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Smoking Ban Puts Restaurant Profits Up In Smoke/They Finally Admit It!
Boston.com ^ | June 18, 2002 | Unknown

Posted on 06/19/2002 7:11:34 AM PDT by SheLion

Some Haverhill restaurant owners are complaining about a city ban on smoking.

NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill said that they claim the smoking ban is driving customers away and they say they're ready to fight to get it overturned.

Restaurant owners said that they've lived with these new regulations for three months with devastating consequences. They plan to speak out Tuesday night at a meeting at City Hall.

In Haverhill, the bar banter has moved outside. Three months ago, the city banned smoking in most restaurants. The ashtrays may be gone, but so are the customers.

"I would say we lost 30 to 40 percent of our business right off top since March 1, and it happened that day," restaurant owner Mike Difeo said.

It was a similar story at Benny's farther north on Route 125.

"It's a struggle. I've lost $49,000 as of today, and I can see I lost my main base of customers because of non-smoking. I am losing help. My people are not making money. I went from 58 employees to 44 employees," restaurant owner Ben Brienza said.

Workers and some customers may be heading across the border to New Hampshire.

"I think it's a ridiculous law. Little by little, we are lawing ourselves right out of freedom," one customer said.

"A lot of people we don't see anymore. It's sad," another customer said.

Before the regulations, nonsmoking customer could dine in a separate section of the restaurant.

So is Haverhill fixing something that wasn't broken? Not according to a member of the board of health.

"You can't drive over 65 on the highway -- that is a health issue because of accidents, and there are many different rules in that regard," board of health member Dr. Carl Rosenbloom said. "I think (the government) has an obligation to protect certain aspects of public health that an individual cannot protect themselves."

The board of health does not expect to make any decision at Tuesday night's meeting. It will take public comment for at least a week. Then, board members will either keep the regulations as is, go to a citywide ban in all establishments or chose something in between.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Government; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: antismokers; butts; cigarettes; individualliberty; niconazis; prohibitionists; pufflist; smokingbans; taxreform; tobacco
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If this article disappears at Yahoo, you can find it Here
1 posted on 06/19/2002 7:11:34 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: *puff_list; Just another Joe; Gabz; Great Dane; Max McGarrity; JohnHuang2; Tumbleweed_Connection; ..
Board of health member Dr. Carl Rosenbloom said. "I think (the government) has an obligation to protect certain aspects of public health that an individual cannot protect themselves."

I am an adult! I can protect myself, thank you very much Dr. Rosenbloom. Who governs YOUR life?!

2 posted on 06/19/2002 7:13:51 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
They finally admit it indeed! The only voices in the wilderness have been those who actually have gone out of business because of smoking bans. So they ask those who banned smoking on their own -- "No, everything's fine here!"
3 posted on 06/19/2002 7:21:01 AM PDT by maryz
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To: SheLion
I have made it a habit for years not to eat at restaurants that do not provide a smoking section.

I always enjoy informing them, when the hostess tells me that they do not have a smoking section, that I will dine elsewhere.

4 posted on 06/19/2002 7:22:02 AM PDT by Kerberos
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To: maryz
So they ask those who banned smoking on their own -- "No, everything's fine here!"

maryz, if a business wants to go smoke free, that's fine. That should be their choice. But when an outlaw Board of Health goes in and makes that decision for them, it sounds a bit illegal to me....

5 posted on 06/19/2002 7:22:57 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
Banning smoking in Bars/Restaurants is one of the worst laws ever made. SOLUTION: Put "Smoking" or "Non-Smoking" signs in the windows and let owners and customers decide.
6 posted on 06/19/2002 7:24:37 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Kerberos
I have made it a habit for years not to eat at restaurants that do not provide a smoking section.

Kerberos, we only have three bar/restaurants up here left where we can go, have a fine meal, relax and have a cigarette with our beverage.

We, too, refuse to go to any restaurant that does not accomodate us. We refuse to pay for that personal abuse. And that's exactly what the Boards of Health has imposed on all of us: Personal Abuse.

7 posted on 06/19/2002 7:24:57 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
Board of health member Dr. Carl Rosenbloom said. "I think (the government) has an obligation to protect certain aspects of public health that an individual cannot protect themselves."

Only from an invading army. Read your constitution.

8 posted on 06/19/2002 7:25:56 AM PDT by Gaston
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To: 1Old Pro
Banning smoking in Bars/Restaurants is one of the worst laws ever made. SOLUTION: Put "Smoking" or "Non-Smoking" signs in the windows and let owners and customers decide.

