Applebee's will ban smoking

Tribune Chronicle ^ | 05/11/04 | Staff, wire reports

[netmilsmom]

>>I am sick of having to deal with unruly children in restaurants that I propose we ban children from them<<

Amen my FRiend!!!!
I'm sick of going out with my very mannered children and having to explain that the ones running around, being generally obnoxious are bad.

There should be child free establishments. Parents sometimes get sitters and want to eat in peace.

[netmilsmom]

>>Another problem they are having is dealing with unseen alcohol consumption...........they have no idea how much alcohol folks are drinking out in the parking lot in their cars when they go out for a ciagrette.<<

And of course, the bar owner will get sued if that patron drives home drunk.

Oh this is just too bizzare.

[Just another Joe]

And we come down to it.
I don't like the way it smells.
Is that really a reason to use government force on private property owners to disallow your dislikes?

I have no problem with an owner/operator going nonsmoking the way these Applebee's did but the "Thomas and King's chairman and chief executive officer and vice-mayor of Lexington", Mike Scanlon, is such a hypocrit that I wouldn't let him decide what to feed my dog, much less any type of ethical decision.

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!

I turned 38 shortly after my daughter was born and to this day hubby has not forgotten my 38th birthday.............because he forgot my birthday that year.

I have long since forgiven him, and he knows it, but I will never forget that night. After he got home from work I went into town to get some chinese take out and stopped to have a beer while waiting for it. A friend of mine, who owned a different restaurant in the area, was in there and it was obvious she had been crying and crying for a long time. Earlier that day they had found her niece, who was due to have a baby the following week, dead on the floor in her bedroom. Her SOB husband had strangled her 3 days earlier. It's nearly 6 years ago and I am again crying about it.

In all the years I had known this gal it was the first time I saw her cry, and the first time I ever saw her light a cigarette.

[CSM]

If you consider pointing out the truth of your statements mean, then I suppose I am mean.

Yes, this restaurant practiced their right to chose what to do on their own property, but your attitude in the post was clearly selfish and deserved to be pointed out as such. Clearly, you aren't aware of anyone going to a restaurant or bar for any thing other than eating a meal for an hour. If so, my post might not seem so mean!

If a bar or restaurant wants to drive their regulars away, so be it, just don't turn to the government to "level the playing field".

[CSM]

2 posts ago you used the private property owner decided argument, now you advocate government impositions on private property to ensure your preferences are met. Which side of this issue do you take?

[CSM]

I always try to go out of my way to compliment the parents of the well behaved children. I don't think they get enough thanks, so to you I say thank you for doing your job as a parent and raising a well mannered child/ren.

We do have child free establishments, they're called bars......However, some adults, in age only, are trying to abolish them.

[Gabz]

It's definitely not unreasonable for you to ask someone not to blow smoke on you. Nor is it unreasonable for you to speak to the owner of an establishment if you have a problem with their policy regarding smoking.

It only becomes unreasonable when those that don't like it seek out government control over how the establishment runs it's business.

[Hildy]

I didn't say one thing about government intervention, did I? DID I? And it doesn't come down to smell...it comes down to health.

[Hildy]

When did I advocate government mandates to private establishments? I just noted that it is nicer to have public areas that are smoke-free, I'm not going to lie to you.

[Just another Joe]

And it doesn't come down to smell...it comes down to health.

Whose health? The smokers or the nonsmokers?

Tell me the smokers and you have half a chance.
Tell me the nonsmokers and we'll be here all day.

[Gabz]

So you really are in favor of government mandates on private businesses in regard to smoking?

I actually have to laugh at some of the states that have banned indoor smoking for "health reasons"........they all have major, and I mean MAJOR air pollution problems and they are worried about a little bit of second hand smoke. California, Delaware, and New York come quickly to mind.

[Hildy]

I'm not going to get into a debate with you about second hand smoke. All I know is that when I leave a room after people are smoking, I am sick for the rest of the day.

[Just another Joe]

I didn't say one thing about government intervention, did I? DID I?

No, you didn't say anything about government intervention BUT you sure did imply that you enjoyed the result of government intervention.
I can semi-understand that. It's sort of like hate the sin, love the sinner.
You may not agree with the policy but you can enjoy the results of the policy. I'm not sure I could say that with a policy I didn't support.

[CSM]

Go back and re-read your post #298 and get back to us.

[Just another Joe]

I'm not going to get into a debate with you about second hand smoke.

That's good. You'd lose.
At the very most, if you'd done enough research on the subject, you might come close to a draw.

[cupcakes]

I understand nets, but it is often hard to even cut back, especially with smoking. Diet Coke is hardly addictive and can be cut back substantially in the course of a couple of weeks. My husband has cut out caffeine before like this.

I have an autistic son despite doing everything "right". It was out of my control so I can't understand why folks won't change things in their control to optimize having a healthy child. This debate over smoking is perfectly reasonable when discussing adults and government intervention, but although I would not want someone to interceed with those smoking and pregnant, I will never understand someone who does, sorry, but never. I can get someone is working on giving up smoking, but, in my hubby's family, that seemed to be more of a cop out with the mom's never giving up anything. It just kept people off their back basically while they inhaled one or two packs a day religiously. Like I said, I wouldn't mandate it, but I am well within my rights to say I think it is absolutely disgusting and irresponsible to smoke while pregnant. I can think of some other lifestyle things I find just as repugnant during pregnancy--sex with multiple partners, neglecting high risk situations like hypertension or diabetes, etc

[Gabz]

(responding to 2 of your posts in one)



I am in total agreement about banning children in certain places..........if I am spending a bunch of money for a babysitter and a pleasant (childless) night out with my husband I don't want to be subjected to the progeny of others. I can't count how many times that we have opted for the non-smoking sections of restaurants when we take the little one out for dinner...............we don't want to deal with the wait for the smoking section, patience is not a virtue found in many almost 6 yo's.

Regarding the bars, you're right about the drunk driving suits. And in Delaware they are trying to further push the establishment's responsibility. They can already be held both civilly and criminally responsible, but some of the same nanny do-gooders who pushed the smoking ban want to make it easier for to go after the establishment.

[cupcakes]

Hey, I agree with you on the beer--LOL. But for me it was more the taste so I could live with the occasional O'Douls. But if it wasn't available, I gotta tell you, I don't drink it. Look, I've even cut back on tuna this pregnancy because of the mercury level warnings and our fight with autism in another son. I love tuna fish, but I did without it just the same. Being pregnant is hard, I know it, I live it, even now at 9 months preggers. I guess I just still see 9 months as a short period of time to have your style cramped. I have to say I admire you at least cut back. In my experience, again with family, cutting back is used as an excuse to get everyone off of their back and they don't, nor have any intention of "cutting back" on the cigarette smoking.
Like I've said time and again, I don't wish for anyone to interceed in your affairs, but personally, again, I think it is disgusting to do certain lifestyle related things when pregnant--that is mo and I'm not seeking to foist it on you by the gov's hand so we can just agree to disagree.

[Hildy]

My post 298: I'm not a smoker, but I grew up with smokers. When I moved to California and found myself in public areas that were smoke-free, I have to tell you it was so much better. Now, when I'm in another State or somewhere that allows smoking, I literally get ill and sometimes that headachey feeling lasts for a day or so, not to mention the smell on the clothes, etc. It just seems like a huge imposition on those who don't smoke. Of course, if I smoked, I'd feel differently. My brother and sister-in-law smoke way too much and I'm actually sad for them that they can't forego smoking for any period of time and have to excuse themselves to walk outside to smoke. Addiction is a very sad thing.

Go on, what's your beef?