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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

Posted on 03/02/2003 5:11:15 AM PST by 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."

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

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."

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

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."

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


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: dallas; pufflist; restaurants; smoking; texas
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To: AlabamaRebel
LOL! I agree! The thought of a workday without coffee is a living nightmare.
461 posted on 03/06/2003 10:02:58 PM PST by CARepubGal
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To: AlabamaRebel; Wrigley
Figures you guys WOULD like those parties. :-) Never been to one: my friends started bringing catalogs to work and you know that would not go over well.

:-)
462 posted on 03/06/2003 10:04:46 PM PST by CARepubGal
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To: CARepubGal; AlabamaRebel
I was just thinking about the Mormon version of a lingerie party.

It wasn't a good thought.
463 posted on 03/07/2003 4:25:44 AM PST by Wrigley
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To: CARepubGal
LOL! I agree! The thought of a workday without coffee is a living nightmare.

Nicotine, Caffeine and Junk food is what keeps me alive :)

464 posted on 03/07/2003 6:06:21 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: CARepubGal; Wrigley
Figures you guys WOULD like those parties. :-)

Well just what would you think of us if we didn't like them??? LOL!!

465 posted on 03/07/2003 6:08:15 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: Wrigley
I was just thinking about the Mormon version of a lingerie party.

It wasn't a good thought.

Thanks, I was having a good morning until you said that :(

466 posted on 03/07/2003 6:09:14 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: AlabamaRebel
Sorry.

I'll buy you a smoke and a cup of joe.
467 posted on 03/07/2003 6:58:42 AM PST by Wrigley
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To: Wrigley; AlabamaRebel
Not good. That is a very bad image. Just for that a visual of fat women as the participants. Very large angry passive aggressive women. That would be the female population of wards I was in.
468 posted on 03/07/2003 6:34:42 PM PST by CARepubGal
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To: AlabamaRebel; Wrigley
Lying like a couple of dawgs? :-)
469 posted on 03/07/2003 6:36:25 PM PST by CARepubGal
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To: CARepubGal
My eyes are bloodshot from that image.
470 posted on 03/07/2003 6:37:53 PM PST by Wrigley
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To: Wrigley
Is that the beer or the visual? :-) I am having wine and pizza after an eventful week of testing software and having management wander over at random times to have me look at various semi working features while I trained a new temp (nice girl who was not a native English speaker).
471 posted on 03/07/2003 6:42:53 PM PST by CARepubGal
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To: CARepubGal
Mmmm Merlot! :-)
472 posted on 03/07/2003 7:26:13 PM PST by CARepubGal
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To: CARepubGal
The visual.

No beer last night.
473 posted on 03/08/2003 3:49:59 AM PST by Wrigley
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To: Wrigley
I'll buy you a smoke and a cup of joe.

It will take more then that to get that vision out of my brain :)

474 posted on 03/08/2003 5:10:09 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: CARepubGal
Just for that a visual of fat women as the participants. Very large angry passive aggressive women.

I'm going to have to beat my head against the wall repeatedly to get that image out if my mind :)

475 posted on 03/08/2003 5:12:33 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: CARepubGal
Lying like a couple of dawgs? :-)

I wouldn't lie.

Do you know the difference between a fairy tale and a tucker story?

A fairy tale starts out with "Once Upon A Time"

A trucker story starts out with "This Ain't No Sh*it"

Other then that, they are the same :)

476 posted on 03/08/2003 5:16:02 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: AlabamaRebel
After clicking on your home page, you're right, it will take more than a cup of joe and a smoke.
477 posted on 03/08/2003 5:18:58 AM PST by Wrigley
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To: Leisler
I think you have a check mate situation here.
478 posted on 03/08/2003 9:12:46 AM PST by Walnut
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To: Wrigley
After clicking on your home page, you're right, it will take more than a cup of joe and a smoke.

I guess I ain't with it today, what do you mean?? :)

479 posted on 03/08/2003 9:21:32 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
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To: AlabamaRebel
With Robert the Bruce et al being in your family tree, I was thinking something more than coffee and cigarettes may be in order. Like, cake.
480 posted on 03/08/2003 9:26:11 AM PST by Wrigley
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