Florida: Complaints over restaurants not complying with smoking ban

First Coast News ^

[SheLion]

DUVAL COUNTY, FL -- Florida's smoking ban was officially put into place on July 1st but not everyone is abiding. The state has had close to 800 complaints on restaurants that are not complying with the rules.

In Duval County, there have been 19 complaints with the majority coming from customers of RP McMurphy's located in Jacksonville Beach. The restaurant has received a warning and has 30 days to comply.

[SheLion]

These bans allow these employees to work in a safer, smoke free environment.

And I am sure that the wait staff would give anything to have the smoking sections back once they are laid off from no business, and there are no more tips coming their way. I am sure they would want the smoking sections back again. I know "I" would.......rather then lose my job from no business.

[CSM]

"The restaurant bans are being passed on a more fundamental issue. The main issue is not the customers, its the employees.

In most states, employees are guaranteed a smoke free environment in which to work. Unfortunately, bar and restaurant workers have been exempt from enjoying the same smoke free environment that other workers have. These bans allow these employees to work in a safer, smoke free environment."

Well, since we are now able to ensure everyone safe employement, we have a few occupations to eliminate. Let's start with fishing boat jobs, they are just to dangerous. Then we can move on to construction, how about police or fireman? Let's just ban soldiers too, that job is to dangerous and we don't want people to be able to chose where to work!

[SheLion]

So, support of private property rights is childish? How's the weather in Cuba? Sounds like you are living in a socialist heaven!

I was WONDERING where you were! heh!

[CSM]

"I was WONDERING where you were! heh!"

I usually get to enjoy my weekends without a keyboard. However, since I miss so much I may be changing that practice. Hey, thanks for the dogs, they hit the spot.

[SheLion]

I pretty much agree with SheLion's position on this issue.

Thank you Eric. We have to much government intervention in our lives as it is, and it's just getting worse. If this smoking ban is accomplished, it won't stop there.

These anti-smokers do not realize that they will be next.

[Steely Glint]

"Wrong. You are supporting the confiscation of private property in the name of public good."

Wrong. I am supporting basic health regulations for the common good, and you are opposing them. There is no "confiscation" involved.

"That stance is very socialistic and to call it anything else is a lie."

Bull. That stance - supoorting public health - is the basis for such things as the health codes that restaurants currently operate under. Is forbidding restaurants to serve rotten meat "socialistic'? Of course not, and banning smoking in restaurants isn't either.

You are clutching at straws and spewing hyperbole. You have no argument.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I'm a 25+ year smoker. Over the past few months, I've managed to dwindle it down to one cigarette every two or three days, with constant craving in the middle. If I'm out socially though, I'll smoke at least half a pack in the space of hours, and pay for it the entire next day.

Even when I was smoking all the time, I made sure that I didn't smoke at restaurant tables (because I knew that the smell of smoke was unpleasant to other diners, and wasn't appreciative when other people's smoke drifted over to me in restaurants), and I never lit up in groups of people where no one else was smoking.

That is just basic politeness, something that is really missing in the lexicon of a lot of smokers out there. Were smokers able to monitor their own behavior, you wouldn't hear the howls now.

[SheLion]

Hey, thanks for the dogs, they hit the spot.

Your more then welcome!!!!! You didn't INHALE THAT BBQ SMOKE, did you???!!! heh!

[kegler4]

"Let business owners decide what they want to "inflict" on others. Let others decide whether or not they want to patronize those businesses. Simple. Easy. No governmental involvement."

Interesting idea. So you'd be willing to go into a restaurant not knowing whether the owner bothered to refrigerate the meat the night before, or whether he hired workers who had not been checked for communicable diseases that can be passed along by handling food, or whether he turned the heat up enough in his dishwasher to kill bacteria from the previous eater? Sometimes these things don't work right even with government involvement, but without it I can guarantee you eating out would be a major adventure.

[VRWC_minion]

And I am sure that the wait staff would give anything to have the smoking sections back once they are laid off from no business

And the coal miners would rather risk black lung for a paycheck this week. The business drop off following bans has proven to be temporary.

[kegler4]

"WRONG!"

I don't understand what's wrong. Every single restaurant in the U.S. (and in any civilized country in the world) is subject to numerous health regulations. And with good reason. See post #49.

[Wheee The People]

The free people of Florida went to the voting booth and voted for this as a constitutional restriction if memory serves me right. Do you have a problem with voting booths and free people?

[VRWC_minion]

Well, since we are now able to ensure everyone safe employement, we have a few occupations to eliminate

Yes, of course there is no sense in unnecessary risks. When a job has inherent risks to it, why add unnecessary risks ? Cigarette smoke isn't necessary to the accomplishment of the job of serving drinks and meals.

[Clemenza]

In California, maybe. Here in New York, where we have actual BARS, particularly in the outer boroughs, it has hurt business drastically.

[VRWC_minion]

Here in New York, where we have actual BARS, particularly in the outer boroughs, it has hurt business drastically.

That's because the surrounding areas still allow smoking. The bans will be coming in the other areas soon so as to provide a level playing field.

[Clemenza]

Will you find me someone who has "died" from passive smoking? I'm sure there are a few people who have lived in a house with a smoker for thirty years without leaving said person, but have their been ACTUAL CASES of waitstaff who have DIED from "second hand smoke?"

[Clemenza]

Why do you care how other people live their lives. You fools should simply start opening "smoke free restaurants" and leave the smokers alone!

[Gabz]

800 complaints??? In a state the size of Florida????

From experience with the complaint driven compliance system in Delaware, those 800 complaints come from 2 places - the nannyists who shoved this down the throats of voters with their lies - and other businesses seeking to hurt their competition.

The average person just doesn't care - and most people are by nature not SNITCHES.

[SheLion]

That is just basic politeness, something that is really missing in the lexicon of a lot of smokers out there. Were smokers able to monitor their own behavior, you wouldn't hear the howls now.

That's a bunch of c**p and you know it. Smokers sit with like-minded people in bars and restaurants. If someone doesn't like the smell of smoke, they sit in the non-smoking section. Where there are ashtrays there are people who smoke. And if there is no ashtray, I don't lay my money down.

[Conspiracy Guy]

You omitted Gamma Radiation from your most informative list. You also failed to mention that tobacco smoke is responsible for global warming and extinction of the dinosaurs.

When you wish to perpetrate a myth include it all.