The Facts About The Smoking Ban. If you're a business owner or not, this is a must read!

The Facts Online ^ | 11-01-03 | Dave Hitt

[Gabz]

You lose people like me with your all or nothing positions.

There is a history behind the all or nothing position. The proponents of these bans insist on no compromise at all. they rely on lies and deceit, back door wheeling and dealing and out right back stabbing.

I don't like having an all or nothing attitude but that is exactly what has been forced upon these business owners by the antis and their bought and paid for politicians on both sides of the aisle.

I've been dealing with these things since at least 1988 and although I have seen a lot - I know I haven't seen it all when it comes to the lows to which the antis will stoop to force their will on everyone else.

Since only about 25% of the population smokes, if there was such a high demand for non-smoking don't you think smart busines people would go that way???? One sports bar/restaurant I know of in Dover lost about 50% of it's regular happy hour clientele BEFORE the ban went into effect, after the manager was quoted in the paper stating the ban wouldn't hurt his business because his customers didn't come in there to smoke. He had never polled any of his regular customers about it. over the courseof a couple of weeks I paid attention to how many people were sitting at the bar (not in the bar too difficult) Of the 25 people that could comfortably sit at the bar the average was a steady 80% smokers.

[Gabz]

The owner should be able to refuse access to that property to anyone they wish. I think they should refuse access to all Anti's and nanny needers!

IIRC, restaurant owners in Pueblo Colorado did just that to the members of the city Council who were supporting a ban. Apparently it worked!!!

[ohmage]

That tagline is the best ever. I'm still laughing.

Butt bump for all victims of governmental meddling.

Not that they need another one.

[SheLion]

Rockefeller Must Resign!

Alas! I have to run ERRANDS again! Damn! But I WILL catch up in a few hours. Bare with me and save my SEAT in here!!!!

[Gabz]

Anti-smoking activists are not JUST busybodies, but liars, too.

You are correct.

And their lies keep getting bigger and bigger.

During the debating of the smoking ban in Delaware one of the more well known antis, Joe cherner, had a letter printed in one of the local papers and claimed his location to be Wilmington, DE. All well and good, but he's a New York City resident who fled the city with his lover and family and have been residing in FRANCE since shortly after 9/11/01. But no one at the paper called him on it nor would the paper print any of the numerous letters they received correcting that little tidbit.

Another prominent anti, stanton Glantz, had a very long opinion piece prominently printed in that same paper on the front page of a Sunday opinion section. In it he claimed that a person putting out anti-ban brochures and bumper stickers was a former tobacco lobbyist. That came as a bit of a shock to the person putting out the info - he owns a printing company and was doing it on his own time and his only ties to the tobacco industry was that he was a smoker. His letter of correction to the newspaper was heavily editted and inserted in the paper on a tuesday or a Thursday.

These people are evil and their deceptiveness and out right lies need to be exposed for what they are.

[Grit]

Bump. Keep up the good work, She.

[elbucko]

Anti-smoking laws are not about smoking. The intent of all smoking/tobacco laws is to get someone elected, or someone reelected to a local or state political office. Nothing more. Those who don't smoke vote more than those who smoke.

[hotshot]

As a radid anti-smoker I refuse to eat where I am exposed to smoke. I do not like the smell and I am alergic to the smoke. It causes me to cough for an hour after someone without consideration exhales the nasty smoke out of their lungs into my lungs. I have homes in FL and DE and live 250 days a year in my smokeless RV. My wife and I eat a minumum of two meals a day at resturants while we travel throughout the south. That $50.00 a day goes to a resturant that has a separate no smoking area. I do not eat fast food, I spend money on Outback, Longhorn, Olive garden etc. I've never eaten in a Steak and Ale because just the smell of the dingy interior makes me cough. I've never sat at bar in my life because of the impolite, non-considerate smokers. The resturants which have no smoking get my money, the ones which allow smoking don't period.It's a 75-25 majority against the stupid addition.
Strap your three kids in the back seat, Mom and Dad light up, close the windows and enjoy!!!

[StriperSniper]

Thanks.

Here's a story I found this morning I'm sure you will appreciate:

Citizens 'Mugged' by the State

[Phantom Lord]

Could I get a link to the info in that post? Thanks!

[CSM]

What the heck is your point? It is clear you don't like being around smoke. It is clear that you have exercised your freedom to make consumer choices. Prior to the bans you were doing just fine with both. Are you supportive of the infringement on private property rights or are you against them?

[maryz]

I don't like having an all or nothing attitude but that is exactly what has been forced upon these business owners by the antis and their bought and paid for politicians on both sides of the aisle.

I heard the host of a local (Boston) Saturday a.m. talk show say that the reason MA Senate President Travaglini is pushing for a statewide smoking ban is that he's getting it from constituents in his district who own restaurants (district includes North End - Italian, lots of eateries) that they're losing business because of the Boston ban. They're using the "level playing field" ploy -- d'uh, wasn't it already a level playing field before Boston introduced its ban?

Governor Romney (R) has said he prefers local option and won't say what he'll do when the bill gets to him, but he doesn't always show any backbone.

[Gabz]

It is your choice to not patronize establishments that permit smoking.

It should also be the choice of the owner if he would prfer to cater to you or to a different type of clientele.

If there is a 75/25 split where has the demand been for more non-smoking establishments?????

I have nothing against an owner having a non-smoking establishment, and have patronized many. My problem is the use of force to MAKE an establishment non-smoking even in direct opposition to the wishes of the owner of a private establishment. You seem to find the forcing of private business by government to cater to your wishes to be a good thing. I do not.

By your own words you obviously do not spend much time in your house in Delaware, so probably know little about the true politics behind the insidious ban there. I lived there full time for 21 years all of them involved in dealing with politics, including such things as smoking bans. fortunately I no longer am subjected to those insidious laws except on the occasions I choose to visit family and friends. But believe you me - I am still working hand in hand with many of th bar and restaurant owners to make changes to the ban.

As to your nasty comments at the end - I will leave them alone. They speak for themselves.

[Chad Fairbanks]

The resturants which have no smoking get my money, the ones which allow smoking don't period

Good. That's the way it should be. Or, would you rather have Uncle Sammy get involved and make all these little decisions for you? That seems to be what most anti-smokers want.

[hotshot]

My point is that I have a large economic impact to restaurants as a non-smoker. I spent $20,000.00 in restaurants in 2002. I haven't cooked a meal in years. Could it be coincidental that maybe smoker can't afford $4.00 a pack cigs and $4.00 beers and that is why a bar goes under? Use equitable data for suppositions before distortions.
Let's suppose that I have TB and any exhale from my lungs could cause you to get TB, do I have a property right to sit behind you and cough? Do you have to sit there and be exposed?

[Great Dane]

Exellent data, darn scary too......where are all those non-smokers. ??

[Great Dane]

One more......Don Cherry's sports bar in Ottawa Canada, if it's already on the list, I missed it.

[hotshot]

I eat at Bonanza in Delmar, Roadhouse in Fruitland, English's in Salisbury, Golden Corral in Seaford, Britts in Laurel, Phillips in OC all in Md and DE none of these businesses have closed of are hurting.

[Great Dane]

#17........ I don't think they should have to pay, they should however be allowed to post a smoking or no-smoking sign.

[Great Dane]

#32... It is not public business, it's private business inviting the public in... it dosen't force anyone.