Pittsburgh, PA: Restaurants fuming over smoking ban

United Pro Smoker's Newsletter ^ | July 14, 2006

[SheLion]

The Pennsylvania Restaurant Association has thrown its support behind a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, casinos and private clubs.
So why couldn't we find any local establishments who agree with them?

Admittedly, we used a small sample, but when staff writer Jeff Pikulsky talked to owners of Mon Valley clubs and restaurants last week, he found angry opposition to the proposed ban.

Monessen Elks Club Steward Marcy Zites estimated that 70 percent of her club patrons smoke and feared that a ban would be bad for business.

Those sentiments were echoed at the Foster House in North Belle Vernon, where bartender Lisa Vestrat said customers have been complaining about the possibility of a ban.

At the High Point restaurant in Coal Center, Loretta Sepesy lamented, "People like to have a drink and cigarette. They take away all of your rights anymore."

The proposal to ban smoking in public places was introduced by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, a Republican from Montgomery, and is currently being considered by the Senate's Public Health & Welfare Committee. Similar legislation in the House died in committee last month.

The ban is being offered out of concern for the health and welfare of employees who work in those facilities and are exposed to second-hand smoke. A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General brands second-hand smoke as a health risk and recommends that it be banned from public gathering places.

We understand the concern of the state's Restaurant Association and its desire to be on the politically correct side of the smoking argument. But we think the organization should have contacted more of its members to see if they feel the same way.

It's our position that in a free society, this decision should be up to the individual restaurants, not the government. Restaurants who want to ban smoking should be welcome to do so, and customer response will determine if they are right or wrong.

"The sun does more damage to peoples' bodies than second-hand cigarette smoke," said Monessen Elks Club trustee Brian Mears. "What is the government going to do next, shut down the sun?

Shh, Brian, don't give them any ideas.

[383rr]

That was a good story.
I liked it.

[Badray]

ping

[smokeyb]

Well put, Badray! And I am another non-smoker.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Oh, I wish I could have read the entire site. I'm extrememely interested in the ways that the mostly small business owners are being losing everything in the name of "it's so good for you". What happened to freedom of choice?

As long as their pet amusements aren't touched, anti smokers won't care. They won't care until their cities and counties need to make up the shortfall in tax revenue that suddenly isn't there anymore. What do those people like to do, anyway, besides bitch about everyone else?

Not to mention bingo kept grandma connected mentally and physically with friends and acquaintances. I also noticed statements from several vendors(on the link), and how this has affected them. No one cares, as long as their ox doesn't get gored. Frankly, some adults never grew out of the schoolyard mentality of being able to gang up and pick on someone. That would be smokers these days. Who's next?

Bless both your grandmas. Cancer is an equal opportunity destroyer, and I am fed up with the junk science that is taken as Gospel, and the tsk tsks that sometimes go along with the comments.

I've had conversations with several FReepers over intolerance. It's not just smoking. As conservatives, we should fight for every citizen's right to exist and enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Your property should not be taken from you, nor should your business. I'll shut up. I could go on for 15 paragraphs...

I'm on a lot of ping lists, but put me on yours. (I swore-no more ping lists, lol!)

[SheLion]

What I want them (the government at the state or federal level) to do is have the honesty to come right out and ban the sale of cigarettes. When they give up the revenue, then I will believe that they are sincere. Until then, they are just out of control control freaks.

They are just that!  Out of control control freaks!

The other thing that would be great would be for the tobacco companies tell the States to go to hell and not sell in that state when they enact a ban like this. The loss of revenue should get their attention.

That's what the liquor corporations did.  They finally stood up and told the states where to go.  Now you can't advertise tobacco products on a NASCAR, but you can hard liquor.  Go figure!

As long as it is a legal product to sell (and tax) it should be a product that can be used, subject only to the whim of the owner of the establishment and not some petty bureaucrats.

Cigarettes is the only legal product we can purchase today but made to feel like criminals for using it.

[SheLion]

I've had conversations with several FReepers over intolerance. It's not just smoking. As conservatives, we should fight for every citizen's right to exist and enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Your property should not be taken from you, nor should your business. I'll shut up. I could go on for 15 paragraphs...

I'm on a lot of ping lists, but put me on yours. (I swore-no more ping lists, lol!)

You knocked it out of the ballpark!  And I know what you mean about being able to go on and on about this subject.  It just never ends.  All the junk science and the anti lies.  It's horrible what they have done to our rights. And especially to the rights of the private business owners.  My heart bleeds for them!

I added you to my puff list.  Thank you!!!!

[Gabz]

It's horrible when our own lawmakers stick it to us! They promise us the moon to get our votes, then once in office, all they give us is the outhouse.

