So, there’s this story in the Tucson Citizen today.
I wonder where Samuel Scheurich found smokers who are delighted to be exiled 20 feet from any door, window, mousetrap, etc., since the smokers huddled together outside the bars who I talk to are all bitching about three things:
1) The smoking ban.
2) The smokers (and nonsmokers) who didn’t vote against the ban.
3) The smokers (and nonsmokers) who didn’t vote against the ban, but still bitch about it and therefore have no right to complain.
This article appears in Jun 21-27, 2007.
The interesting thing is that apparently the smoking ban has rejuvenated family time at bowling alleys — an AZ Daily Star report from, oh, the day of the final Spurs/Cavs NBA game (June 14), said that sales at bowling alleys are up due to families feeling more comfortable about brining their kids to bowl.
I’ve never heard a legitimate excuse to smoke.
From the Tucson Citizen article: Bay Horse owner Susan Compton isn’t as positive. “When people get off of a long day of work, sometimes they want to reward themselves,” Compton said. “We’re getting a loss of revenue from bars because smokers stay half as long.”
Awwwwwwwwwww!!!
Here, have a tissue. Poooooor baby….
as a smoker who voted for it thinking it wouldnt pass…NUTS.
Incidentally, before May 1 the Bay Horse Tavern used to advertise specifically that they allow smoking — i.e. “We Drink and Smoke here”. Go find an old Tucson Weekly from around February/March and you’ll find the advert.
What is that place like anyway ?
I remember the beef The Depot on Ft. Lowell had with building a patio, but honestly for that place it’s better now the ban took effect — more fun. For other places, it depends on the crowd and especially the atmosphere.
I can empathize with those establishments that are more like “smoke ‘n’ drink” bars instead of being “bring your bros” bars. The smaller places with no patio, but previously established clientele (regulars) who like to smoke and drink come to mind.
To be fair, it’s not like smoke-free places didn’t exist before the ban — smokers knew already that The Dubliner on University (chain) and Risky Business (local chain) didn’t allow it inside.
The only problem comes in when there’s no real patio to sit at, or no perceived accomodations for smokers (i.e. you have to wade through people and leave the building without a drink in your hand if you want a smoke). I think that’s when bars get hurt.
Tobacco: Tumor-causing, teeth-staining, smelly puking habit.
Almost every bartender I’ve talked to (and I’ve been chatting with quite a few recently for reasons that will become clear in the coming weeks) has said the ban has negatively impacted business. I’m not sure how they can definitively conclude that, but that’s what they’re telling me all the same. Seems like dear ol’ Sam kinda glosses over that part, or maybe we just hang out at different places.
suck it, smokers! you’re all acting like it’s not a nasty habit or something.
non-smokers have had to put up with smoker bullshit since forever, and now finally the shoe is on the other foot.
ask a non-smoker that patronizes bars how they feel — to a person they love not having to come home stinking of marlboro.
finally we’ve collectively said that those who choose not to smoke shouldn’t have to be subject to its ill effects merely for going to a public place. it’s about time.
Oaky, let me first say this, when a non-smoker asked(assuming that I didn’t first, which is rare) that I don’t smoke around them(even when I was there first, and they had other places to sit), I have always been curtious and either put it out, or didn’t light up in the first place, and to be honest, I do beleive that there is places that smoking should be banned, this does not include bars, do the people that favor the smoking ban go to bars more since the ban ?, as a majority that I have talked to, the answer is no, do the people who smoke go to bars less, or spend less time there when they do go ?, the majority of people that I talk to, the answer is yes, so, whatever happened to choice, do you let people come into your home and make demands, I should think not, why should I as a bar owner allow people(most of whom DO NOT patronize my establishment) make demands, for those of you who don’t think that there has been a negative impact on bar business, I hope that some day you own a business, and something of this nature happens to you, in fact if things continue in their present state, I forsee the closing of my family’s business(est. 1947) within the next year or so, I sure hope those people who have fought so hard to put me out of business, will fight just as hard to help me with a place to live, and money to put my kids through school, but I guess that’s not their problem.