That is just like how they have smoke free times at a bowling alley, it is easier for me to handle, but I still go home reaking of smoke since the other 6 days of the week it gets more than it's fair share of smoke. Is there a true 24/7 smoke free bar currently open? I'll check out the link when I'm not at work. B
I would assume most drunk drivers are leaving bars. How about banning alcohol at bars. Seriously, I just find something ridiculous about a smoke free bar. It's not like its places where kids hang out, or you exactly don't have a choice to be at. The restaurant argument I can understand, but bars, I just can't get with that.
Oh, fatty, you are so easy. I am an uber-anti-smoker ONLY when it comes to the air I breathe. I don't want to breathe that **** - end of story. If you make me breathe it because of your proximity, you can bet I will ask you to move it in another direction. The fact is that the inconvenience for a smoker is FAR less than for someone who isn't because you can just hold it for an hour or two or take a break outside to take a drag. For those who don't, we are stuck with it. We cannot escape unless we choose to leave - our only option in that situation. At worst, smokers are MILDLY inconvenienced when they want a cigarette. At worst, non-smokers, if they don't want to breathe your smoke, are eliminated from the equation. And, by the way, chill on the whiny b****es bull****. You ought to knwo better than that.
When Los Angeles did this in 1996 or so, many bars & restaurants immediately built outdoor patio areas that became the "smoking area" of the establishment. I predict that this ban will be approved, and you will see places in Houston do the same thing. While I have smoked for 30 years (I started when I was freaking 13), I understand that it is a dangerous habit that one should try to eliminate. I would love to quit smoking, but I just haven't figured out how to do it yet. For me to quit smoking, I would probably have to quit drinking, and I'm not ready to do that just yet.
Jeff, exactly how is banning smoking everywhere putting competition on a level playing field? I understand that you don't like smoking. I personally doubt you are coughing up phlegm due to your performing in smoking establishments. However, if that is your opinion, you could perform on smoke-free nights or smoke-free establisments. A complete ban everywhere when there are SOOOOOOOO many other far more dangerous airborne items is ludicrous. Holla.
Jeff, if you ever come out to see the blues band I play in, the Dukes of Houston, you need to talk to Larry, our harmonica player. He is the most rabid anti-smoking person I know, simply because his instrument is wind-based, and heavy cigarette smoke severely affects what he can do on the harmonica. We have stopped playing one small place in Sugarland because the smoke was too thick for him to handle.
I didn't know you were in a blues band. I love the blues (and I hate Jazz). Lemme know when your next gig is! -- droxford
Exactly. Bars know many of their customers smoke, and they will accomodate them. As i said...it's really not that big a deal. Smokers will smoke.
Not to sound like an ass, but you've got blinders on. Mild inconvenience, my butt. The second they do this, I can be anywhere other than my car or my house, and people will push the envelope farther and farther. This crap is the tip of the iceberg, and it is time for someone to finally say enough is enough. Or when should I start? When they have smoking sections on one corner area 100 feet from every building? When I have to be 100 yards from children? When I can't smoke in my car because I'm in public? And don't say I'm exaggerating. This ban anywhere 10 years ago would have seemed outrageous then, too.
Beautiful! It makes NY a better dining/social experience and it'll do the same for Houston. Its healthier for the patrons and healtheir for the workers. I hope it passes.
Last time I checked, you cant sh*t in a restaurant dining room or bar area, dump refinrey waste or build an electrical tower in them either.
This theory isn't really valid: When restaurants allow smoking, non-smokers' only option (if they don't want to be around smoke) is not to eat there. And since most restaurants around Houston allow smoking, this drastically reduces the places that a non-smoker can go to. So what do non-smokers do? The go, and they unhappily tolerate the smoke. They don't 'demand' that the restaurants change their ways because there are too many restaurants that they'd have to place these demands on, and it's hard to demand this from the restaurants when there is no law behind it. Restaurants are under the mindset of: "Smokers insist on smoking. Non-smokers are willing to tolerate it. So we'll allow it in our restaurant." Because of this, the 'demand' tips in favor of smokers, and has been as such for years. But now, after all those years of losing those battles.. guess what? We're not going to place demands on restaurants and bars. We're changing the law! And if you don't like it, you and your smoking buddies can go get together and try to fight it as best as you can. Then you'll know what it's like to face an uphill battle. And if the law gets passed, you'll know what it's like to be annoyingly inconvenienced by an illegal smoking law - 'cause all us non-smokers have been inconvenienced from its legality for a long, long time. It's your turn! -- droxford
It would be nice if all of the uber-anti-smokers felt this passionate about the real dangers in the air. I find it hipocritical of the government to force businesses to ban smoking and yet there are industries that get a free pass to pollute.
I can't wait to see smokers have to decide whether they should sit outside on a 100 degree day in July in Houston to smoke while they eat......or suck it up and sit inside
This is what I'm talking about with the whinning. NJ is practically giddy about this. Why? Will it affect him? Nope. Is he happy it will piss me off? Of course. I can see him tee-heeing right now. My point was that there needs to be a line drawn. My point on the other pollutants is that they are far more dangerous in the air. It is still all there last I checked. Or do you not believe in Smog? Unbelievable naivity, NJ
