177 replies to this topic

[Greenville]

I was reading about the bill that is to come before the SC legislature soon that would ban smoking in all restaurants and bars in SC.  I don't know if it will pass or not, but if it doesn't, how would you guys feel about Greenville (city or county) passing a bill like this?  Would it be good or bad?  I realize that there are pros and cons, but I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this.

[g-man430]

I would like to see Greenville pass a bill like this because I don't smoke and I don't like smelling it when i'm trying to eat at a restaurant and enjoy my meal. It's also bad for your health.

[RestedTraveler]

My wife and I both used to smoke; however, neither of us can stand to be around smoke these days.  It's especially horrible when you're trying to savor the aroma and flavor of good food.  I'd be all for such a bill passing!

[jarvismj]

I have mixed feelings about a smoking ban. 1) I am a smoker, so I love living here in Greenville, as opposed to NYC or Boston. 2) After reading about the ban in Washington State, I'm really wondering when it's going to become a crime to smoke. 3) I really don't have any other way of dealing with the constant drama that entails my life and running a consulting firm. 4) I know that smoking is bad, and that it's going to kill me. I quit for about 2 years when I first got married. Yeah, the whole quitting thing just isn't happening anytime soon.

I guess what this entails is that I personally understand where non-smokers are coming from, but then again, if you don't like the smoke, don't sit in the smoking section. There has to be compromise somewhere here. I've heard the arguement that parents don't like bringing their kids to a smoke-filled bar, and that its bad for their health. What business does an eight-year old have in bar?

I'm going off topic here, but this has been bugging me for the longest time: When are parents going to do their jobs as parents, and not rely on the government to do it for them? I'm tired of hearing how Congress wants to censor the internet from porn and violence, and ban the sale of video games that are so violent. How about working on a balanced budget. How about fixing the roads here in South Carolina? How about finding a fix for homelessness? I just wish that parents would wake up to reality, and see it in an all encompassing view, not just the view from their little worlds. I say this with heart. My own parents didn't see it that way, and to piss them off, I started smoking when I was 12. Worst decision I ever made. 11 years later, I still regret it, ecspecially when I pay $85 for a carton in New York City.
Thanks for dealing with the rant. I had to get it off my chest.

[idunno]

Wow...I'm shocked that such a bill is even under consideration in a state as conservative as South Carolina...I'd be surprised to see the bill pass.  I'll start by saying that I understand the argument that it should be up to the owner of the restauraunt/bar/establishment whether or not to allow smoking in their building.  I can understand how one could see this as yet another attempt by government to interfere with free enterprise.

However...

The thing that tips me toward being in favor of such a bill being passed is this...I value a person's right to breathe more so than a person's right to smoke anywhere he or she chooses.  Here in Dallas, where there is a smoking ban in restauraunts (don't know if it applies to bars--somehow I don't think so), it is SO nice to be able to go to an eating establishment without worrying about inhaling a bunch of secondhand smoke as I enjoy my dinner.  I remember when I was in college and some friends and I would head down to places such as Barley's Taproom in downtown Greenville...food was good, but the smoke was close to unbearable at times.  Also, I know that some people are extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke, and even a small whiff can cause their airways to react so much that they have to go to the hospital...yes, it's that bad for some people.  I've seen it firsthand.

As someone in training to become a doctor, I find it astounding the number of conditions and diseases that tobacco use puts someone at risk for (I seem to learn more conditions, etc. every day).  So I'll close by saying this...if you don't smoke, please don't start.  If you do smoke, I urge you to stop...if not for yourself, for those you love and those around you.

OK...I've spent enough time on the soapbox for now.  My apologies if my comments offend anyone, and while I don't think this post breaks any of the forum rules (yes, I checked them out again just now), my apologies to the admins. if I did by anything I've said.  Let the debate continue...

Edited by idunno, 28 January 2006 - 01:59 AM.