You said it all!

:)

But that won't give enough control to the Boards of Health.

9 posted on 06/19/2002 7:26:28 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
I think they can still smoke in Russia, now which one of us was an authoritarian state?
10 posted on 06/19/2002 7:26:40 AM PDT by steve50
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To: SheLion
"Kerberos, we only have three bar/restaurants up here left where we can go, have a fine meal, relax and have a cigarette with our beverage. "

It is getting more and more difficult in the area I live also. But I am firmly resolved that if the choice is between enduring, as you point out, government abuse, or eating at home, I will eat at home.

Besides, it saves me money to pay the outrages taxes to buy a pack of cigarettes. But fear not, I don't expect it to be too long until the black market kicks in and lowers the prices.

11 posted on 06/19/2002 7:33:22 AM PDT by Kerberos
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To: Kerberos
Besides, it saves me money to pay the outrages taxes to buy a pack of cigarettes. But fear not, I don't expect it to be too long until the black market kicks in and lowers the prices.

Kerberos, you can roll a beautiful carton of cigarettes for under $8.00! A lot of us in here do just that.

Sure saves a lot of money for Christmas!!!

12 posted on 06/19/2002 7:49:06 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
How come none of these Boards of Health have established a maximum toxicity level for second hand smoke. If they did, restaurants would be able to install air handling equipment to meet these requirements. Or not install because they would prefer the non-smoking crowd.

But then that wouldn't allow for nazi-anti-smoking doctors/politicians/activists to control the populous, now would it?

13 posted on 06/19/2002 7:53:15 AM PDT by JoeSixPack1
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To: SheLion
"'You can't drive over 65 on the highway -- that is a health issue because of accidents, and there are many different rules in that regard,' board of health member Dr. Carl Rosenbloom said."

Maybe because the highway is owned and maintained by the government. A private business is a totally different matter. Customers can avoid a restaurant because it allows smoking or, conversely, they can go over the border to avoid the smoke ban- like they are doing right now.

In order to get the title "Dr.", Carl got a BS degree (Bullsh# degree), then a MS degree (More Sh# degree) and finally a PhD (Piled Higher and Deeper degree). I always remember this when dealing with these so-called "experts".

14 posted on 06/19/2002 7:53:48 AM PDT by rudypoot
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To: SheLion
Kerberos, you can roll a beautiful carton of cigarettes for under $8.00! A lot of us in here do just that. "

You know that's not a bad idea.

It has been many years since I have rolled my own so I have kind of forgotten about it. Maybe I will pay a visit to my local tobacco store.

15 posted on 06/19/2002 7:57:37 AM PDT by Kerberos
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To: SheLion
BUMP!
16 posted on 06/19/2002 7:57:40 AM PDT by KS Flyover
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To: SheLion
Good to see them finally admitting to losses, but I don't think City Hall cares, they haven't so far.
17 posted on 06/19/2002 8:03:24 AM PDT by Great Dane
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To: Kerberos
I always enjoy informing them, when the hostess tells me that they do not have a smoking section, that I will dine elsewhere

I have been doing the same thing. Even made a calling card I leave with them saying I won't be back or thanking them for providing a smoking section and I will be back. It has my name,address, phone and email address in case they care to contact me. Several have.

Our town went with a smoking ban a couple years ago and the restaurant owners have complained but nothing has changed. Lets face it.. The Nico Nazi's have taken over.

18 posted on 06/19/2002 8:07:27 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: SheLion
"maryz, if a business wants to go smoke free, that's fine. That should be their choice. But when an outlaw Board of Health goes in and makes that decision for them, it sounds a bit illegal to me...."

I agree. There was never a law that required any resturant to allow smoking. It should be the owners choice. If he/she thinks having a smoke free restaurant would improve their business, by all means ban it but for these city governments to make it law to ban smoking is unconstitional IMHO.

It's a PC thing now. You are so Politically Incorrect if you smoke.

I smoke and I own a gun. How much more Politically incorrect could I be? "

19 posted on 06/19/2002 8:13:02 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Kerberos
How about ordering first and then upon the hostesses return, popping the question and promptly leaving in disgust?

When I went to Cape Cod, I was disgusted to find a community-wide ban on smoking. It cost several business money during my 4-day stay.
20 posted on 06/19/2002 8:13:15 AM PDT by Freemeorkillme
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