Taking it outside Restaurant owners hope patios will lure back smokers

The Boston Globe ^ | 8/22/03 | Sasha Talcott

[HEY4QDEMS]

A year ago, a typical weekday afternoon at the Hyde Park Pub would have meant dozens of construction workers lined up along its horseshoe-shaped bar, watching "NYPD Blue" reruns on the television propped up in the corner or waiting for a turn at the pool table.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Tobacco Free Mass Coalition, said it also would not challenge patrons lighting up on patios. "If the smoke is not indoors, we've accomplished our public health objective,"

What a bunch of phoneys, they won't chalange it because they were WRONG.

When Bar owners voiced there opposition to the smoking ban, the TFMC declared that although bar business will decline "SLIGHTLY", the restaurant business would increase so much that it would more than make up for the lost business in the bars.

Everyone new it wasn't true then and now the numbers are right in their face.
Bar business in Boston is off nearly 50%
Restaurant business in Boston is off 30%.

They won't challenge the Patio Plan because now everyone knows they are a bunch of crusading liars.

[Phantom Lord]

NY's smoking ban is so restrictive that it doesnt even allow smoking on an OUTDOOR patio if their is a canopy over it or an umbrella over a table!!! Seriously.

[ClearCase_guy]

They won't challenge the Patio Plan because now everyone knows they are a bunch of crusading liars.

Correction: They won't challenge the Patio Plan yet. It's probably on their agenda to order smoking banned from all outdoor "public accommodations". They will begin this next phase in their war in 2007. They are biding their time.

[1Old Pro]

Boston restaurant owners say the demand for outdoor patios is becoming a stampede, with restaurants and bars rushing to make plans for outdoor "smoking sections" so they don't lose customers to cities that still allow smoking in bars

No kidding. Now they need to solve that "winter" problem.

[Gabz]

They will begin this next phase in their war in 2007.

I don't think it will be that long............once they've gotten their foot in the door, so to speak.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I agree, mainly because the Patios will stay open year round. Typically in Boston the outdoor dining areas are open about 5 months a year when the weather is nice.
Smokers will be smokers and there is no doubt in my mind that they will sit out there in January enjoying their butts if they're allowed to.

Keeping the patios open year round will be the only way to keep the smoker's business and these bar owners will be installing a lot of outdoor heaters.

[JohnGalt]

I spoke with an area bar manager; he said there will be a fire sale of bars next Feb. and March. The local owners will get out, and the corporate, connected folks will move in scooping up places at bargain prices.

Soon, all the bars will be the same. The dangerous and mind numbing comformity of corporate power melded with government power will crush a once vibrant and honest bar scene.

[Roughneck]

Not good enough.

Blacks used to have their own drinking fountains didn't they?

It's called "discrimination, segregation, degragation" of a whole class of people: smokers.

Why should I pay as much for my meals and drinks and entertainment, then have to go ooutside in the weather to smoke?

Restaurants should be allowed to have smoking with a simple warning on their dood "you may experience second-hand smoke - enter at own risk"

Those that dont like it can....SIT...OUTSIDE!

[Roughneck]

warning on their dorr - not dood!

[Phantom Lord]

Boston restaurant owners say the demand for outdoor patios is becoming a stampede, with restaurants and bars rushing to make plans for outdoor "smoking sections" so they don't lose customers to cities that still allow smoking in bars

No. They will move to make the entire state smoke free so as to remove any advantage a neighboring city might have.

[Gabz]

butt, butt, butt.............

That makes too much sense.

If there was such a demand for smoke-free bars and restaurants would have been doing it years ago.

I really feel for the owners that are hurting, I've seen what the ban in Delaware has done to some of my riends that own or work in these places.

But there is another group of establishments that have been hurt by the bans, that never gets mentioned. Places that were already smoke-free. They had found their market niche and have now had it snatched away from them.

[G.Mason]

"warning on their dorr - not dood!"

You better stop. You're digging it deeper. ;)

[Gabz]

They will move to make the entire state smoke free so as to remove any advantage a neighboring city might have.

Yes and then they will attack the surrounding states because they have an unfair advantage.

It's very noticeable in Delaware, because the furthest distance one needs go to a more smoker-friendly place is 35 miles.

When I still lived in Dover, it was only an extra 10 minutes from our normal watering hole to one in Maryland. And we became regulars, along with a lot of other Delaware folks.

[Roughneck]

You better stop. You're digging it deeper. ;)


I can be such a "jurk" sometimes. . .

[Just another Joe]

"There's loyalty, there's friendship, and then there's addiction.

Pam Beale can BITE ME.

I just don't understand why bar owners, tavern owners, restaurant owners, etc expect me to spend my money somewhere that will not, or can not, cater to what I want.
Whether it's smoke free by the owners choice or smoke free because of a smoking ban I will usually not choose to spend my money in an establishment that doesn't allow smoking if I can drive 30 minutes and find one that does allow smoking.
The owners should know this and be fighting to control their own property.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I think he meant "Dude". Anyhow the Smoke Gnatzies have made their first few victories. We must fight back and defeat them again just like WWII. Gnatzies must not become the world dominators they aspire to be.

[G.Mason]

"I can be such a "jurk" sometimes. . ."

Knot me, I'me purfeckt!

[ladyjane]

Restaurant business in Boston is off 30%.

Retail sales are off more than that. It's the economy in Boston that has just about everyone's business hurting. Laundries and dry cleaners -- any 'luxury' service is hurting. Eating dinner out is a luxury for many people.

[G.Mason]

"I think he meant "Dude". Anyhow the Smoke Gnatzies have made their first few victories. We must fight back and defeat them again just like WWII. Gnatzies must not become the world dominators they aspire to be."

The worm is beginning to turn.

Some businesses here in Florida are openly refusing to obey.

The last shot has not been fired.

[Lucy Lake]

Why can't there be bars for smokers, with all employees being smokers, and bars for non-smokers with non-smoking help? Same with restaurants.