I’ll start by saying I’m a big fan of smoking bans. The reason is simple: a minority of people smoke and yet their actions dramatically effect every one in the room. Besides the obvious health impacts, it is annoying and unpleasant.
The notion that smoking bans hurt bars is false and it has been proven all over. Yes, there is a short-term impact while whiny smokers try to have an impact, but it is temporary. People do not stop going to bars because they can’t smoke inside. In fact, a happy side effect of smoking bans is that more and more bars are adding pleasant outdoor seating areas.
So I’m displeased that the pussies in the Minnesota Senate neutered the state-wide smoking ban bill. A state-wide ban is the best way to level the playing field for all bars. It is also the obvious thing to do in terms of public safety.
What pisses me off is these senators are bowing to pressure from a whiny, addicted but vocal minority. Why would they give in to 20% of the people when 80% of us have made it clear that we want our fucking air back.
I’ll add that the bleating of smokers who say “If you don’t like it stay home” can easily be turned back on them — you fucking stay home if you can’t get through one beer without a cigarette.
I’ll also add that I don’t care if people smoke, I have no moral objection to people smoking and it is not my intent to try to get people to stop smoking. I don’t give a rats ass. But the notion that 1 out of 5 people can ruin it for the other 4 is insane.
What really cracks me up is a lot of smokers don’t smoke at home because they don’t want to stink their house up. So they go out and stink all the rest of us up.
It makes no sense. It is just not that hard to step outside for a smoke.
lolife 
I’m not sure I agree with the “smoking bars” idea. Most people, myself included, don’t want to be dicks to the people I hang out with that smoke. So if we have a choice of a smoking bar or a non-smoking bar, and my friends want to smoke, we’re gonna go to the smoking bar. The non-smoking bar essentially has a smaller clientele available to them. Plus people tend to think that smoking is still “cool” so the smoking bars are going to more popular. Market forces, for some weird reason, don’t work in this instance. My sense is that bar owners would rather have the same rules apply to everyone.
I would oppose legislation that prohibited smoking outside of bars. I think going outside for a smoke is something people should be allowed to do. I think our indoor air, all of it, deserves the same protection everywhere.
LikeLike
Here’s where you and I agree.
I have sent emails to our State Senators, Representatives, the Governor and our Mayors to tell them about the positive nature of the smoking ban.
For the first time in 20 years I have been able to go out to a bar and come home without suffering from the effects of smoke (I’m allergic to cigarette smoke). I used to bartend and would have to take medications to keep working.
I do however respect the smokers right to smoke and have a place to do it so I had recommended to our politicians to have a fair number of non-smoking liquor licences as well as smoking liquor licences. This way smokers can hang with smokers and non-smokers can choose to hang in the clean air or the not-so-clean air. Give the non-smoking establishments breaks on license fees, insurance breaks and if necessary tax considerations.
MY hope is that these people quit smoking for the sakes of their health and their loved ones.
Peace, my friend!
~greg
LikeLike
I think that “Bars” should have the option. as in “This is a smoking bar” If you go here for a beer you have to smoke, even if you don’t want to…smoking is manditory. And you have to smoke camel straights or Lucky Strikes with no filter.
Bar/restaurants should not have an option.
Thus the owners can choose to market their services as they see fit. The majority should rule. However the minority should have an option….make it similar to the “adult bookstores”
“hump me raw” is not available at the public library. Nor is the “Smithsonian” available at the corner logflogging establishment.
LikeLike