beverly Pedue is expected to sign the bill into law. It's a law that might have been unthinkable just a few years ago in a state built on the tobacco industry.
The bill was approved 62 to 56. The original House version allowed smoking only in businesses that prohibited anyone under 18 from entering the premises. That exception generally excluded all bars from the ban. Restaurants complained that the exception would give bars a competitive advantage.
But the version adopted by the Senate removed the section of the bill that applied the ban to all workplaces.
Holliman said the compromise was "probably as good as you're going to do on a bill that's as far reaching as this." He held open the possibility that he would take another run at all workplaces later.
Opponents said the bill was an infringement on personal rights.
"This is about the freedom and rights to do on your property what you see fit," said Rep. David Lewis, a Dunn Republican.
Update: In a statement, Gov. Beverly Perdue called it "an important and historic day for North Carolina."
"I have vigorously supported efforts to reduce and eliminate smoking and this bill will help more North Carolina citizens avoid the dangers of secondhand smoke," she said.

 

[olllllo]

Maybe now, Asheville has an argument as the new Portland.

 

[c.n.budz]

Meh.... Connecticut banned smoking in bars years ago. It led to bar owners scrambling to build patios...

 

[springer]

NY did it a few years ago also. All the bars were in a doom and gloom state of mind... There are more bars around here now than before and they have found it actually saves them money no nasty smell and no dingy walls. They don't have to ventilate air in summer and winter. And business increased

 

[olllllo]

NC is the Tobacco state. It'd be the last place imaginable that I thought this would happen.
AZ has been smoke free for awhile.

 

[c.n.budz]

NC is the Tobacco state. It'd be the last place imaginable that I thought this would happen.

That's true... I didn't even think of that.

 

[ajwillys]

That's true... I didn't even think of that.

Those closest to it know the most about it. I had a friend whose dad was the second largest tobacco farmer in the state and he said he would immediately cut off his kids if he caught them with a cigarette. He didn't smoke either.

 

[c.n.budz]

I had a friend whose dad was the second largest tobacco farmer in the state and he said he would immediately cut off his kids if he caught them with a cigarette. He didn't smoke either.

Just like the age old adage from drug dealers, "Don't get high on your own supply"

 

[springer]

Also domestic production of tobacco has fallen way off. More competitive foreign tobacco on the market . So even though NC is the tobacco state it's tobacco crops are not what they used to be.

"Total utilization of U.S.-grown tobacco has been declining since 1975, from
1.941 billion pounds to 1.121 billion pounds in 2001 (a 42% drop in the farm
weight)."

report

 

[Whiskey]

Indianapolis is heading hat way to, at least Marion County.

 

[rico567]

It's amazing how across-the-board repressive we feel it is necessary to be in this country- the legacy of those New England Puritans, whether it's on the right or the left, is alive and well.

We were in Spain when their smoking law went into effect three years ago, and I thought it was pretty well thought out. Of course smoking in the workplace was pretty much eliminated, unless you were out-of-doors. As far as privately owned public establishments, it's divided into places below and above so many square meters in area (I think it's 100). If it's above, it either has to be non-smoking, or divided according to very strict standards into smoking and non-smoking....this means with walls, separate ventilation, the whole enchilada......for all intents and purposes two distinct and isolated serving areas within the same business. The smaller establishments get to choose one way or the other, with what the place is posted unmistakably outside. We don't have that much sense, regrettably.

NB: I also feel obliged to point out that what we are doing in this country applies to a completely legal, government approved (and heavily taxed) activity, and in all 50 states.

 

[KingBrianI]

It's good news for me. My fiancee refuses to go to bars where smoking is allowed because she is irritated by the smoke and dislikes smelling like smoke afterwards. This means she'll accompany me to any place now, including the flying saucer! Can you say designated driver!?

 

[QueenCityALER]

Well SH$T!!! I live in NC and have enjoyed our freedom from this ban thus far. I smoke. I love to smoke while I'm drinking out. Oh well. What's next? Homebrewers? Freedom... I guess.

 

[niquejim]

While I quit smoking over a year ago, I feel that if I want to open a bar that caters to smokers who want to bring their pets I should be allowed to. We are way past half way down the slippery slope

 

[Sean]

NC is the Tobacco state. It'd be the last place imaginable that I thought this would happen.

That really surprises me. I never thought it would go through.

I moved to NC about 5 years ago, and they still allowed smoking in colleges. In the cafeteria there was no smoke free zone. People smoked everywhere, it was an odd sight.

I just finished at UNC in Pembroke, and just this last semester, they banned smoking in all buildings, how many years behind most states.

 

[janzik]

It's nice being able to go to a bar, a club, or a concert in NJ/NYC without smelling like one of you filthy, stinky, yellow teeth/fingered people. Now if only my office building banned it from the premises then I wouldn't have to smell it in the elevator or passing in the hallway...

 

[SkewedBrewing]

It's amazing how across-the-board repressive we feel it is necessary to be in this country- the legacy of those New England Puritans, whether it's on the right or the left, is alive and well.

We were in Spain when their smoking law went into effect three years ago, and I thought it was pretty well thought out. Of course smoking in the workplace was pretty much eliminated, unless you were out-of-doors. As far as privately owned public establishments, it's divided into places below and above so many square meters in area (I think it's 100). If it's above, it either has to be non-smoking, or divided according to very strict standards into smoking and non-smoking....this means with walls, separate ventilation, the whole enchilada......for all intents and purposes two distinct and isolated serving areas within the same business. The smaller establishments get to choose one way or the other, with what the place is posted unmistakably outside. We don't have that much sense, regrettably.

NB: I also feel obliged to point out that what we are doing in this country applies to a completely legal, government approved (and heavily taxed) activity, and in all 50 states.

