Smoking Ban in Bars

[Niccivan]

It's a non-issue in my area now.... and in all of FL. You don't smoke inside.... period, unless it's a bar where zero food is served, which is maybe 1 out of the 50 bars in my town/area. The bar that does allow smoking inside, the smokers are so accustomed to HAVE to go outside and smoke, they do it in this bar too. It's great! It will be a non-issue in your town as well after a few years. People will get over it.... and people will adapt. It's really not all that bad. And it makes for a much happier environment to those who don't smoke. It's a win win.

[Niccivan]

and it wouldn't be SO unreasonable to ask all short people to sit outside, or people to sing outside, but you'd be pissed if they made that bullshti a law...

yeah.... cause that's really the same. Almost exactly the same.

[Savannah D]

It's a non-issue in my area now.... and in all of FL. You don't smoke inside.... period, unless it's a bar where zero food is served, which is maybe 1 out of the 50 bars in my town/area. The bar that does allow smoking inside, the smokers are so accustomed to HAVE to go outside and smoke, they do it in this bar too. It's great! It will be a non-issue in your town as well after a few years. People will get over it.... and people will adapt. It's really not all that bad. And it makes for a much happier environment to those who don't smoke. It's a win win.

People "adapted and got over" the new rules and laws in Nazi Germany too... It didn't make it right...

If you have THAT much of a problem with smokers, get on your governments ass to outlaw it completely... but don't tell people it's legal to smoke, just not in a PRIVATE BUSINESS...

And the problem with the "you can smoke provided there's zero food served" here you're not allowed to be open on Sunday, or within severial blocks of a church, if you don't serve food.

[Savannah D]

and I ASSURE you, it's STILL an issue... you just don't hear about it because you never hear the smokers complaining... because they're outside like second class citizens, while you get to be in the air conditioning....

[Savannah D]

I gots an idea massa nicci... hows about wes smokas have seperate watah taps too.... Dat ways ya'll don havta be round our smoke whiles ya'll good peoples drink ya'lls watah...

[Niccivan]

and I ASSURE you, it's STILL an issue... you just don't hear about it because you never hear the smokers complaining... because they're outside like second class citizens, while you get to be in the air conditioning....

I go outside sometimes when a friend of mine does smoke. I have never heard them, or anyone else complaining about it. They do it at work, they do it at bars. It's just the way of life around here, as it has been for over 9 years.

[Niccivan]

And the problem with the "you can smoke provided there's zero food served" here you're not allowed to be open on Sunday, or within severial blocks of a church, if you don't serve food.

That's a law and you are bitching over smoking in bars? That law is ridiculous.... and hilarious!

[Niccivan]

I gots an idea massa nicci... hows about wes smokas have seperate watah taps too.... Dat ways ya'll don havta be round our smoke whiles ya'll good peoples drink ya'lls watah...

again.... riiiiiight. a little overboard....

[bluffmanxx]

the thing is, for most bars, if they banned smoking they would lose more business than they would gain. MOST of the smokers would still come (if they didn't have any other options) but they will likely stay for a shorter period of time and drink less. so even if ALL bars have to ban smoking, the net result is going to be that some bars are going to close. (maybe even your favorite)

now, let's assume that i take the bold step of being the only non smoking bar on the street. 80-90% of my current customers are smokers so what percentage will simply go elsewhere?? let's be real, smokers drink more on average than non smokers, so even if i get the same number of new customers, i lose revenue. as i'm sure you are aware, my rent or electric or any of my other fixed expenses are not going to go down because i'm providing a more healthy environment for people to get trashed. bottom line, if i banned smoking in my bar i'd be closed in 2 months.

i'm lucky enough to have a decent sized patio that with some expansion and a little work would put me in a better spot than most other bars around if the county adopts the same laws as the city of houston. then again, the county line is only a couple of miles away and the same "city" that i'm in has several bars in the next county. my guess is the smokers drive a little further, which of course means they drive a bit further on the way home after drinking.

in any case, i'd love to not have to breathe second hand smoke - i've never smoked in my life...but money talks baby, and i can make more with smoking allowed. maybe the non smokers can use the patio for now ;-)

[Niccivan]

the thing is, for most bars, if they banned smoking they would lose more business than they would gain. MOST of the smokers would still come (if they didn't have any other options) but they will likely stay for a shorter period of time and drink less. so even if ALL bars have to ban smoking, the net result is going to be that some bars are going to close. (maybe even your favorite)

now, let's assume that i take the bold step of being the only non smoking bar on the street. 80-90% of my current customers are smokers so what percentage will simply go elsewhere?? let's be real, smokers drink more on average than non smokers, so even if i get the same number of new customers, i lose revenue. as i'm sure you are aware, my rent or electric or any of my other fixed expenses are not going to go down because i'm providing a more healthy environment for people to get trashed. bottom line, if i banned smoking in my bar i'd be closed in 2 months.

i'm lucky enough to have a decent sized patio that with some expansion and a little work would put me in a better spot than most other bars around if the county adopts the same laws as the city of houston. then again, the county line is only a couple of miles away and the same "city" that i'm in has several bars in the next county. my guess is the smokers drive a little further, which of course means they drive a bit further on the way home after drinking.

in any case, i'd love to not have to breathe second hand smoke - i've never smoked in my life...but money talks baby, and i can make more with smoking allowed. maybe the non smokers can use the patio for now ;-)

I think more and more counties will adopt the smoking law. When ALL bars have to turn to non-smoking inside, businesses shouldn't get hurt if you at least provide a nice patio, such as the one you are suggesting. Fans, TV, whatever... 90% of the patios here are really nice and you'll find on a nice night that most people hang outside anyway, especially if the bar is on the water or bayou.

When this law is not a law in your area, of course the bar would lose its customers, especially when there is somewhere else they can go where they can smoke. If everyone has to ban smoking, people will still go out. They did in my area and I haven't seen any bars close down over the smoking law.

I'm not saying I absolutely agree that it should be a "law". I'm just saying it's nice to go to these places and not have to deal with it. People don't have a choice, and people will drink regardless. They can still smoke, they are just asked (forced) to do it outside, which is a whole 20 feet away. Big deal. Get over it.