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Be on the look-out for the lurking Anti-Smoking Nazis on this thread...they'll be here quick enough. ;)
Rally the troops, please! :)
Deprivation of your rights is not a petty offense.
What smoking did they ban....all smoking or just smoking in certain areas....
I find it interesting how smoking has somehow become a conservative thing......liberals are not just opposed to smoking out of health reasons but for political reasons too. I quit smoking cigars last April and was talking with a liberal friend of mine about it and he said: "dont you feel much better" and I said NO, I loved smoking cigars and life was more fun as a smoker...I quit cuz I didn't want to pay for the habit anymore and did not like the stale smoke stinking up my car and house.
He couldn't believe that I actually preferred the smoking life over non-smoking and did not feel any health benefits to quitting. It almost offended him..
The tavern owners will go out of business. Great for the local economy, huh?
I forgot to add, internet tobbaco sales will continue to grow.
Again, it is my firm belief that government should stay out of the private individuals' business. The owner(s) of the bar/restaurant should be able to make their own rules. If they want a smoking area to accomodate smokers, then they should be able to. If they want a totally non-smoking establishment, then, again, that's their rule. But, it's the owners property and let them make the rules and government stay out! Non-smoking Nazis are taking away a legal freedom, not to mention a huge tax contributor.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/2003/downloads/airqualsmoketask.pdf
A random survey shows Lincoln residents overwhelmingly support the city’s smoking ban — and they believe it’s made bars and restaurants healthier places to drink and dine. Nearly 72 percent of those surveyed said they support the controversial Smoking Regulation Act, which was passed by 62 percent of voters in November.
In addition, 85 percent of those surveyed said they went to the bar as much or more often since the ban went into effect Jan. 1; 89 percent said the same thing for restaurants.
Still, some bar owners said the ban has hurt business. And at least one — Big John’s Billiards — has blamed the ban for its closing.
“I think the smoking ban has cost us customers, it has grown some customers for us and it has changed the way customers behave,” said Michael Carpenter, owner of Libations, Too at 5310 S. 56th St.
Mayor Coleen Seng and other officials announced the survey results Monday at the Red Fox Steakhouse and Lounge, 1339 W. O St.
They chose the Red Fox in part because its owner, Don Arena, initially opposed the ban.
“I was so scared that my business was going to be hurt,” Arena told reporters.
He has since changed his mind.
“It’s done wonders for my business,” Arena said, adding a personal note: “I can come to work and breathe normally.”
Others apparently feel the same way, too. The survey showed 91 percent now consider restaurants and bars healthier; 73 percent of those who smoked felt the same way.
“The act is doing exactly what it was intended to do: Protect the health of Lincoln’s employees and residents, and this survey shows that Lincolnites appreciate that,” said Cindy Jeffrey, a spokesperson for Tobacco Free Lincoln, one of a handful of groups that worked to pass the law.
Brian Kitten, a partner in Brewsky’s Food & Spirits, said the survey numbers don’t tell the whole story.
He said keno revenues are down — an average of 23 percent from a year ago — because of the ban.
“Those people are going somewhere else,” Kitten said, suggesting many now leave Lincoln for Waverly or Denton.
The ban has hurt parts of Brewsky’s business, he said, especially revenue from pool and darts.
“The customer who comes in to play pool and darts is generally a drinker and a smoker,” Kitten said.
Officials did not have figures on the economic impact of the smoking ban.
About the survey
The June random phone survey of 982 residents was done by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regulation and licensure section of data management to gauge support for the city’s smoking ban.
Of those participating:
* 78 percent described themselves as nonsmokers
* 22 percent described themselves as smokers
Compliance not a problem
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 11, authorities wrote 22 tickets to individuals and four to businesses; they also fielded 50 complaints. And 97 percent of smokers who responded to the survey said they always comply with the ban.
Just voted...248-211 repeal the ban can catch up.
I was able to vote only twice. Not fair!
But after I waited couple minutes I was able to vote again.
Help please!
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Stateline area (Rockford) anto-anti-smoker voting for repeal. Good luck and God Bless!
They really should outlaw farting. I find that as offensive as someones cigarette smoke.
I personally think they need to ban all smoking, including smoke from car tailpipes. How many of those that think the smoke of a burning leaf should be banned would be in favor of giving up their 2 inch smoking tailpipes.
The anti-cigarette-smoking crowd is totally unthinking. If you don't like the smell of the things, fine. But that is a far as your arguement can rationally be taken.
I quit almost 8 months now but the ban is stupid. Hell they fined a prestigious club here in NY for having ashtrays in the OFFICE.
Government control what I do with my own body?
I thought that was unconstitutional.
48%