Lots of union, blue-collar Democrats in Pittsburgh. These are the guys who hang out at the tavern after work and enjoy a drink and a smoke. The people pushing these smoking bans are elitist snobs.
Well, Maine did an all out smoking ban in January of 2003. Really sucks.
My favorite place to eat almost closed their doors after the first smoking ban in Maine in 2000.
The owner then invested in a very expensive liquor license to once again allow smoking and business started to boom again.
They then remodeled. The place is beautiful. 4 big ceiling air purifiers. Full menu. A beautiful glass enclosed non-smoking section. Sign on the entrance door "This is a smoking establishment. No one under 18 admitted without guardian."
It is a Sports Bar with the full computer golf game across the back wall; bunch of big TV's. Just beautiful.
But that still wasn't good enough for the state. A full no smoking ban went into effect a year ago January. I went once after the ban, was so miserable that I couldn't sit there like old times and enjoy the evening that I haven't put myself through that again.
And do you think the state will reimburse this business owner for spending his own money to be able to accommodate everyone? You can bet they will not.
To all you smokers who can still go into town or the city and go into a restaurant and/or bar or tavern.....order your meal and beverage and smoke, you better treasure every day that you can.
Maine went totally smoke free in 2003. That was my recreation: going out for meals a few times a month. It was wonderful. I didn't know how wonderful it was until we smokers in Maine lost that right.
So, take it from me! Enjoy the places that can continue to accommodate you and the ones who still have smoking sections!
I had this conversation with my 15 yr old daughter a week or so ago. Not about smoking .. but about how we have been put into a "The only way to change or correct something is through the ballot" conversation.
I know we here in FR can get cyberly hyper .. and we can demonstrate par excellance ... but the closest we came to the Tea Party was the ballot count in Florida.
We REALLY came close for Terry Schiavo.
When my children are more grown and independent ...
Same-o, Same-o.
The bars, restaurants, clubs and taverns belong to the Restaurant Association and probably pay some sort of fees.
Members of Unions pay dues as well.
Then, the Association and Union hierarchy (and these are the lib snobs and elites) decide on policy and agenda they want to pursue, even if it contravenes the wishes and desires of rank in file.
We have seen this over and over with regards to how unions support and donate to liberal candidates while rank and file vote the opposite.
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?
Let's face it, any place is (and has always been free) to make their business nonsmoking. If they felt that would bring in more business, they could have done so anytime.
What I think this is, is that many feel that if they all are forced to abide by the results of the anti smoking zealots and Nazis, then they won't lose quite as much business.
And that is also the reason that even those who don't support this policy, are pushing so hard to have even private clubs included in the bans.