switching to smoke-free

quote:

Originally posted by Jim2903

RE: "I left the newspaper business

We need more people like you in the newspaper business!
Jack

The major problem with smoking in bars is that it endangers the health of others around them.

That said, I think that it should be the owners choice- however, the legislated change to non-smoking bars has been quite welcome in our area.

Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.

-Fletcher Knebel

quote:

Originally posted by Dr of BBQ

quote:

Originally posted by Jim2903

RE: "I left the newspaper business

We need more people like you in the newspaper business!
Jack

Thanks! But I'm having a lot more fun as a food industry journalist.

[url]www.dairyfield.com[/url]

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by jeepguyThey should stop selling alcohol in public places as i'm offended by over served people! What's next? Purple uniforms for us to wear! It never ends!

Lest we forget, it started with heroin and cocaine around the turn of the last century. I heard from several sources, admittedly of questionable reliability, that Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and the philandering Franklin (and only ONE of these men truly did frame the Constitution, Mr. Limbaugh, and THAT is an undeniable FACT! Washington was still being a General, and Adams and Jefferson were in Europe at the time.) used to smoke marijuana when they met. They don't call the world's best selling soft drink Coca-cola for nothing.

If I were king, I'd outlaw smoking in truly public buildings like City Hall, the Library, police stations, and government buildings, but let restaurants and bars make up their own minds. I'd make them post their decisions prominently so no smoker would accidently light up in a non-smoking building, or vice versa. I know for a fact I'm not the first person to think of this solution, but it's not going to happen because of the checks and balances that make our country and its government so great.

It's awfully lonely being a true Libertarian.

Here in Lexington, Ky, the smoking ban has been in effect for 3 yrs. I was the manager of a non-corporate bar and grill and the day it went into effect, our sales plummeted. The smokers left and never did come back. Most of them were bar customers. The atmosphere was nice, smoke free, but hard to make a living with an empty restaurant/bar. We considered closing during the day, but didn't. We never recovered. Some non smokers commented how they would come in more often since we were now required to be smoke free, but that didn't last. Luckily, we did have a patio and the smokers at night were happy to sit there for the night. Winter, the busy season, was rough on them, but they did go outside to smoke. Our employees suffered the most. Tips dropped at least 50%. We also worked with a skeleton crew to try and keep the employees making decent tips. The restaurant has since been sold and the new owners have no clue that the slow season is on the way, as they have never owned a restaurant before. They have already closed during the day, chosing to open at 3:30, they are going to have a very difficult time in the summer. The smoking ban in KY has just about closed down all the individually owned bars. The corporate operations have seemed to survive ok, but smoke free bars are for the birds! I know first hand!!!
Jersey

Big Ugly Mich-I think your idea if you were King is pretty much already in place here in Milwaukee and other cities that havent banned smoking completely in all public places.

I think I just heard this morning that Baltimore has voted to enact a complete ban on smoking, and the mayor happily agreed to sign the act. Now, I only caught the end of the report, so my info may be wrong, but boy! would that make things better here in the city! I already go out a lot, but I'd stay out longer and spend more money if I didn't feel like I was choking on smoke. And my lungs would be much happier, too.

Regarding the ban in Lexington: I had read that KY has the highest percentage of smokers of any state in the country. If this is indeed the case, it stands to reason that a ban would hurt more in KY than elsewhere. I think that the more upscale places in Bmore will not be hurt by a ban, but that perhaps the "tavern" type of places will have more trouble. But who knows? One of these small mom and pop taverns went smoke-free awhile back in Fells Point, and now it's so crowded that you can't get into the place. Probably because it's the only place in its area that prohibits smoking, so all the non-smokers flock there. It's also known for having very good home-cooked food, and it bums me out that the two times I've tried to get in, there were no seats at any of the tables or the bar.

I have put in 15 month's as a non-smoking restaurant/lounge in Wa state. Three other bars in the same two blocks are having the same problems I have but are not doing as well because their food sucks. We have a limited market and Dui's[about a 100 per month in a county of 70,000 plus people] are forcing everyone to house parties. These take about 6 to 10 thousand per person from the bar scene. Did I mention that the other places cater to the smoking faction while I do not. My clientele changed, but my gross grew, so start looking for new things to help. In an 80/20 split market I am going to try to catch as much of the 80% as I can.

