Florida: For restaurants' banned smokers, it's great outdoors

Sun Sentinel ^ | 315-04 | Georgia East

[SheLion]

The very next week I went to the bank and requested a loan," said DeFrancisci, who spent $215,000 to build a deck so diners could smoke outdoors.  

Some restaurant owners who can't or don't want to expand outdoor seating have another option -- limiting their menus to keep their indoor smoking privileges. The constitutional amendment voters approved in 2002 allows smoking in bars that take in less than 10 percent of their revenue from food sales.  

..........a 40 percent rise in requests for outdoor tables.

[kahoutek]

Last year, in a bar in Colchester, CT, I was told by a bartender that I had exceeded the hourly intake (by drink) as recommended by state guidelines, and would not be served anymore if I continued to do so. I was leaving anyway so I didn't care.

Last week, in talking about the ban with my district rep, I mentioned the incident and her reaction makes me think that bars, as we know them will cease to exist.

She looked away and said something to the effect that "life will be very different" in the northeast.

[Just another Joe]

I tend to agree with you, it IS wrong.

However, IF a state is going to outlaw smoking on private property then it should take, at the least, an amendment to the state constitution to do so.
All these local bans, county bans, state bans with no amendment, IMO they are unconstitutional in the extreme.
So, at least Florida tried to do it right.

[SheLion]

Here in CT, no such thing happened......in August of last year, it was announced that the ban would be in place in Oct.........

Well, Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine made all the bars/taverns and sports bars go smoke free January 1st of this year.

Nothing went up for a vote. They just did it.

All the restaurants were forced to go smoke free in 1999. Now, they extended it to all places that we enjoy recreation and meals out. Pity.

[SheLion]

They also made it a constitutional amendment to ban the abuse of pot bellied pigs.

Remember these pictures from a restaurant in Florida at the end of last year? This owner was SO mad! She has this big pig on top of her establishment, and to protest the smoking ban, she stuck a cigarette in his butt. heh!

[SheLion]

Do you feel your rights as a business owner are being taken away?

These are good, basic questions. If your not too busy with the honeymoon, maybe you can take note of the businesses and the names of the place.

[Gabz]

BTW - I forgot to mention. The first item on the agenda for today in the Delaware Senate is an effort to truly level the playing field regarding the smoking ban.

Currently a bar or restaurant can lose their liquor license for violations of the smoking ban, in the case of a bar that would put them totally out of business.....but any other business just faces a fine.

The legislation being discussed today will remove that possibility for smoking ban violations. It's going to be interesting seeing who fights that proposal, because you know it is going to be fought and fought hard. I'm betting the debate is going to bring out the true intent of the smoking ban....a back door way toward alcohol prohibition.

[proud American in Canada]

"Laura Earl and I are getting married the 27th of this month"

congratulations! Best wishes for a long and happy life together. :)

[freedomcrusader]

The constitutional amendment voters approved in 2002 allows smoking in bars that take in less than 10 percent of their revenue from food sales.

In other news, prices for drinks at Florida bars/restaurants have skyrocketed, while food prices are plummeting.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

This is clearly the persecution of a people who's lifestyle you do not agree with!Just try doing something like this to homosexuals and you would get clobbered in the courts.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Each restaurant name will be listed as well as the name and position of the person interviewed, used only with their permission.

Laura Earl loves to eat out so this way I can enjoy it more. I am a pizza and beer guy.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Thank You.

[FrankR]

"Although I must admit I like not having to smell cigarette smoke at my favorite sports bar, this ammendment was an assault on liberty and property rights."

I agree with your statement...we already see these "smoking bans" bleeding over into other facets of our lives, i.e. fast food, etc.

It still amazes me how back in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's...everybody smoked...EVERYWHERE. And I never heard people complaining to the extent they do today. It was part of life, and people who didn't smoke, just didn't smoke. But they didn't try to control everyone else's behavior, and if the smoke bothered them...THEY went outside.

[Wheee The People]

The other side played a dastardly trick, and put the polling places at the top of three, four, and even five-step staircases.

LOL

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Smoking bans are the thin edge of the wedge. Many privately owned bars will fold because of this legislation. We think that is wrong. The other side thinks it's just fine. Remember, in the 1920's, they were the ones who brought us Prohibition.

The liberals have never stopped believing that they are better equipped than the people to regulate the people's behavior FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. But they have "cottoned" to something which we have not . . . with the "in locis parentis" power of the State, "the public health" overrides any number of Constitutional or cultural protections. Ban guns? No. Start by banning shooting guns. (Noise pollution and lead pollution.) Ban meat? No. Start by banning "junk food" (whatever suits your definition). Can't ban? Then tax. (Everyone always votes to tax "the other guy.")

Make your enemies pay for their own marginalization. This is how liberals practice Hillary's "Politics of Reality" and are transforming society the Gramscian way.

[Mears]

Best wishes,CG. Smoke a couple for me.

[Mears]

Good luck with addressing the "loophole".

I can't believe these antis,the whole point of their argument has been the danger of Environmental TOBACCO Smoke.

[Mears]

I started smoking in 1949.

I'm still at it,and I'm still here.

Astonishing,isn't it?

[SheLion]

Each restaurant name will be listed as well as the name and position of the person interviewed, used only with their permission.

Sounds great! How long will you be there?

[SheLion]

It still amazes me how back in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's...everybody smoked...EVERYWHERE. And I never heard people complaining to the extent they do today. It was part of life, and people who didn't smoke, just didn't smoke. But they didn't try to control everyone else's behavior, and if the smoke bothered them...THEY went outside.

This is what the highly paid professional anti smokers have done......when they saw the war on the smoker didn't work, they went after the non-smokers, telling them that our smoke was KILLING them!

You have THAT drilled into your head over and over, your going to believe it. Pathetic!

[SheLion]

I'm still at it,and I'm still here.

I LOVE to smoke! Don't you??? :)