[gsupstate]

I'm mixed on this, but I lean toward the government banning smoking in all restaurants.  To say that there are smoking and non-smoking areas simply doesn't work.  I've sat in many non-smoking areas that were just feet away from the smokers....the non-smokers get the full effect.

Bars are another case.  I fully believe smoking should be allowed in bars.  Bars are the last sanctuary for adult vices.  Even though I don't smoke, I expect to be bombarded by smoke in a bar and I mentally prepare myself.  Bars are an adult playland and if people choose to smoke, so be it.  As jarvisj3 said above, if parents are bringing kids to a bar, then thats their problem and shows their lack of maturity.  Maybe the government should look at banning parents from bringing children into bars??

My major irritation with smoking though has nothing to do with either of the above.  Mine has to do with retailers (mainly big box stores) that let their employees hang out outside the front door smoking.  I find this very offensive to have walk through a cloud of smoke when I enter a store.  A couple of stores on Woodruff are notorious for this.  These companies should either mandate that their employees go to the back of the store, away from customers, or go sit in their cars to take smoke breaks.  To let them hang by the front door is such a slap in the face to customers and not a very welcoming sight.

OK, end of my rant.  Next.....

Edited by gsupstate, 28 January 2006 - 03:59 PM.

[monsoon]

Despite having worked on a tobacco farm in SC as a teen and making what I thought then was a lot of money, I am all for the ban.    There is nothing in the Constitution that gives people the right to start a fire on some rolled up weeds in a public place in order to get a fix for an addiction.   It is in fact already illegal for some plants.  

Nobody wants to breathe the smoke being exhaled by an addict after it has slathered around in said addict's cancerous lungs.   Yes nicotine causes an addiction.  

If a company came out with a product today that is absolutely known to cause cancer, is immediatly addictive, and would cost society billions in health care costs and lost productivity, they would never let it on the market.  And it should be a jailable crime for kids to get access to tobacco products as told above.   As for the SC farmers, they can convert the farms to growing plants for fuel production such as E85 and bio-diesel.   Lets keep the money in SC instead of sending it to Arab shieks.

[g-man430]

I thought the city of Greenville already passed a bill like this where you weren't allowed to smoke in restaurants in the city limits.

[jarvismj]

monsoon, on Jan 28 2006, 08:40 AM, said:

As for the SC farmers, they can convert the farms to growing plants for fuel production such as E85 and bio-diesel.   Lets keep the money in SC instead of sending it to Arab shieks.

I agree with this 100%. Seeing how the textile industry has all but left are area, we have to evolve. It's called survival of the fittest. If the IT sector doesn't pick up here in the next few months, I'm going to have to change my career, possibly to an electrician. My grandfather told me that during the depression, it wasn't the service workers jumping off the buildings: It was the white collar types taking the plunge.

[perrykat]

This would be great, I'm behind it 100%.  I hope this gets passed!

[upstate29650]

Ban it in restaurants, even restaurants with bars (Applebees, Chilis, etc.)  Let smoking continue in traditional bars, no problem there.

I agree, let tobacco farmers grow more corn & soy, which I believe are primary ingredients in E85, Ethanol & Bio-diesel.  

One bit of irony though....if the Statehouse is considering a smoking ban in restaurants, why in God's name didn't they also raise the tax on cigs?   Again, keep the tax just under what's charged in NC & GA, so people will still cross the border to buy "cheaper" cigs, and add more money to state coffers for healthcare.

[RestedTraveler]

upstate29650, on Jan 28 2006, 09:35 PM, said:

One bit of irony though....if the Statehouse is considering a smoking ban in restaurants, why in God's name didn't they also raise the tax on cigs?   Again, keep the tax just under what's charged in NC & GA, so people will still cross the border to buy "cheaper" cigs, and add more money to state coffers for healthcare.

**Tips his fedora to upstate29650**

You're thinking is absolutely correct here!