I wish this is how it was here in the States. It doesn't bother me either way, but I smoke when I drink. Not just one or two either, I usually smoke like a regular smoker while drinking and then cut it out of my life for 5 days a week.

I don't understand why it has to be so black and white here. If a bar wants to take the risk either way, by either cutting out their smoking or anti-smoking clientele they should be able to take that risk on their own.

I've been to bars before where smoking was allowed indoors in the winter and as soon as it got warm out it was only allowed on the patio.

Whats wrong with that, I ask?

 

[bull8042]

Well SH$T!!! I live in NC and have enjoyed our freedom from this ban thus far. I smoke. I love to smoke while I'm drinking out. Oh well. What's next? Homebrewers? Freedom... I guess.

Well, I don't smoke but I think I am going to start taking a spit-bottle in with me if it is only marked "No Smoking" and not "Tobacco Free".

I think every place should have the right to decide for themselves, but one way or the other and not with a "smoking section". That is like having a peeing section in the pool in my opinion. If a restaurant or bar was either all smoking or no smoking, then people could frequent their preference and "vote" with their money. If a business banned smoking then found themselves going hungry, then they would know they made the wrong decision. But if me and the wife and kids all smoked, then we could still choose a smoking place. Know what I mean?

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

Everyone acted like the sky was falling in Oklahoma a few years back when they went this way. Although I think you can still smoke in the bars there. As far as eating out, I'd rather make the short drive across the border to eat smoke-free than stay here and eat smoke.

 

[BrewBrain]

I'm a hypocrite on this issue. CA banned smoking years ago and I love it

However, I never could have voted for the ban if I were a legislator, and I don't agree with it.

But I love not smelling like an ash tray when I go out.

 

[arturo7]

My smoking friends adapted pretty quick when the law was passed here. Now they smoke less and consider the outside smoking area as the cool kid's club.

 

[Casey27]

I'm a hypocrite on this issue. CA banned smoking years ago and I love it

However, I never could have voted for the ban if I were a legislator, and I don't agree with it.

But I love not smelling like an ash tray when I go out.

Same here, I love being able to breath better in my favorite bars, but on the other hand it is going really far towards telling private businesses how to run themselves... Non-smokers like me always had the option of not going to smoking establishments - spending our money in non-smoking places instead.

But I have to say - the formerly "smoking" bars and restaurants are getting a lot more of my money now!

 

[moti_mo]

Wow, I'm from NC and have lived in CO for ~10 years now. Never thought I would see the day this would pass. It sure will make going back home to hang out with old friends in the local bars a lot more pleasant. The ban in CO has been in place for a long time now, but every time I go back to NC, I come back from the bar (almost any bar) smelling like an ashtray. I'm happy it passed.

 

[lamarguy]

San Antonio is the top 7th city in terms of population, but they still haven't banned smoking in bars. They banned smoking in restaurants a long time ago to much applause...

I mean, even Houston and Dallas banned smoking in bars/clubs a while back and people are very happy about it. Sure, the business owners were up in arms initially, but their business has largely increased since the ban.

I will be elated when SA bans smoking inside bars/clubs.

 

[arturo7]

The smoking ban that surprised me the most was Mexico City last year. I go there a lot for work. They didn't even have smoking sections before the ban. Many of the nicer restaurants had cigar humidors under the desert cart!

It was glorious! A juicy corn-fed steak dinner followed up with a Cuban and some fiine sippin' tequila. This was normal. No dirty looks from the next table eating their soups and salads.

 

[ColbyPants]

Well SH$T!!! I live in NC and have enjoyed our freedom from this ban thus far. I smoke. I love to smoke while I'm drinking out. Oh well. What's next? Homebrewers? Freedom... I guess.

Yep, nobody cares about rights infringed upon until its the right they want to keep, and by then it is usually too late.

 

[Jaymo]

You all can talk about freedoms being taken away and rights infriged upon, but it's tough to go out to a bar where I live, as a non-smoker, and have the freedom to breath without being forced to breath a bunch of secondhand smoke. What about the rights of non-smokers?

I have no problem with what people do as long as they keep it to themselves. Shoot heroine and keep it in private for all I care. When you force it on others though, it's a problem.

edit: One thing I should add is that I'm a professional jazz guitarist and have really started to notice the effects of having to work in other people's secondhand smoke lately. I don't even go out for drinks as much as I used to because of all the smoke. Luckily, I've found one or 2 smoke free bars 45 minutes from me that have decent beer. Kind of a long drive though.

 

[TheCapn22]

I enjoy smoke free bars and restaurants, but I am definitely against it. Like it or not smoking is LEGAL. Ban it in public areas? Definitely. The government has no business telling PRIVATE organizations what they can and can't do when said activity is legal.

I'm not a smoker, and hate everything that cigarettes are. But the whole "slippery slope" mantra applies here. Just because it's something that you yourself don't enjoy, doesn't mean it's okay to take away that right from other people.

 

[jagg]

That really surprises me that it passed, I would have bet the farm that the bill would fail, living in NC all my life, and working tobacco part of it, I can say I never would have even thought a possibility could exist as banning smoking in public businesses much less a privately owned place, I dont smoke but like some of the others suggested, this is a travesty, and has to be against your freedoms. I just hope they dont want to ban Homebrewing

 

[hopdog]

Yesterday Maine passed a law prohibiting smoking from public places like beaches etc. Our restaurants have been smoke free for a long time and it is great.

There was a diner whose clientele all smoked, drank coffee, lingered. The owners railed against the ban. Once it went into effect they found the smokers tended not to linger. The owner was pleasantly surprised to find the diner had a higher rate of table turn-over and their business increased substantially.