Eateries resist telling smokers to snuff it - owners say they aren't obliged to enforce ban

The Dallas Morning News ^ | March 2, 2003 | By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Eateries resist telling smokers to snuff it

Owners say they aren't obliged to enforce ban; Poss endorsed

03/02/2003

By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News

If Dallas Mayor Laura Miller expects restaurateurs to become her anti-smoking patrol, she's mistaken, industry leaders said Saturday on the first day of Dallas' restaurant and bar smoking ban.

The Greater Dallas Restaurant Association is instructing owners to abide by the new city ordinance, such as by posting "no smoking" signs. But it is telling them not to feel compelled to enforce it.

"We are not going to get into a confrontational situation if someone is smoking," said Mark Maguire, president-elect of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association and owner of Maguire's Regional Cuisine and the M Grill & Tap in Dallas. "We're going to choose not to confront it."

At a smoke-free happy hour at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant, Mayor Laura Miller praised the ban as a victory against illness.

"It's a public health issue, first and foremost," she said. "You have to stay strong and believe in that."

RICHARD MICHAEL PRUITT / DMN

Jeramy Tuggle, a waiter at Dick's Last Resort in the West End, had to go outside for his smoke break Saturday.

But count restaurant association leaders among the nonbelievers.

Ms. Miller angered them enough that the association on Saturday made its first mayoral endorsement ever - recommending City Council member Mary Poss, who is challenging Ms. Miller in the May 3 election.

Ms. Poss vowed Saturday that, if elected, she would attempt to overturn the ban.

"Some of these businesses will not be in business," she said. "Others will move to the suburbs."

Ms. Miller played down the endorsement.

"It doesn't surprise me. The restaurants are nervous because this is a big change," she said. "They'll come around quickly."

The mayor cited studies indicating that smoking bans increase restaurant patronage rather than drive it to other cities, as some restaurateurs fear.

At the Cadillac Bar in Dallas' West End, general manager Mark O'Brien said he opposed the ban, although he reported normal business Sunday and no problems among nicotine-starved patrons.

In keeping with the restaurant association's guidance, he said he would not harass customers who decide to light up at the risk of being fined as much as $200.

Among the smokers who were grumbling but not puffing at the Cadillac was Jared Davidson.

He said he would consider taking his cigarettes - and money - to restaurants in Addison, Arlington or Fort Worth.

But he remained at the Cadillac on Saturday.

Mr. Davidson sat quietly, his food before him and a half-empty glass of suds inches from his left hand. But at his right, the ashtray was gone.

"It's really weird - really weird - going into a bar, having a beer and not being able to have a cigarette," said Mr. Davidson, gesturing as if holding an invisible cigarette between his index and middle fingers. "It's going to take some getting used to."

MONA REEDER / DMN

Mayor Laura Miller says restaurant owners eventually will see the wisdom of the city's smoking ban, which went into effect Saturday.

At Dick's Last Resort, a West End bar and restaurant, Douglas and Karen Lambert sat at the bar drinking beer. Mr. Lambert smokes; his wife doesn't.

He said he would abide by the ban; he doesn't even smoke in his own house. But that doesn't mean he likes the new city restrictions.

"It should be up to the establishments, the owners, to decide where customers can and can't smoke," he said.

Likewise, it's up to customers to take their business to restaurants that appeal to them, Mr. Lambert said. "If you don't want to smell smoke, don't come in."

Jason Buckner of Dallas said he agreed with the ban.

Dining in a Dallas restaurant without the smell of burning tobacco wafting his way, and coming home without smelling of smoke, will be a welcome change, he said.

"I can't really stand smoke," he said. "The ban is a real benefit to people who want to be healthy."

E-mail

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/030203dnmetsmoking.b2756.html

[CARepubGal]

Sad but true. Freedom requires adult level decision making and it is easier to let someone else tell you how to live. :-(

[CARepubGal]

Thanks! I recreationally cook for fun. My dog appreciates it the most. :-) I am avoiding the temptation of Pampered Chef parties the best I can.

[Gabz]

You just gave me a great laugh!!!!

Ilbay always gives me laughs - I love his "logic"!!!

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAHAAAAHAAAAAAA

[Gabz]

You're right - it is dangerous. But I'm going to continue to be a good girl. The place we are buying has probably less than half the square footage as the place we are selling. So I have to spend more time on figuring out storage for what I've got as opposed to adding to it!!!

[CCWoody]

You know, I was thinking: I thought that the Bay of Pigs happened during the Kennedy administration.

[Gabz]

Any time.

I recreationally cook as well, it's a great stress reliever.

I'm not going to be doing any major cooking in the forseeable future - I need to empty what I've got in my freezers before we move!!!!

[Gabz]

BWAAAAHAAAHAAA!!!

I think it is time for me to hit the sack. It's either that or have another beer - and I think I have had enough of those this evening.

Have a good one folks. For some reason I think this thread will still be running when I get up in the morning!!!!!!

[A CA Guy]

People aren't smoking as much anymore in Southern California anyway Gabz.
We are building new places to eat everywhere out of a public need.
It hasn't been negative in Southern CA.

[Leisler]

You know, of course, cooking and specifically grilling, releases aromatic hydrocarbons? So, according to our consistent clean-air Illbay, it should be illegal. Also any pine forest is a dump of aromatic hydrocarbons, so they should be cut down….I could go on, but facts are a troublesome thing to the little missy.

[RWG]

Then accomodate the reality of smokers and their rights you smokenazi. Say and do the same thing.

[Wrigley]

Educational conversation, but I still don't get it.

But, maybe I do. I like to collect dust around the house from time to time.

[Wrigley]

I need to make a confesstion here.

(Speaking in a quite voice as not to be heard and thought silly by my fellow guys.)

Pampered Chef has some pretty cool stuff. I bought one of the pizza stones.

Now, how about those Cubs.

[drstevej]

***Now, how about those Cubs.***

I can see why you are using a quiet voice.

BTW, I blame our ownership of a pizza stone from PC on my wife. However, we all use it. Marriage provides some cover at times.

[Gabz]

(Speaking in a quite voice as not to be heard and thought silly by my fellow guys.)

I truly believe that I have some really cool stuff in my kitchen because hubby secrettly wanted the things himself!!!

[Wrigley]

LOL

Doesn't surprise me. That pizza stone is one of the best things I bought.

My friend's wife use to host the PC parties, and every time I'd go over to visit she'd put the magazine in front of me. Most of the time I wouldn't buy.

[Walnut]

I vote with the smokers to. I fact when hubby and I go out to eat we take the smoking section over the non smoking section. (more interesting people

[Max McGarrity]

You might as well give it up, Gabz, billyboy trotted out the "A" word so the discussion is over.

[Gabz]

Isn't it amazing??????????

As I explained to an anti on another discussion board I frequent - the "A" word being trotted out is just proof of the inability to legitimately and intelligently debate the facts of the issue at hand.

[Leisler]

I don't smoke. And I agree that sometimes even to me cigarette smoke, especially from ashtrays for some reason, is annoying. But if you've worked to own a bar or eatery, hey, it's yours, you run it as you choose, and I will choose. We don't need anybody else in the equation.

I remember when smoking sections started in airplanes, of course then the antis said they weren’t trying to ban it, a lie, just like they did when they did the sections in restaurants. Anyways, my uncle was a sales guy, didn’t smoke but sat in smoking cause of the wheeling and dealing. Basically he said, and no offense intended, but no smoking was for kids, moms and wimps. This was 25 years ago.

[CARepubGal]

See, it is a start. We won't tell.......