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Smoking Ban Puts Restaurant Profits Up In Smoke/They Finally Admit It!
Boston.com ^ | June 18, 2002 | Unknown

Posted on 06/19/2002 7:11:34 AM PDT by SheLion

Some Haverhill restaurant owners are complaining about a city ban on smoking.

NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill said that they claim the smoking ban is driving customers away and they say they're ready to fight to get it overturned.

Restaurant owners said that they've lived with these new regulations for three months with devastating consequences. They plan to speak out Tuesday night at a meeting at City Hall.

In Haverhill, the bar banter has moved outside. Three months ago, the city banned smoking in most restaurants. The ashtrays may be gone, but so are the customers.

"I would say we lost 30 to 40 percent of our business right off top since March 1, and it happened that day," restaurant owner Mike Difeo said.

It was a similar story at Benny's farther north on Route 125.

"It's a struggle. I've lost $49,000 as of today, and I can see I lost my main base of customers because of non-smoking. I am losing help. My people are not making money. I went from 58 employees to 44 employees," restaurant owner Ben Brienza said.

Workers and some customers may be heading across the border to New Hampshire.

"I think it's a ridiculous law. Little by little, we are lawing ourselves right out of freedom," one customer said.

"A lot of people we don't see anymore. It's sad," another customer said.

Before the regulations, nonsmoking customer could dine in a separate section of the restaurant.

So is Haverhill fixing something that wasn't broken? Not according to a member of the board of health.

"You can't drive over 65 on the highway -- that is a health issue because of accidents, and there are many different rules in that regard," board of health member Dr. Carl Rosenbloom said. "I think (the government) has an obligation to protect certain aspects of public health that an individual cannot protect themselves."

The board of health does not expect to make any decision at Tuesday night's meeting. It will take public comment for at least a week. Then, board members will either keep the regulations as is, go to a citywide ban in all establishments or chose something in between.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Government; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: antismokers; butts; cigarettes; individualliberty; niconazis; prohibitionists; pufflist; smokingbans; taxreform; tobacco
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To: Rebelbase
All that rolling stuff can get you jail time if you piss off the wrong people.

What are you talking about! They would have to jail all of Shop N' Save before they jail US. It's legal, and it's sold legally.

Where did you come up with THIS stuff!

61 posted on 06/19/2002 11:36:24 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
BUMP
62 posted on 06/19/2002 11:40:09 AM PDT by Publius6961
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To: SheLion
You rusty ole dog!

I may be a lot of things, but rusty isn't one of them.
;O)

I thought we told you long ago. Maybe not, we're old, we forget things.

Yup, we sit in the office, she at her 'puter, me at mine. Some dope wants to fight, she hits 'em with a left, I hit with a right.

Works like a charm.

63 posted on 06/19/2002 11:52:19 AM PDT by metesky
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To: SheLion
Federal Definition of Drug Paraphernalia (1999)
TITLE 21-FOOD AND DRUGS
DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


64 posted on 06/19/2002 11:53:16 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Just another Joe; Gabz; Great Dane; Max McGarrity; JohnHuang2; Tumbleweed_Connection; red-dawg; ...
Tobacco contains just as many carcinogens as cocaine. And, when I smoke one - I pay a tax on it. I am a smoker. I am willing to pay the tax on it. God only knows it will burden the medical system one day and it certainly poisons those around me. So, I don't think you should take it to personally - I smoke and don't.

22 posted on 6/19/02 2:50 PM Eastern by Spaatz

This is in response to Spaatz lumping smokers in with the Drug Lords on another post. I told him that I didn't like him lumping us in with the Druggies. That is the response I received from him. ~sigh..........

Legalize Drugs - Prevent People from Funding Terrorism

65 posted on 06/19/2002 11:55:33 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: metesky
Well, glad to finally know this. :)

I got a fight for ya! Did you read my last post about Spaaz on another thread? Lumping us in with the Druggies?

Boy, he hasn't learned NOTHING!

Legalize Drugs - Prevent People from Funding Terrorism

Post # 22

66 posted on 06/19/2002 11:58:41 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: SheLion
Of course when the highways were put in the state had to compensate the owners for the land that was taken.

The restaurant owners should be compensated for the net present value of the lost earnings.

67 posted on 06/19/2002 12:08:36 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: Kerberos
I always enjoy informing them, when the hostess tells me that they do not have a smoking section, that I will dine elsewhere<

While my wife and I tell owners we would pay extra if they have a no smoking ban in the entire restaurant.

68 posted on 06/19/2002 12:10:50 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: rudypoot
...In order to get the title "Dr.", Carl got a BS degree (Bullsh# degree), then a MS degree (More Sh# degree) and finally a PhD (Piled Higher and Deeper degree).

That has got to be put into the Freeper Posts' Hall of Fame. Classic.

69 posted on 06/19/2002 12:13:13 PM PDT by SGCOS
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To: JoeSixPack1
How come none of these Boards of Health have established a mximum toxicity level for second hand smoke

Its the smell that is the issue. Even clothing worn by a smoker is enough to make some nonsmokers feel sick.

70 posted on 06/19/2002 12:13:23 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: VRWC_minion
While my wife and I tell owners we would pay extra if they have a no smoking ban in the entire restaurant.

RINO

71 posted on 06/19/2002 12:15:40 PM PDT by SheLion
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To: VRWC_minion
Its the smell that is the issue.

Ok! How often do YOU bath, Mr. Spice and Dice!

72 posted on 06/19/2002 12:17:19 PM PDT by SheLion
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To: Kerberos
Maybe install a gun rack in your SUV?

Oh yes, I forgot I also own an SUV..

73 posted on 06/19/2002 12:19:16 PM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: SheLion
Ok! How often do YOU bath, Mr. Spice and Dice!

Smokers have no clue how bad their smoke smells. They also have no clue as to how much their sense of smell and taste has been affected.

74 posted on 06/19/2002 12:21:21 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: old dusty road
Since they will die many years sooner, it is only right to ensure they pay their fair share of taxes while they're still around.

Really, my father in law bugged my mother in law about smoking for years. She outlived him by 10 years and when she did pass away it was not tobacco related. She had a brain tumor.

75 posted on 06/19/2002 12:22:31 PM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: VRWC_minion
Your so far off-base, I'm not even going to get into it with you.......AGAIN!

Let someone else do it. You wear me out with your deceitful, dishonest and inaccurate tales.

76 posted on 06/19/2002 12:23:57 PM PDT by SheLion
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To: TexasRepublic
How about being a dedicated evangelical Christian?

That too...

77 posted on 06/19/2002 12:24:03 PM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: SheLion
RINO

I am a RINO because I want to encourage the restaurant owner to provide non-smoking facilities because smokers are too rude to go outside instead ?

I thought it was OK for the market to dictate smoking policy ?

Plus my posistion is that the towns do have the right to ban smoking but they have an obligation to compensate the existing restaurant for the decrease in market value of the restaurant because its no different that taking their property. I would be willing to pay extra taxes to accomplish that effect.

78 posted on 06/19/2002 12:26:03 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: VRWC_minion
We went through this last week.

To you it's a smell, to us it's an aroma.

And that crap about not being able to smell or taste is just that crap.

You probably forgot that we covered this due to your drinking problem.
79 posted on 06/19/2002 12:26:20 PM PDT by metesky
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To: SheLion
Let someone else do it. You wear me out with your deceitful, dishonest and inaccurate tales.

I object to you calling me deceitful, dishonest and inaccurate. I haven't attacked you personally have I ?

80 posted on 06/19/2002 12:27:40 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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