Yes, Joanie.... KY does have the highest percentage of smokers! That is the first thing I noticed when I moved here from NJ 8 yrs ago. EVERYONE smoked! We also produce alot of tobacco and had an auction house in Lexington, to sell the tobacco. It recently closed and there was a big push to stop the farmers from growing tobacco here in KY. The government subsidised the farmers to stop growing it and to help them pick another crop to grow on their farms. All in all, it has pretty much come to a screaching hault. My beef is, why, in such a tobacco area, did Lexington decide to be the first KY city to ban smoking? Louisville, the home of Churchill Downs, got a break from the city wide smoking ban there. Smoking, drinking and gambling just go together, according to the Churchill Downs people. I did work for a mom and pop bar/restaurant... It killed our business! Lexington is not a big city, compared to Louisville and Frankfort. We fought tooth and nail to keep the ban from happening. There was alot of support from the restaurant owners and workers, but politics won out. One of the city council members was a big wig here in town and owns alot of Applebee's restaurants. He decided to go smoke free, 6 months before the ban was passed. Guess his push was prompted by his money and commitment to keep the playing field even, no smoking ANYWHERE in Lexington. It is still a very sore subject here and people are still fighting the fight to get it overturned.


Jersey

quote:

Originally posted by annpeeplesBig Ugly Mich-I think your idea if you were King is pretty much already in place here in Milwaukee and other cities that havent banned smoking completely in all public places.

Nah, the difference is that bars and restaurants are owned by someone, which makes them private places.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Ugly Mich

quote:

Originally posted by jeepguyThey should stop selling alcohol in public places as i'm offended by over served people! What's next? Purple uniforms for us to wear! It never ends!

Lest we forget, it started with heroin and cocaine around the turn of the last century. I heard from several sources, admittedly of questionable reliability, that Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and the philandering Franklin (and only ONE of these men truly did frame the Constitution, Mr. Limbaugh, and THAT is an undeniable FACT! Washington was still being a General, and Adams and Jefferson were in Europe at the time.) used to smoke marijuana when they met. They don't call the world's best selling soft drink Coca-cola for nothing.

If I were king, I'd outlaw smoking in truly public buildings like City Hall, the Library, police stations, and government buildings, but let restaurants and bars make up their own minds. I'd make them post their decisions prominently so no smoker would accidently light up in a non-smoking building, or vice versa. I know for a fact I'm not the first person to think of this solution, but it's not going to happen because of the checks and balances that make our country and its government so great.

It's awfully lonely being a true Libertarian.

Mich, You might want to recheck your facts. The Constitution was written in 1787 the war was over, Washington was president, Jefferson wasn't even a delegate to the convention and the esteemed Dr. Franklin was in fact very instrumental on having it radified. The basic form of the Constitution was taken from the State of Massachusetts written by John Adams. You did get the players right though. PS I flunked U.S. History. Chow Jim

quote:

Originally posted by JimeatsMich, You might want to recheck your facts. The Constitution was written in 1787 the war was over, Washington was president,

The revolution was over. Shays' Rebellion wasn't. Washington did serve as a General, although not General of the Armies, during Shays' Rebellion.

quote:

Originally posted by JimeatsJefferson wasn't even a delegate to the convention and the esteemed Dr. Franklin was in fact very instrumental on having it radified. The basic form of the Constitution was taken from the State of Massachusetts written by John Adams. You did get the players right though. PS I flunked U.S. History. Chow Jim

Franklin literally had to be carried into Freedom Hall when the Constitution was ratified, but Adams and Jefferson were ambassadors, to England and France respectively, and if you don't believe that, notice that neither signed the Constitution.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr of BBQ

quote:

Originally posted by annpeeples

I agree there should be places for non smoking people to go-But there still should be establishments that can choose whether they go smoke free.However,drinking and driving after leaving a smoke free or not smoke free club,is.an illegal activity.

It’s not against the law to drive after you’ve been drinking, unless your impaired and states have made laws deciding at what point that impairment becomes a danger to others.

Actually in some states it is illegal to drive after even one drink. But let's not let facts once again get in the way of spurious logic.

quote:

Originally posted by joanie41

BigUglyMich, in my area, AA meetings are non-smoking. Coffee flows, and people go outside if they want to smoke. I know this because I took some addictions classes as a pharmacy student and one of our assignments was to attend a few AA sessions. I found the meetings very interesting, and the speeches quite compelling.

They are speakers who "share", not give speeches.

Since this has been bumped- all the bar owners I have talked to in Washington State say business is now back to, or better than before the smoking ban. It just takes a little time for people to adjust.

They also say expenses are down as they no longer have to pay for smoke filters,ashtrays, extra cleanup , deal with repairing burned carpet, chairs, tables, bar tops etc.

They also state they have many more choices in hiring help, as many servers did not want to work in a smoke filled, filthy environment.

Florida has been smoke free inside public places for a few years now, and while at first they suffered some loss of business, it is now back to previous levels.

quote:

Originally posted by uncledaveyoActually in some states it is illegal to drive after even one drink. But let's not let facts once again get in the way of spurious logic.

I have a friend who had his CDL pulled on the spot because he blew a .015. He wasn't driving his truck, either. That's the law everywhere as I understand.