Smoke'em if you got'em...for now

[pintofguinness14]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/30/AR2006013001124_pf.html

I don't remember if we've discussed smoking bans before.  This is a tough issue for me.  On the one hand, I'm not a smoker and one thing I don't like about some of my favorite DC bars is all the smoke.  On the other hand, it's perfectly legal for any adult to smoke and I think that if I owned a bar or restaurant, I should be able to decide whether to allow smoking.  If the customers don't like it, they can drink somewhere else.

We have smokers and non-smokers on this board and most of us enjoy an afternoon/evening at the bar downing brews and watching football.  What do you think?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think bars and restaurants should ban smoking, but have outdoor areas designated for smoking.  This would be fair to all. 

[Brian Fein]

They passed the no smoking indoors law here a few years ago.  Best law ever.  

Now I don't smell like an ash tray when I go to bars, or the bowling alley.  Its freakin' phenomenal.  Not to mention I don't get to die of lung cancer thanks to everyone else.

Yes, I'm a selfish prick on this topic.  I can't stand smoke!

If you want to engage in your nasty habit, fine, have a good time, but don't force me to live in it.  Its not too much to ask you to go outside for 5 minutes...

[bsfins]

I quit Smoking,So I see both sides..Resturants...ok,ban it...Bars Nope..smoke away.

They passed it here a couple of years ago...no smoking in restruants,unless you sell a certain amount of liquor.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I quit Smoking,So I see both sides..Resturants...ok,ban it...Bars Nope..smoke away.

They passed it here a couple of years ago...no smoking in restruants,unless you sell a certain amount of liquor.

I agree here. As a smoker I have no problem not being able to smoke in a resturant. A bar....different story. They passed the law here quite a few years back but establishments with a class A liquor license had the option. Most bars allow the smoking because it is too damn hot in June, July, and August to go outside and smoke so most people were avoiding the bars that did not allow it.

[Sunstroke]

I'm falling right in line with Lil_B and AZ here. In a restaurant, forget about it. I usually leave them in the car. When I go to a sports bar or club, I like to be able to smoke.

[Frimp]

The choice about smoking in resturants should be left up to the business owner. The government needs to focus on protecting private property, and US citizens. Not to decide how we live our lives.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

They passed a smiliar law here in Georgia.  If you allowed people that were under 18 inside your establishment, you had to ban smoking. 

Chain restuarants and local family friendly cafes had to comply with the law, but there are a few sports pubs and nightclubs in town that chose to become 18 or older in order to allow smoking inside.

[Dave Gray]

I was torn between this as well, at first.  I don't like to take rights away from the business owners, however, I think that smoking is a health concern...not just a personal preference.

Think of it this way (and I'm being totally serious)...

There are codes for bathrooms.  You have to keep certain things in designated areas.  For example, you can't have urinals in the dining area in a public restaurant.  For health concerns, there is a code that restricts this.  I feel that smoking is much the same.  People "NEED" to smoke, like they do need to urinate, but they don't have to do it in the common areas.  

However, where you smoke (or urinate for that matter) in your home, is no concen of mine.

[Frimp]

I personally dont have a problem with having to wait to have a smoke. There are a few resturants here where the owner decided not to have it. If I did have a problem with it, I simply wouldnt go there. The same would apply to non smokers.

The owner decides, and then the market decides.

[Lee]

On a similar note, I absolutely hate it when someone takes one last drag, walks inside, and releases a blast of cancer in the building/room/restaurante/etc...

That should also count as "smoking" in a non-smoking area...

[Sunstroke]

On a similar note, I absolutely hate it when someone takes one last drag, walks inside, and releases a blast of cancer in the building/room/restaurante/etc...

If someone actually saw them do what you just described, it definitely would constitute smoking in a non-smoking area. If it were a restaurant, that person should be forced to eat outside, sitting indian-legged on the sidewalk, while all the non-smokers walk past, laughing at him. 

[Denver_Bronco]

On a similar note, I absolutely hate it when someone takes one last drag, walks inside, and releases a blast of cancer in the building/room/restaurante/etc...

That should also count as "smoking" in a non-smoking area...

I do that. Its awesome.

[Phishfan]

The choice about smoking in resturants should be left up to the business owner. The government needs to focus on protecting private property, and US citizens. Not to decide how we live our lives.

Isn't keeping second hand smoke away from a non-smoker a form of protecting the citizens?

[Frimp]

Isn't keeping second hand smoke away from a non-smoker a form of protecting the citizens?

Nope. If its that big of a deal to you, stay away from it. There doesnt need to be a law on it.