Air is clear, patrons scarce after smoking ban

north.cbc.ca ^ | 10-08-03

[SheLion]

Air is clear, patrons scarce after smoking ban
WebPosted Oct 8 2003 05:37 PM CDT

YELLOWKNIFE - A bar manager in Yellowknife says the new smoking ban is killing his business.

Trevor Glowach, who manages the MacKenzie Lounge, says his sales have gone down by 80 per cent since the smoking ban took effect a week ago.

City council banned smoking in all bars and clubs in August. The bylaw came into effect on Oct. 1.

Glowach says customers used to come to the lounge so they could have lunch and smoke.

"It's not all negative. I do see some pros. When we bring up lunch, you can smell the lunch a little bit better, and it is a little bit clearer and it does have a bit of a fresher, cleaner feel to the lounge," he says. " But that's fine. It'll be like that when we're closed down."

Glowach says some non-smokers have started to come to the lounge, but not enough to make up for the drop in smoking customers.

Several other bar managers in Yellowknife contacted by CBC reported a drop of 30 to 70 per cent in business because of the ban.

Law is being obeyed

Any bar that decides to contravene the ban could face fines of up to $5,000.

But compliance isn't a problem so far. Doug Gillard, who's in charge of by-law enforcement for the city of Yellowknife , says he's only received six complaints about smoking.

"Our indication is that businesses are doing a lot of work and they're asking people to desist from smoking, which they're required to do. And it sounds like they're getting fairly good compliance," he says.

Back at the Mackenzie Lounge, Trevor Glowach says he'll continue to enforce the bylaw.

But he says he might not have to do it much longer – if the customers don't come back, the lounge may soon close.

Glowach says some non-smokers have started coming to the bar, but not enough to compensate

 

 

 

[CSM]

".......on the stool and watch football and enjoy my peanuts and popcorn in a smell-free tavern."

Peanuts are dangerous for some people, therefore they are banned too. Other people, those on Atkins, don't like popcorn so we better ban that too. Just plan to sit on the stool.

[Grit]

How nice it would be if I could just sit on the stool and watch football and enjoy my peanuts and popcorn in a smell-free tavern.

Sorry, Pal, but I am allergic to peanuts and the smell of popcorn gives me a headache. Ban Them!

[babyface00]

Sorry, Pal, but I am allergic to peanuts and the smell of popcorn gives me a headache. Ban Them!

If it saves just one child...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Horsehockey. Any research along those lines was (no doubt) paid for by Phillip Morris.

[Grit]

You are too fast. Actually, I am on Atkins and don't eat popcorn. Those carbs are highly addictive and people are ruining their lives because of this stupid addiction. When will someone have the courage to ban all high carb foods for the good of the children?

[CSM]

Yep, I won't be happy until I am only allowed to eat the gruel provided by my pappa government. Then I won't have to worry about being addicted to anything and I won't have to worry about enjoying anything.

[Grit]

Leisler: There has been for over thirty years, consistent scientific evidence that nicotine stimulates thinking. Not that you?d know anymore.

EitO: Horsehockey. Any research along those lines was (no doubt) paid for by Phillip Morris.

All right, you two, produce your footnotes.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The stink in smoking is just a symptom. If you could smoke and at the same time keep all the smoke to yourself (keeping it our of my lungs which are mine--a pretty basic conservative principle you might consider)then go ahead an light up.

[CSM]

"Any research along those lines was (no doubt) paid for by Phillip Morris."

Just like the studies by the CDC and the WHO that were funded by the drug companies that sell the "quit smoking" crap. Keep in mind that these "government studies" are approved by the same government that tells us a fetus is not human until birth, the same government that tells us that homosexuality is not a life choice (it's in thier genes). Do you beleive everything they tell you? If they are wrong on those, why can't they be wrong with regards to tobacco?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The less govt the better. What makes you think smoking has anything to do with being a conservative ?

[Just another Joe]

All right, you two, produce your footnotes.

I would tend to agree.

This ought to be fun to watch

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Smoking is a dirty, filthy, nasty habit that kills. It has nothing in common with the free exchange of ideas, the free market or limited government. The fact that liberals are pushing for government mandated smoking bans is a sidebar to the real issue.

[Phantom Lord]

What is the difference (legal and freedom wise) between the government forcing a private business to not allow smoking on its property and the government forcing the business to allow smoking?

Since you support the governments use of force to ban smoking on property A, do you also support government efforts to ban smoking by people in THEIR CAR and in their HOME!?!?

If not, why not? After all, if the government can ban smoking in private property A, why not private property B, C, and D??

[justrepublican]

How nice it would be if I could just sit on the stool and watch football and enjoy my peanuts and popcorn in a smell-free tavern.

SITTING ON A STOOL PROMOTES POOR POSTURE, CREATING MEDICAL PROBLEMS THUS PUTTING ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE ALREADY OVER BURDENED HEALTH CARE INDUSTERY. BAN IT.

[Just another Joe]

What makes you think smoking has anything to do with being a conservative ?

Eric, I agree, smoking has nothing to do with being a conservative. Not smoking has nothing to do with being a conservative either.
That being said, why do you come on a thread about smoking BANS and try to bust chops about smoking?

[CSM]

"The stink in smoking is just a symptom."

Symptom of what?

"If you could smoke and at the same time keep all the smoke to yourself (keeping it our of my lungs which are mine--a pretty basic conservative principle you might consider)then go ahead an light up."

Then we better ban driving of cars, cooking of foods, mowing lawns, electricity, etc. We better ensure that you don't pass methane gas in the presence of other human beings. Of course you probably already do hold it all in and release it here. All I see you post is "hot air".

[Just another Joe]

The fact that liberals are pushing for government mandated smoking bans is a sidebar to the real issue.

Then what, in your opinion, IS the real issue?

[CSM]

"What makes you think smoking has anything to do with being a conservative ?"

It isn't the smoking as much as the turning private property into "public places".

[Grit]

The less govt the better. What makes you think smoking has anything to do with being a conservative ?

I had to go back and read my post again...

Do you support the government (any govt) banning smoking in bars/restaurants?

Nope. Smoking != Conservative. Now that you have effectively defeated Mr. Strawman, kindly address my question.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Real issue:
That we'd have been a lot better off if smoking had remained a closely held secret amongst the Indians.