Bloomberg Seeks to Ban Smoking in Every Restaurant and Bar

The New York Times ^ | August 9, 2002 | JENNIFER STEINHAUER

[meowmeow]

There is much truth to that - the reason we don't go out much is because we can't stand smelling like an ashtray at the end of the evening. If we knew there would be no smoking in a place, we would go there often.

[RightOnline]

News flash, y'all: Bloomberg is a leftist, Socialist twit. How much more proof are you New Yorkers going to need?

[E Rocc]

In my area, the bar that went no smoking has become the busiest bar, the delicatessen that banned smoking has become the busiest delicatessen, the steakhouse that banned smoking has become the busiest steakhouse, etc.

When I go out with a sizable group of people, the number one factor deciding where we go is haw bad the place stinks of smoke (and how bad we stink of smoke after we leave).

If you are wondering if nicotine is addictive, just watch the reaction to these smoking bans. They react with terror in their words.

Smokers are sad and pathetic.

Not nearly as sad and pathetic as those who seek to make their own personal prejudices into law.

If non-smoking bars were really that succesful, don't you think more bar owners would ban it? The fact is they aren't, and indeed in this area any bar that banned smoking would be closed in six months. If that weren't true most places, there'd be no push for legal bans.

By the way, I'm a part time bar employee and a non-smoker. I'd rather not be "protected" out of my extra $$$ by Big Brother, thank you very much.

-Eric

[metesky]

Three other states — Maine, Utah and Vermont — have statewide bans on smoking in all restaurants.

This is true for Maine only if you call yourself a restaurant.

Lounges and taverns that serve food can purchase a special license (read: pay a special tax) which allows smoking. There are at least five within driving distance of my house, thank God. One I could hit with a seven iron.

[metesky]

"Our position has been that we have some of the strictest rules in the country, and we have learned to live with them, and we think they should be left alone," said E. Charles Hunt, the executive vice president of the restaurant association.

Ever notice that these restaurant associations are among the most politically inept organizations going? Helpless, go along to get along. If I belonged, I'd be asking for a refund.

However, he added: "If a total ban is proposed in all public places, I think people are going to say nobody has an advantage over anyone else and would seriously consider whether or not that might work. The whole thing seems to be boiling down to an employee safety issue at this point."

If non-smoking is such a popular thing, why would anyplace be considered to have an advantage if they allowed smoking?

Just asking.

[RightOnline]

Salt. Too true. And what's with those Morton folks putting a cute little girl with an umbrella on the front of their product, huh??? I mean, huh??? What's up with that? Using children to sell a deadly, guaranteed-to-boost-your-blood-pressure product??????

I smell lawsuit........!!!

[metesky]

Boo hoo! These sad and pathetic people stink and they think they have a right to eat and drink in public! Oh, please GodGov, save us from these cave people. Boo hoo!

What's really pathetic, you non-conservatives, is your willingness to use the gub'mint to make everyone and every place conform to your blindered vision of Utopia.

What about the rights of the bar/restaurant owner to cater to the clientele he/she wishes to? Do they not own the property? Doesn't it say right on their license that they can refuse service to anyone, for any reason?

[Your Nightmare]

I don't mind people smoking in restaurants...as long as they don't exhale.

[metesky]

!?

[grania]

In my area, the bar that went no smoking has become the busiest bar, the delicatessen that banned smoking has become the busiest delicatessen, the steakhouse that banned smoking has become the busiest steakhouse, etc.

...Smokers are sad and pathetic.

I'm a former smoker, and frankly, what I miss the most is the atmosphere where everyone is sitting around, talking, relaxing, enjoying a few smokes and brews.

But your attitude...you really don't get it. In your area, there are bars, restaurants, and delis that chose to ban smoking, and you choose to go to them, and they do just fine with their decision.

But that's the point...it's a choice. If other business owners choose to allow smoking, and other people choose them, and you don't, that's their decision to forgo your business.

It's something that we used to have...freedom of choice. If you expressed your attitude about any other group, it would be a "hate crime".

[Your Nightmare]

But that's the point...it's a choice.

If someone is smoking in a restaurant, what choice do I have? Can I choose not to breathe it? No. My choice to breathe clean, smoke-free air is taken away from me.

It's like this, I have as absolute freedom to swing my arms as wildly as I like UNTIL I get within arms reach of someone else.

[grania]

If someone is smoking in a restaurant, what choice do I have? Can I choose not to breathe it? No. My choice to breathe clean, smoke-free air is taken away from me.

You can choose to go to another restaurant, assuming no one kidnapped you and dragged you into the smoking-allowed establishment.

[Your Nightmare]

You can choose to go to another restaurant

So your presumed right to smoke is greater than my right to breathe clean, healthy air? Don't think so.

If you like to smoke with your meals, you have a choice to stay at home.

[razorback-bert]

Silly me, I chose my eating places based on the quality of the food.

Now if we get to ban things that offend some of us in public places, I am for banning children, they tend to loud, rude and undisplined ruining my dining experience. Alcohol should be banned in restaurants (that what saloons are for) also, it tends to make people turn into loud, boisterous, stumbling drunks spillings drink(alcohol smells bad) on other diners, again ruining the experience. Lets do away with slopply dressers too.

Let's keep the fat ugly drunk smokers in their bar and grills, so we elite gourmet diners can eat in peace in our la-de-da restaurants.

[handk]

If someone is smoking in a restaurant, what choice do I have? Can I choose not to breathe it? No. My choice to breathe clean, smoke-free air is taken away from me.

There it is. Your statement is semantically, philosophically and fundamentally indistinguishable from a little four-year old girl whining; "But Mommy! I want the toy! Gimme me the toy Mommy!"

I'm reminded of a line from the movie "Flashback" (starring Dennis Hopper): "This used to be a bar, a real bar damn it! Now it's a friggin' fern boutique!"

[Your Nightmare]

What? Maybe you should stick to cigarettes and lay off the crack.

[SheLion]

Even our President is against hurting the small business person. So why is Bloomberg going against our President?

"The role of government is not to create wealth. The role of government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur or small business or dreamer can flourish. And that starts with rule of law, respect of private property, less regulatory burdens on the entrepreneur, open banking laws so that all people have access to capital, and good tax policy."

President George W. Bush St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia May 25, 2002

[SheLion]

MSNBC wants to hear our opinions about Bloombergs anti smoking deal. We should all send email telling them just what we think!

You can email MSNBC at:

question@msnbc.com