Posted on 07/15/2006 7:30:05 AM PDT by 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.
I suggest you watch your words, little girl. There was nothing dishonest about this 5 years ago, nor is there today. What you fail to realize the phone trees exist BECAUSE of people like you.so of course you are ging to be unaware of them. But just because such information is kept from you, does not mean it does not exist.
Either grow up or crawl back under the rock from whence you crawled, and stay there.
" If someone doesn't spend some time on the Net, they don't have a clue as to all the smoking bans popping up across the United States and how smokers are talked to in here. When I tell them, they just can't believe it."
My wife didn't believe, till one day she happened to get a good look at some of these posts.
I told her, "now you know what these people are really up to, making you out to be a secondhand citizen, an awful, selfish, evil being who has no concern fo any thing but the"fix".
Then I said " wait there's more. You are also being portrayed as an uneducated, brainless 'thing', who only exists to make these poor antismoker's lives a horrible experience, ranking right up there with being in hell."
"And, your basically a murderer, with your secondhand smoke, and a child abuser, a horrible parent, who cares for nothing."
My "stupid, uneducated, smoking wife" Just entered nursing grad school. (MSN)
I think she understands more why I'm here now, and is beginning to take an active role herself.
Thanks, antis! For helping wake yet another person from their slumber, by showing what a bunch of nasty, no-good control freaks you are! WOO HOO!!
Perzackery!!!!!
My husband didn't need the internet to be woken up to the tactics and antics of the antis.....he saw first hand what I have dealt with over the years from them. He's not all that active on the issue online, but in real life the man is an absolute jewel when it comes to this issue. He's been known to call me when he's on the road and gets into a conversation with someone spouting the anti lies and talking points (same thing, I know) just to make sure he has the point correct.
Could be.
There are 2 coffee shop/luncheonette type places ina small town just a few miles south of me. One permits smoking, the other doesn't. I happen to know the owner of the one that permits smoking because he is a member of the sme Moose Lodge as my husband and I. When the legislature was debating the smoking ban here during this past session both owners were very adamant in their opposition.....the guy whose place is non-smoking says it was his decision and he doesn't want the state taking away the market niche he has created for himself.
Needless to say, I patronize both establishments.
I live in California, compliance now ia virtually 100%. Incidentally, your insults reflect your own lack of integrity and we all see through the many nonsensical anecdotes you have supplied in this thread. Two non-smoking adults choosing the smoking section because they don't like the prissy company in the non-smoking section. Sure. Nico, you are good!
Yes, you were, and thank you.
There, all fixed.
We love it when people come to NM, spend their money, then leave.
Welcome!
This presents an opportunity for you to come snatch my cigarette / cigar away from me in person, rather than employing government thugs to do the dirty work for you.
Maybe we can set up an appointment.
That explains a lot.
Maybe you should consider moving to America.
Last time I checked Free Republic comes from a town only a few miles from where I live.
And light years away from where you think.
An appointment? You mean like a...... date? No I don't think so.
LOL! I won't be having' any time for shopping either. Room and board is all I'm spending, sorry.
Not to worry, your hired thugs will continue to do your dirty work for you before, during, and after your stay.
Enjoy your trip, and enjoy some of the locally-owned restaurants while you're here, before they disappear.
I don't give a flying flip where you live. I personally know that compliance in California is no where near 100%, nor is it in Delaware or New York or any other place you control freaks have attempted to destroy small businesses.
Incidentally, your insults reflect the poor upbringing you obviously had, because integrity is not a part of your vocabulary. If you don't like my anecdotes, don't read them. Calling me a liar, which you did, is again reflective of your poor upbringing.
BTW, we just left a gathering with friends, at the same establishment, there were 30-35 of us. Smokers and non-smokers were about evenly divided, but we were gathered in the smoking area. Among the group was the couple you don't seem to believe exists, they decided to surprise dad and show up today because his wife got here last night and they adore the step-mom.......and she smokes cigarettes (oh horrors). Each couple or group had seperate checks, but the pooled money for an extra tip was over $400 and a lot of those folks weren't planning on leaving anytime soon.
But of course that's just an anecdote from a "Nico" and therefore unbelievable to the likes of you gnatzies (small minds buzzing in other's business)
Nah, I don't think there's any reason your masquerading of reasonable health regulations as the great constitutional question of the 21st century has to be part of a true conservative's outlook. In fact, IMHO, you have hitchd a ride on a forum that has many important issues to focus on, and your constant whining about your drug addiction needs can only be viewed as a distraction and dilution of the very real problems adressed on this forum.
There, all fixed.
And YOU have the audacity to accuse others of insults???????????
You are a piece of work - that's for sure, little girl.
So...... I guess the date is off. ;9]
It never was a date, it was an invitation to snatch a burning tobacco product from my grinning yap.
Of course, there aren't too many humans who can actually reach that high.
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