I know what you are saying. I'm lucky both my Senatore (R) and my Delegate (D) voted against the ban, and will continue to do so. I've joked with my Delegate about his voting, he either votes my way or I run against him next time, and find a new lawyer!!! In his 3 years in office he has only voted against me once, and even I usnderstood his reasoning for the vote, I didn't like the vote, but understood his political reasoning for it.......so while I don't exactly hold that against him, I do remind him of it every chance I get.

I was in politics for far too long to let a letter (R or D) behind someone's name cause me to stereotype him or her. Conservative politicians come with all different letters behind their names, not just R's...some of them are our worst enemies, especially on the local and state level. I've learned it first hand.

[Gabz]

The other thing that would be great would be for the tobacco companies tell the States to go to hell and not sell in that state when they enact a ban like this. The loss of revenue should get their attention.

I agree, it's a great idea. But alas it will not happen until after 2024. The Master Settlement Agreement (government sanctioned extorion and monopoly) specifically states the companies can not stop selling product until that year.

[Gabz]

I ran into the non-smoker that started the round of applause today. He's about 25 or so and knew I was a smoker long before we ran into each other at the bar .......he should because other than 170,000 chickens he's the only neighbor we have and we're the only neighbors he has (he lives directly across the road) LOL!!!!!!

Anyway, he asked me if I could figure out what is wrong with some people. I didn't make the connection right away with the incident and asked him what he was talking about. He reminded me by saying - the "dork" that wanted all the smoking to stop. I just burst out laughing and said the world is full of such types and you best get used to it. He just shook his head and went on his merry way.

[razorback-bert]

You are correct about the Applebees, Chili's and others supporting the ban to cut local competition.

I don't eat at those places, because I don't want to pay $10 for a TV diner.

[Badray]

Some would say that the liquor industry is just callous and brazen. Maybe that's what comes of having been subject to a government prohibition. Maybe that's how the tobacco companies and the related industries must learn.

I love the cartoon. That really nails it. They want it both ways, don't they?

[Badray]

I didn't know about that little tidbit of info. Thank you.

[Badray]

What that 'Master Agreement' really sez is that even though the government thinks that tobacco is making people sick and in fact, kills people, that the revenue that is generated to use for all sorts of non health related programs, is more important than ending, or at least cutting, those risks by not selling that product anymore.

What monumental hypocrites.

[TheLion]

"The sun does more damage to peoples' bodies than second-hand cigarette smoke," said Monessen Elks Club trustee Brian Mears. "What is the government going to do next, shut down the sun?"

What about all those good fumes everyone sucks up behind other cars in rush hour. That has got to be a 100 times worse than second hand smoke....I forgot, they can't do much about that little problem.

[Hazcat]

My fascism?? I do not propose to inflict my will on anyone as you do. I believe in free will and choice. Can you say the same when you FORCE a business to your ideas?

[elkfersupper]

Smoke interferes with the aroma and taste of the food.

Well, that would be your preference.

Others would disagree.

[Gabz]

I don't eat at those places, because I don't want to pay $10 for a TV dinner.

A $10 TV dinner would be a far sight better than anything I ever ate at an Applebees.

[Despot of the Delta]

I ran into the non-smoker that started the round of applause today. He's about 25 or so and knew I was a smoker long before we ran into each other at the bar .......he should because other than 170,000 chickens he's the only neighbor we have and we're the only neighbors he has (he lives directly across the road) LOL!!!!!!

Anyway, he asked me if I could figure out what is wrong with some people. I didn't make the connection right away with the incident and asked him what he was talking about. He reminded me by saying - the "dork" that wanted all the smoking to stop. I just burst out laughing and said the world is full of such types and you best get used to it. He just shook his head and went on his merry way.

You should tell him he ought to worry more about those 170,000 chicken and getting Histoplasmosis than worrying about smokers.
 

[Gabz]

What monumental hypocrites.

As my 8 year old daughter would say.......purzackery.

All kidding aside, you are exactly correct in your assessment of the MSA and the greed of the states that signed onto it, and 46 did. The other 4, I only remember Mississippi, have their own agreements with the companies, but in those states, as far as I know, it only is with the companies that were sued to begin with, no other companies. What is now happening in the 46 states that signed the MSA is that Philip Morris (Marlboro) is getting them to pass laws to force ALL cigarettes makers, even those tht didn't exist in 1998, to pay into the fund....which means passing the cost on to the consumer to the tune of 45-50 cents per pack.........and all that money goes into the pockets of the people seeking to ban the use of the product where anyone can see it.

[elkfersupper]

Maybe you should "apply" for a waiver to breathe, then hold your breath until some bureaucrat grants it or denies it.