Isn't that awful? A fellow FReeper no less. 
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.
second-hand fascism kills = Big Dig
"Assuming that the same percentage of patrons went out before and after the ban. Many people passed on going out because of the raunchy stench of smoke odor permeating everything on their body including clothes and hair. Now there's a whole new market of people to appeal to."
Did you click on SheLion's link??? This whole new market still doesn't go into these places.
And your friend with the waiver making more money? Well, duh...there's less places for smokers to go, of course he'll make more money.
Good one!
I don't know, but he sure was sniffing something! heh!
God almighty. I cannot believe anyone would actually refer to the "lower class" here on FR.
Unbelievable !
Isn't that awful? A fellow FReeper no less.
ROFLMSS.............
I've been called worse by a better class of people than you........and I am a better class of people than any of them.
BTW.......what's "Oprah?"
I was called "Rude", "Low Class" and accused of having no sense of humor on this thread alone.
All in all, it's been a good day.
that's a GOOD thing!!!!!!
And anyone else I missed...
This is too funny! What the hell does Oprah have to do with smoking? I was glued to her program about meth addiction. Other than that...
To my best of my recolection: Motorhead's "No Class"
Shut up you talk too loud
You don't fit in with the crowd
I've crossed you right off my list
I can't believe you exist
Too much too soon
You're way out of tune
No Class!
Nope, nothing about the evil tobacco habit there. Lol, didn't know Laura smoked. Nothing low class about her.
Elk, you are a treasure and a real hoot :)
Why, thank you, I'm flattered.
My muse, and one of the best wingmen ever (The Outlaw Josey Wales)
"Endeavour to persevere."
That goes for you and all my FReeper friends as well.
I've known that about our First Lady for a long time. When she and George first married, they would all meet at the family home on Kennebuckport. Everyone would be playing sports out in the yard.
Barbara would talk with Laura who was sitting in a rocker on the porch. Barbara ask Laura if she was interested in sports? Laura said "Not for herself. She loved to watch. And as long as she had her cigarettes and a good book, she was quite content."
I will never forget that. She is a real beautiful Lady!!!
I like that : ) Someday we hope to collect all the Clint Eastwood westerns. Had them years ago on VHS, but the VCR broke, and now we have a DVD player...With one DVD, lol!
The operative word being (((Lady))). I think she's the best First Lady we've had in recent memory.
"I was at one time up in arms about that, but not anymore. When you have family members dying from smoking - related illnesses, I pretty much feel society could use a little help from the bully pulpit to stop/curb it."
The ultimate emotional argument used to further leftist clauses. When one is emotionally convinced to restrict individual liberty and private property rights, they are lost.
Quote Ditter "You are absolutely correct, smoke does interfere with the taste of food in the mouth of a non smoker. That is the reason so many of us are adamant about non smoking restaurants. Maybe it makes the smokers food taste better or maybe they don't notice it, I couldn't say which."
If you feel that smoke changes the taste of food and you don't like that, you are welcome to choose to dine at another establishment. You do not have the right to dictate which customers I can, and can not cater too.
"I was with a party of 11 people last night at a local steak house. Smoking was only allowed at the bar where smokers could also eat. When they set up our table for 11 it was right beside the bar with only a low wall between. We might have well be seated at the bar because the smoke was thick at our table. All 11 people refused the table and we were ready to leave when they hastily found us another spot."
You should have chosen to dine at a smoke free establishment. Here is what I tell anyone who comes into my establishment and complains of smoke: "If you do not find my accommodations adequate, you are welcome to choose another establishment to dine/drink at." Plain and simple. Make no mistake that you are free to choose which businesses you patronize. You do not have the right to demand which customers business owners are, or are not allowed to cater too.
"What I can't understand (and this has happened over and over and over in all states that have foisted this smoking ban BS) is why more bar, tavern, restaurant owners have not stood up and fought this asinine legislation?"
It has to do with fear. Owners fear becoming different and fear trying anything new, this is why they never choose to go smoke free on their own. Fear is also the reason why no one fights for their rights. They are afraid that business will be taken from them if the county next to theirs does not have a smoking ban. They also fear that their opinion may be different from others in the association. That's why they all end up going for the horrid "level playing field" strategy. It’s just a follow the leader scenario.
Business owners who do not stand up for their rights or who refuse to use their freedom of choice do not deserve to be business owners.
Forgot to add...Business owners have not chosen to go smoke free on their own because there is simply no demand for it. If enough customers requested smoke free dining/bar, the owner would not ignore those requests if they wanted to stay in business. Owners are in their business to make money. The fact that most businesses do not go smoke free illustrates that there is not a high enough demand for it, and it would not financially benefit their business.
"LOL! You said it but you still don't GET IT. That is EXACTALY what has been happening for XXX years. People have been complaining to restaurants, bars and when that didn't work, some complained to city councils. What you have are the results of those complaints."
Again, you do not have the right to demand who business owners can, and can not cater too. I can see that you understand very little about the hospitality industry.
If you do not like the policies of other business owners you are perfectly free to open up your own establishment and set your very own smoking policy.
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