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

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

[SheLion]

Why own a business in Maine today when the Maine Lawmakers and the Partnership For a Tobacco Free Maine can come in and tell you how to RUN it??!!

[SheLion]

Where are we? 1943 GERMANY? Does anyone really care how this is going to cut into the small business's around the state? Does anyone really believe that the non-smokers will pick up the slack from the smokers not going out anymore? Does anyone care?

When did we give such power to the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine? They are being paid for by the Maine smokers who pay Maine Taxes on cigarettes. What do they do with the money? They sponsor RACING TEAMS and RACE TRACKS across the state, and they use OUR money to ban, control and restrict us.

Does anyone care????

[SheLion]

I would like any bar/tavern/sports inn owner to keep in contact with me so we can compare notes from around the State and in 6 months to one year, let's just see how bad this will hurt a business. I have been following this since 1999, when other business's across the United States were forced into a smoking ban. It's not a pretty picture.

Smoking Bans Bad For Business

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Does anyone care????

Of course they care...its all for the children. I can't WAIT till they do something like this to ban/regulate fast food.

/sarcasm

[SheLion]

Attention all business owners suffering from a smoking ban.

Anyone suffering from a smoking ban from across the United States can go to the above link and fill out this form.

You can also check out the following link to see what harm this ban has done across the Country:

BusinessesHarmed by Smoking Bans

Anti-smoking organizations insist that bans are somehow good for people in hospitality businesses. This chart shows otherwise. These businesses have lost a significant portion of their business as a direct result of smoking bans. Many are closed. Many that are still open have told us they doubt they'll survive much longer.

[metesky]

Local police, the Bureau of Health and the Attorney General's Office have enforcement powers, Mills says, adding that the bureau has set up a Web site and toll-free number (www.tobaccofreemaine.com; 800-560-5269) where bar patrons and employees may report violations of the ban anonymously.

Perfect, eh? Say goodbye to the Constitutional guarantee to face your accuser in open court.

Out F'n rageous!

[facedown]

"I'm trying to live it up until Thursday," said Brown, 21, as he smoked a Lucky Strike cigarette.

Wow...take a walk on the wild side.

Must be an old timer.

Camels were the best!

[Just another Joe]

Private clubs such as the Elks may only allow smoking if they close their halls to the public and have no paid employees, or if they close their halls to non-members and all of their employees agree to allow smoking indoors.

Little hypocritical here, isn't it.

Why not let the bars do this also. If all the employees say it's OK with them, make it a smoking only bar.
If you enter you do so knowing that there will be smoke in the air.

[SheLion]

Perfect, eh? Say goodbye to the Constitutional guarantee to face your accuser in open court.

Exactly, metesky. If this weren't so serious, it would be laughable.

To think that Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine was formed AFTER the Tobacco Settlement Money (our money) started coming in that this group was formed.

Through the Maine Board of Health. So.......it's not hard to see WHY they do not call for an all out ban! We are PAYING their hefty wages.

Maine economy is really hurting, but do you think they care? Hell no!

For all of those that do not know: The tobacco settlement money is being paid for by Maine smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes. NOT Big Tobacco and surely NOT Maine Government. But the SMOKERS!

[SheLion]

Little hypocritical here, isn't it.

Why not let the bars do this also. If all the employees say it's OK with them, make it a smoking only bar. If you enter you do so knowing that there will be smoke in the air.

Your right, Joe! I sent this URL to many people, plus the writer of this article so they can follow this and pick up on the comments made concerning the Maine ban.

[Modernman]

"I dealt with it in California," she said. "My customers say, 'We'll just stay home and drink a six-pack there.'

I don't know if I buy this argument. I spent a lot of time in Claifornia during the late 90's. The bars were as hopping as ever- the smokers just stepped outside and had a smoke, then came back in. Granted, doing that in perpetually-warm Southern California is a lot easier than in Maine in February.

[SheLion]

Air is clear, patrons scarce after smoking ban

SMOKING BAN ACCOMPLISHES LITTLE, OTHER THAN BURDENING BUSINESSES

[SheLion]

I don't know if I buy this argument. I spent a lot of time in Claifornia during the late 90's. The bars were as hopping as ever- the smokers just stepped outside and had a smoke, then came back in. Granted, doing that in perpetually-warm Southern California is a lot easier than in Maine in February.

Oh yes! Our smoking decks in the winter. Just forking terrific!

[SheLion]

CALIFORNIA: 5-year-old ban in bars leaves owners, customers fuming

"I think if the government helps me one more time I'll be out of business," Newlove said as most of his customers nodded in agreement.

[SheLion]

SMOKING BAN IMPACT ON CALIFORNIA RESTAURANTS

[wbill]

I hate laws like this. Was recently in NYC and you cant move on the sidewalks because of all the smokers outside. Not sure about the drop off in business.....

Seems to me that it would be more feasible to have business owners offer both smoking and non-smoking restaurants and let consumers decide. But, that would make far too much sense.

[SheLion]

Maine Taverns brace for smoking ban in different ways

[SheLion]

Seems to me that it would be more feasible to have business owners offer both smoking and non-smoking restaurants and let consumers decide. But, that would make far too much sense.

That's what we are trying to get ACROSS to these people! Leave it up to the business owner! The business owner can be dictated by his customers if the customers want smoking or not. This should not be left up to the state.

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

[jimt]

Thanks for the post ! People need to know about this abuse of property rights by the nico-nazis.

[Modernman]

Last I looked, tobacco products and cigarettes were still a legal commodity

I wonder just how high tobacco taxes can go? Cigarette taxes are the (seemingly) bottomless pit of money for government. It's kind of amusing- government has an interest in having a certain percentage of the populace smoke and smokers seem to be willing to take any level of abuse (full disclosure- I'm a non-smoker). It's a pretty co-dependent relationship.