Can I Buy You a Drink and Light Your Cigarette? (Cathryn Crawford)

The Washington Dispatch ^ | January 2, 2004 | Cathryn Crawford

[Pan_Yans Wife]

If it is illegal to drink and drive, why do bars have parking lots?

[gatorbait]

You have that right .Any of these so called safety controls are light on the former , VERY heavy on the latter.

[SheLion]

Those who endorse the public health side of this issue contend that health issues outweigh every argument. They believe that people have the right to always be in the safest environment possible (whether they want to be or not), and that legislation is the proper vehicle by which to ensure public health.

Then this just means that the "Government" will only "protect" us when it suits THEM.

For instance:  911.............On September 11th, the EPA went into NYC and ASSURED the City that it was SAFE to breath that AIR!  Then, months down the line when workers were becoming sick, they backed their Safe Air Train up.  People caught the EPA in a LIE!

So, when it suits the Government...................that's how "I" look at it.

[rapture-me]

If it is illegal to drink and drive, why do bars have parking lots?

Outstanding question! Think of how much better the air would be if we converted all of the parking lots around the bars into tree planting areas.

[eastforker]

In Texas you can bartend at the age of 18 but it is rare. What part of Texas do you live?

[Gabz]

I am without the scientific qualifications to resolve that issue, but I am comfortable assuming that cigarette smoke doesn't become safer just because one person has inhaled it before it gets to me.) Granting that assumption, which deserves priority – the right of a proprietor to control what legal activities happen in his bar, or the right of a member of the public to live and work in the safest environment possible?

The vast majority of the science shows your assumption to be wrong. But while I disagree with it, I fully agree with the conclusion you have drawn.

[Cathryn Crawford]

In Texas you can bartend at the age of 18 but it is rare. What part of Texas do you live?

Well, I don't really want to bartend. LOL

[longtermmemmory]

Soon we will have underground clubs called "smoke easys".

The property rights issue is spot on point.

If you don't like it don't go to bars that allow smoking.

The public health issue is too creapy of socialism to be comfortable. What other thing will they ban as a public health issue?

This is why we have to make the left extinct.

[SheLion]

Why not just require restaurants and bars that permit smoking to post a notice advising prospective customers of the hazard?

My very favorite place in all the world to eat..........The Par and Grill..............did a big remodeling.  They glass enclosed the non-smoking room.  Big beautiful glass enclosed room for the non-smokers.  Although I hardly ever saw anyone in there.

Then, they installed 4 huge ceiling smoke eaters.  You couldn't even SMELL any smoke, and you had to look to see if anyone WAS smoking!  The bar section had tables and booths where we could enjoy a good meal, (full menu), a beverage and enjoy a cigarette.

On the door outside, there is a sign "This Is A Smoking Establishment."

They went all out to accommodate all the patrons.  But that wasn't good enough for the Maine Health Coalition.  THEY want a level playing field.  Level to whom?  I'm sure it's going to "level" quite a few revenues!

[longtermmemmory]

I second hand smoke three packs a day with no ill effects. (/s)

[eastforker]

It is not illegal to drink and drive, it is illegal to drive intoxicated. Untill a few years ago you COULD drink a beer and drive as long as you was not intoxicated.Old habbits die hard,many grab a cold one after work to drink on the way home.

[SheLion]

Until smoking is banned altogether, the decisions regarding the right to smoke in privately owned businesses should be left up to the individual discretion of the owner. Otherwise, choice is removed and replaced with full control by the government, which invalidates the entire idea of private ownership.

Like I said.......I shudder to think who else the Government has on their "HIT LIST" now that they got their foot in the door with the smoking ban.  Everyone with a business who hasn't been hit, keep your backs covered.  It COULD happen to YOU!

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[eastforker]

Nor did I imply that you wanted to.

[MHGinTN]

"... the bans are unconstitutional, because they prohibit legal behavior in privately owned places of business." If that clear statement still escapes meaning for the masses, it's probably too late to reclaim the Republic, Cat!

[longtermmemmory]

Did you know there are air cleaners that are supposed to scrub the air? They are advertised regularly in "restaurant business magazine." Why did they not just mandate the use of these machines in smoking establishments than an outright ban?

Because technology is not a solution the left likes to support. If a technogy can solve a problem, where does that leave govenment?

[E.G.C.]

Well, it's going O.K. We had a problem trying to log on to the internet yesterday. One of the hard drvies in the primary datbase server at my ISP crashed and they had to switch to an alternate server.

So far no problems.

[Scenic Sounds]

Good post!

Smoke eaters, segregated dining and the posting of notices would seem to go a long way toward satisfying the legitimate concerns of folks who support these smoking ban laws. Have you learned of other steps that owners have taken to meet the prohibitionists halfway?

[SheLion]

It might be rather late in the day to attempt a principled full-spectrum defense of private property, but it will get no earlier for waiting.

Francis, thanks for your link.  I totally enjoyed reading it!  Here's a picture you might enjoy! heh!

 

[SheLion]

I understand the concept that you propose & mostly agree. In the interest of public safety, could we also automatically have each patron deposit their car keys with the bartender and require a Breathalyzer test before they are returned to the car owner prior to leaving the bar?

One guy ask me if bars had parking lots?  Since it's illegal for people to drink and drive, WHY are there "parking lots" at bars?  One great question, if you ask me!!!!  They could use that lot to put up ANOTHER BAR. hehe!