Otto’s bar gives up the fight

Columia Tribune ^ | December 29, 2007 | T.J. GREANEY

[demsux]

But...but....but...I thought all the non-smokers would now come out and patronize these establishments...

I guess not.

[demsux]

Ping

[stephenjohnbanker]

3000 bars went under in California.

[JamesP81]

The mayor needs to get his head out of the sand

The mayor's head is stuck somewhere, but it's certainly not in the sand.

[Osage Orange]

The whole point is lost on the sheeple...and unfortunately some FReepers too.

It should be up to the OWNER what goes on in his/her establishment. If it's legal...

Post a sign..for the nanny stater's saying..."This Is A Non-Smoking Establishment"...OR..."This is a SMOKING Establishment".

Let the public choose....

Apparently that's too hard..for the socialist minded.

[Verbosus]

I wish I could find a count of how many bars and restaurants have closed in Colorado. I have heard that lost tax revenue from that industry is estimated to be between 22% and 27%, but have not seen that in writing. The law first went into effect last year, and the casinos must honor the nonsmoking law starting this year.

I understand some are getting humidors installed in order to use the “cigar-bar” exception.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“The whole point is lost on the sheeple...and unfortunately some FReepers too.
It should be up to the OWNER what goes on in his/her establishment. If it’s legal...”

A friend of mine has a bar in the San Fernando Valley. He was always packed with customers. When the ban went into effect, he turned his bar into a private club. The name was the Ventura Blvd. Yacht Club. Membership was 10 dollars a year. The only constraint in the charter was that you were not allowed to discuss boats. : )

[stephenjohnbanker]

See post 7

[Lexington Green]

The best protest for smokers is to Just Stay Home

[Philly Nomad]

But the public has decided that it’s illegal for people to smoke in Bars and Restaurants.

[Alberta's Child]

I hate smoke-filled restaurants and bars, but I'm adamant about refusing -- to the extent that I can -- to do business in any jurisdiction that passes one of these smoking bans. And that goes for restaurants and bars that were "smoke-free" before the smoking bans were in place, too.

Unfortunately for me, my own state has passed one in the last couple of years -- so I can't be as strict about this as I used to be.

[Crim]

Too bad bars and resturants arent public property...they are private property...if the puplic dont like it...it can go elsewhere...

Free markets work...

Fact is...the “public” is financially harming these businesses without just renumeration and compensation...

It’s theft at the end of a gun barrel.

[ladyjane]

I know owners of two bars. Actually one of them owns multiple bars. They both said their business increased when they made their places non-smoking.

[RinaseaofDs]

If ONLY we had a cigar bar exemption in WA state. We live in the eighth circle of liberal hell here. I think the only place worse is possibly Massachusetts, but I may be wrong about that, and we’ve dropped another level.

[zencat]

Sad to see it close.

Although, I spent more time there when it was the Atomic and Cornerstone Cafe.

[Waco]

And the city won’t miss the revenue, right?

[Philly Nomad]

We can say the same thing about immigration work laws.

Theft at the end of a gun barrel.

[ought-six]

I agree that it should be up to the individual business owner and not the government to install a smoke-free environment. I am not a smoker (I quit 20 years ago). And, I do enjoy having a cold beer with friends at the local tavern after work. That being said, the smoke in that tavern (and others like it) can be intolerable. I have just been diagnosed with bladder cancer, a disease that all studies now show has exposure to cigarette smoke as the No. 1 risk factor.

[demsux]

They both said their business increased when they made their places non-smoking.

Did THEY make their places non-smoking or did the government MAKE THEM go non-smoking...

BIG DIFFERNCE

[Osage Orange]

But the public has decided that it’s illegal for people to smoke in Bars and Restaurants.

Baloney....

While I'll admit to knowing for sure...but please point out one state/county/city that had a popular vote on it.