[jarvismj]

I think that there has to be comprimise here with the whole smoking and non-smoking crowd. I believe that in Boston, at least it used to be that you could smoke within 10 feet of the edge of the bar. This I think was a good comprimise. Plus, look at Denny's on Wade Hampton. They have a completely enclosed smoking area, which is where you will find me on Friday nights with bottomless coffee, and a pack of Camel Lights The logic behind that is that if you don't like it, don't sit there. Pretty simple if you ask me. I find it very difficult to enjoy a drink in a bar without a cigarette as a chaser. But then again, that's just how I am. Brixx Pizza has it that you can smoke after 10PM in the bar area, until closing. The rest of the time, it's non-smoking. Better idea is to either mandate high quality air filtration units to cleanse the air. I shouldn't be commenting on this, because obviously I'm biased.

[upstate29650]

The idea of "mandating" smoke filters, to me, is ludacrious.  Why force businesses to install costly air scrubbers, when all they have to do is not allow smoking?

In the end, we could just let these businesses decide if they will allow smoking or not on their own.  Fatz Cafe doesn't allow smoking on Sundays until after 3PM (I think).  THAT'S called being responsive to your clientele.

I don't care for government telling businesses what they have to do.  I believe in personal choice.  If you don't like to sit in smoke, then don't eat there.  I know this post kinda goes against my original position, but my thought is, if the Statehouse is going to ban smoking in restaurants, it won't hurt my feelings one bit.

[StrangeCock]

Ban it.

Why on Earth would we NOT ban it when we know it is literally KILLING everyone who encounters it?

[g-man430]

StrangeCock, on Jan 29 2006, 02:04 PM, said:

Ban it.

Why on Earth would we NOT ban it when we know it is literally KILLING everyone who encounters it?

I TOTALLY AGREE with this statement!!!!

[wellen]

Not too many years ago, I tended bar.  It was a smoky bar.  It had 2 air filtration systems in it.  But they could not overcome a crowd 10 deep from the bar who were almost all smoking.  It sucked.

I went to NYC last January, and spent some time in a bar(s).  It was ridiculously cold outside, but smokers had to brave the cold if they wanted a fix.  The air inside smelled of stale beer, but no smoke.  It was nice.

If I had my choice, I would choose a non-smoking bar.  But choice is not what we are talking about here.  Currently we don't have too many choices when it comes to non smoking bars in SC.  They don't exist.  If the bill passes, smokers will find the opposite to be true.  

In SC, if you want to own a bar, you have to sell food.  That makes it a restaurant.  There is no way to fairly differentiate between bars and restaurants to allow one to allow smoking and the other not to.  

The compromise is for enterprising individuals to open bars and restaurants that will give the whole community a choice.  Capitalism always works better than government mandates.  There is an obvious need for non smoking establishments.  When there is a need, someone usually fills it, because there is money to be made.  (hint, hint to any enterprising individuals in the U.P.)

[charlie swords]

I'm all for this being a non-smoker but i am willing to make a concession and just go for the no smoking in restaurants (I don't like the smell of smoke while i eat) and allow smoking in bars and nightclubs b/c nobody goes to bar to be healthy.

[sc smitty]

The Greenville City Council is currently discussing a smoking ban for all public areas, bars, and restaurants in the city of Greenville.  I would be glad to have the smoking ban in Greenville, but I hope it would not lead to crowds of smokers out in the street, since they can't smoke inside.  Maybe the ban should include Main St too.  The article also says it would apply to special events like Fall for Greenville.  I was at Fall for Greenville this past weekend, standing on Main St. and within 5 minutes of each other two different people walking by tossed their cigarette butts on the ground right in front of me.  They both completely ignored me when I said something to them.  Whether or not smoking is allowed, I think this sort of behavior is inexcusable.  It is inconsiderate of everyone else to just throw your trash on the ground.  The same applies to people who toss their cigarette butts out the car window.  I know everyone is not like this, but this sort of thing gives me a bad impression of smokers.

Article

[Chickenwing]

I liked the non-smoking until 10pm idea, because I don't smoke and I am in bed at that time.