Maine: It's nearly the last gasp for smoking bar patrons

MaineToday.com ^ | December 29, 2003 | ELBERT AULL

[SheLion]

I'm still waiting for some bright thinker to find a way around these stupid laws.

The State Boards of Health and their Coalitions are UNDERMINING our Economy!

Think about it.

[Dec31,1999]

Last I looked, tobacco products and cigarettes were still a legal commodity. Talk about back-dooring everyone!

Next stop: The bars will still be allowed to open their doors, but no alcohol allowed!

[SheLion]

Of course, given the "Nanny State" mentality of most Americans, it would not surprise me at all if a "penumbra" were found which would allow the politicized (Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Clintoon!) judges to uphold the no smoking bans.

Time for some Civil Disobedience?

I often wonder where all the militia are that we heard were hiding in the hills????

As for Clintoon, he sure loves his CIGARS!

Of course, given the "Nanny State" mentality of most Americans, it would not surprise me at all if a "penumbra" were found which would allow the politicized (Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Clintoon!) judges to uphold the no smoking bans.

Time for some Civil Disobedience?

I often wonder where all the militia are that we heard were hiding in the hills????

As for Clintoon, he sure loves his CIGARS!

[Gabz]

It's being done all over - just not getting much publicity.

In Delaware the ban is extremely specific, in that it is only tobacco smoke that is banned. One enterprising bar owner has stopped selling tobacco products behind the bar. he now only stocks herbal cigarettes which contain no tobacco.

The smoke police wound up with egg on their face when his violation was tossed out because the smoke police (health inspector) could not say for certain it was a tobacco cigarette he saw being smoked. The head of enforcement said his agents would be trained to differentiate between the smell of tobacco and other types of smoke!!!!

[waterstraat]

American citizens are still allowed to smoke in bars in Nevada.

[SheLion]

We can still smoke in VA, but many restaurant owners don't allow smoking, which, as noted, is their right. So, I don't patronize them -- If they don't allow smoking indoors, I take my business elsewhere.

Thank you! I am the same way.

I know we shouldn't take it out on the business when the STATE imposes these bans, but the business owners should have seen this coming and done more to fight this ban.

I figure if they didn't fight to keep my patronage, then I won't be taking them anymore of my money.

Isn't the run for the President all about the ECONOMY? Well, these anti-smoking states and the Health Coalitions are undermining our economy and people need to wake up and smell the coffee??? (Or the richness in tobacco smoke).

[Gabz]

We can still smoke in VA,

We sure can!!! There are a few non-smoking places here, but by and large the majority do permit smoking. There are 3 places I frequent on a regular basis and the smoking sections in them are at least twice of the size of tthe non-smoking areas. Of course all the owners of those places are also smokers!!!

I don't know if Ann Coulter has moved or not, but the Florida ban is not as insidious as the NY ban, plus the weather is much more conducive to outdoor dining areas.

[Just another Joe]

The head of enforcement said his agents would be trained to differentiate between the smell of tobacco and other types of smoke!!!!

WHAT??!!
They're going to FORCE those agents to breath second hand smoke, of ANY type?
This agency should be SUED! </sarcasm>

[SheLion]

Next stop: The bars will still be allowed to open their doors, but no alcohol allowed!

And we wonder why our economy is suffering............with coalitions like this living and controlling the U.S.A. our economy will NEVER be good again!

You KNOW it's always about POLITICS!

[JohnnyZ]

I started fighting against smoking when I moved from Maine to North Carolina. Down here the law requires everyone in a bar to smoke.

[Modernman]

What really, really upsets me about these no-smoking laws is that there has been no effective Constitutional challenge made to overturn them.

There's no real Constitutional basis for any such challenge. This type of regulation falls squarely within the States' right to regulate businesses.

[SheLion]

American citizens are still allowed to smoke in bars in Nevada.

Denver too. But can you even imagine the big Casino's or even the little ones in Las Vegas being forced to go smoke free? It's mind boggling.

Smoking in the casino's in Atlantic City is still allowed as well.

[waterstraat]

I dont know of any casino in Las Vegas that is actively lobbying to try to prohibit smoking in its casino. I also dont know of any shareholders, even if they are from Maine, who are actively pressuring the executives of their companies that own those casinos, to get them to prohibit smoking.

[SheLion]

I dont know of any casino in Las Vegas that is actively lobbying to try to prohibit smoking in its casino. I also dont know of any shareholders, even if they are from Maine, who are actively pressuring the executives of their companies that own those casinos, to get them to prohibit smoking.

The Health nanny's started in Las Vegas a year or so ago, but it soon became history and we never heard anymore about LV going smoke free.  Too much money involved.

[waterstraat]

But the anti-tobacco people say it wont hurt business?

[SheLion]

But the anti-tobacco people say it wont hurt business?

Read all the links I provided.  It's killing businesses.  So many closures and lay-offs.  They tell the general public what they WANT the general public to believe.  It's all spin.  Professional Spinners are hired to sugar coat the truth.

But the anti-tobacco people say it wont hurt business?

Read all the links I provided.  It's killing businesses.  So many closures and lay-offs.  They tell the general public what they WANT the general public to believe.  It's all spin.  Professional Spinners are hired to sugar coat the truth.

[Gabz]

But the anti-tobacco people say it wont hurt business?

Tell a lie often enough and people will start to believe it is the truth.

The geography of Delaware is different than Maine because at most it is only 35 miles to a state without a smoking ban. The smoking has helped business immensely, in bars and restaurants just over the line in Maryland.

And even a year after the ban has been in effect it is still happening.

I met a number of people this summer who in the past vacationed at the Delaware beaches, not this year. The did vacation on the Delmarva Peninsula, but chose either Maryland or Virginia beaches to spend their vacation dollars.

The only businesses helped by smoking bans are those in nerby areas with out them.

[uglybiker]

What will these non-smoking wait staff do now when they are laid off, or if they are lucky enough to have seniority, to have their tips cut in half?

There's always Daddy Gov't. He'll take care of 'em.

[SheLion]

News4Jax.com
Florida Businesses Say Smoking Ban Is Costly
Restaurants, Bars Losing Money To Those Exempt From Ban
POSTED: 4:46 p.m. EST December 29, 2003

According to several bars and restaurants in the state, Florida's new smoking ban is costing them a lot of cash. 

As owners tally up their year-end revenues, some businesses report profits are down as much as 40 percent since the law took effect July 1. 

Restaurants said they're losing business to membership groups and organizations such as the VFW, which are exempted from the ban. 

The American Lung Association opposed exemptions to the smoking ban from the start. But a spokeswoman said it's unclear if membership groups are really robbing restaurants of business. 

Brenda Olsen said the ALA is working to measure the health impact of the exceptions to the law. 

When state lawmakers drafted the law, they decided to exempt membership groups from the smoking ban.

article here

[SheLion]

Sorry. Bad link. Try this one:

Florida Ban Killing Business's