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.
Kiss my arze Ditter.
I guess the truth hurts, huh she...... and so you must resort to insults. I thought you were better than this. Silly me.
We're not talking about smelling it.
Let's have a discussion about the physical harm ETS does to a person that doesn't have a preexisting medical condition.
Like Hillary, Bloomberg will never sell in Peoria. Thank God!
Yes, silly you, Ditter. And your little innuendo's aren't meant to be insulting? Well, silly me! Duh!
I insulted you when I said maybe your sense of smell/sinuses have been affect by smoking? It wasn't meant to insult you.
I can taste, and name, spices in food that no one else at the table can even taste.
I'd be afraid of what I could taste if I didn't smoke.
If smoking cuts down on my sense of taste it must be a blessing in disguise for me.
I can't stand the smeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me too, Joe. Like jalapeno peppers. Anything hot like that, forget it!
~sniff ~sniff~
LOL
Why should you have vote on the clientele of my business? Your vote on the clientele is your feet - you are free to enter or not.
I thought the US was a republic, not a democracy.
This is the crap the founders worried about; a tyranny of the majority.
By George, I think he's got it! ;9)
WRONG..........I know many non-smokers that have no problem at all.
2 weeks ago we had dinner with friend. There were a total of 5 of us, my husband and I smoke cigarettes, one friend is a cigar smoker, and his son and daughter-in-law are non-smokers. The cigar smoker, who was also the host, asked for a table in non-smoking. His son, the non-smoker said "What are you talking about, Dad?" Dad replied "We'll be here all summer, you're only here for the weekend, I want the 2 of you to be comfortable." Son replied "Dad, we NEVER sit in a non-smoking section, it's full of prissy people." I about busted a gut when he said that. And this is no trailer trash type of guy. He's a 27 yo up and coming corporate executive with an MBA. As is his wife.
Truer words were never spoken! Thank you!
The same here, Gabz. I rarely run into a non-smoker that gripes about smoke and/or smokers. Friends are friends, and we take each other the way we are.
I moved to Virginia 3 years ago and know what you are talking about. We're going to have a major battle on our hands come January, and we are going to need help prior to that to nip this nanny nonsense in the butt (pun inteneded) FReepMail me if you are willing to join the loyal opposition.
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