177 replies to this topic

[ohioaninSC]

I still have a friend who owns a Bar in Columbus, OH.  He was originily against a smoking ban, but we actually were able to vote on it, and the ban passed like 67%-33%.  Anyways, he told me w/in a few months of the ban going into effect, his bar was making more money than before and more people were coming there.  He said even the regulars who were smokers still come as much.  He said it is great that he and his employees don't have to go home w/ the smell of smoke on their clothes anymore.

Those that argue against a ban b/c you say that we non smokers have a choice to go to a place or not, must not go out much.  Here in Rock Hill, I don't know of one bar that is smoke free.  Even in Charlotte, I don't know of any smoke free bars.  It keeps me and some of my friends from going out much at all.  I just can't stand the smell, so I don't go out.  If SC would step up to the plate like OH did, or even if Charlotte did, I would probably go out on a weekly basis and patronize different bars and clubs.  I have no problems w/ any smoking ban and if I had lived closer to Greenville, to show support for it, I would have gone out to patronize some of those places.

I also agree that the state should place a very high tax on packs of cigarettes.  I imagine a lot of people would quit if their prices doubled or even tripled, but that needs to be a nationwide thing to so people wouldn't drive 1 state over to get them on the cheap.  People that say this would kill the poor tobacco farmer, well I have no sympathy for someone that chooses to grow a product on their land that is a known killer for the last 40 or 50 yrs.  They could easily change to growing more useful products like someone else said.

[Spartan]

I think you hit on a key point- Columbus, OH got to VOTE on it. In Greenville, Charlesotn, Columbia, and Sullivan's Island (the other cities out there)  their councils just passed the law. I think that since most people are non-smokers, most people would be in favor of these bans. Just don't force it on them.

[whitehourseview]

Spartan, on Mar 21 2007, 07:07 PM, said:

I think you hit on a key point- Columbus, OH got to VOTE on it. In Greenville, Charlesotn, Columbia, and Sullivan's Island (the other cities out there)  their councils just passed the law. I think that since most people are non-smokers, most people would be in favor of these bans. Just don't force it on them.

I'd rather vote with dollars than with ballots.

[GvilleSC]

whitehourseview, on Mar 21 2007, 08:42 PM, said:

I'd rather vote with dollars than with ballots.

I agree since it's cities that are looking to ban. The municipal population may think one way, but they aren't the only ones with great interest. If it were State or County wide bans, then sure, let them vote.

[Gviller]

Well now we shall have in interesting little experiment in Downtown Greenville. There will be smoking bars and non smoking bars, who will Flourish and who will fail?  My guess is   that there will be room for both and that if the city, county, state, and government in general will stay the heck out of the way things will work themselves out nicely.

[GvilleSC]

Gviller, on Mar 27 2007, 01:01 PM, said:

Well now we shall have in interesting little experiment in Downtown Greenville. There will be smoking bars and non smoking bars, who will Flourish and who will fail?  My guess is   that there will be room for both and that if the city, county, state, and government in general will stay the heck out of the way things will work themselves out nicely.

There's definitely room for both, IMO, downtown.

[Spartan]

Mount Pleasant joins the club as the 9th city to ban smoking in SC.

P&C Article

[GvilleSC]

Spartan, on Jun 13 2007, 01:56 PM, said:

Mount Pleasant joins the club as the 9th city to ban smoking in SC.

P&C Article

I'm confused. So, is this legal or what is going on with Greenville's?

[MikesLogic]

The legality of it is being fought, it's up in the air atm as to whether these bans will stick or not.

[GvilleSC]

MikesLogic, on Jun 14 2007, 12:17 AM, said:

The legality of it is being fought, it's up in the air atm as to whether these bans will stick or not.

That's what I thought. Thanks for verifying. I didn't realize that other cities would still pass these until a resolution was come up with... Thanks.

[Skyliner]

The problem is that these Cities currently cannot legally enforce these bans because the state will not allow them to.

[Spartan]

Looks like the debate is over. The South Carolina Supreme Court decided that SC cities are allowed to pass ordinances that prohibit smoking in public places. While many cities had some ordinances at stake, Greenville led the way on this one.

Herald-Journal Article

[Spartan]

Now that the Supreme Court has made its ruling, Spartanburg officials have said that a smoking ban is on the radar for discussion later this year.

Herald-Journal Article

[doogur]

whitehourseview, on Oct 17 2006, 11:39 AM, said:

I don't smoke, have no desire to, avoid smoking areas, etc.

But I don't understand why private businesses should have a smoking ban imposed on them.

If folks, like me, who don't want to eat at a restaurant because of smokers, we don't have to go there.

Seems like a simple concept. It is really not always about me.

When patrons are invited into an establishment, certain things are expected.  Safety is one of them.  Patrons should feel comfortable that fire codes are being enforced, building codes are being enforced and that they have reasonable assurance that their well-being is not compromised.

The same goes for a restaurant.  Patrons who eat in these establishments should feel assured that their food meets a minimum health standard and won't make them sick.

But for SOME REASON, when it comes to the air we breath we have to protect smokers rights and there's absolutely NO STANDARD as to the quality of what goes into our lungs.

Do you have ANY idea what tobacco companies put into cigarettes?  

This is *clearly* a public safety and health issue.  AIR is such a basic thing.  We have a right to it being clean.  Smokers don't have a right to foul it up and owners of private establishments don't have the right to invite guests in and then subject them to toxic air.

I've worked in bars and I know just how bad the air can get.  I'd love for health inspectors to go into a crowded, smoke-filled bar and do an air quality analysis.  I think the results would astound people.

Edited by doogur, 02 May 2008 - 07:22 AM.

[Spartan]

Spartan, on Apr 3 2008, 05:23 PM, said:

Now that the Supreme Court has made its ruling, Spartanburg officials have said that a smoking ban is on the radar for discussion later this year.

Herald-Journal Article

Well, I suppose its worth mentioning that Spartanburg City Council considered a smoking ban last month, but ultimately decided not to go through with it due to fears that it could run off potential or existing restaurants.

On a related note, the Herald-Journal has a list of places in SC that have a smoking ban in place, and the date it went into effect.
Sullivans Island: May 16, 2006
Liberty: Oct. 9, 2006
Greenville: Oct. 30, 2006
Columbia: Nov. 8, 2006
Beaufort County: Nov. 27, 2006
Bluffton: Dec. 12, 2006
Charleston: Jan. 23, 2007
Aiken County: Feb. 20, 2007
Hilton Head Island: Feb. 20, 2007
Mount Pleasant: June 12, 2007
Surfside Beach: July 24, 2007
Clemson: Jan. 14, 2008

[Spartan]

The new cigarette tax is gaining some traction. I hope the legislature is able to get past its own squabbling and pass the thing.

Link

[Spartan]

Spartanburg is FINALLY getting around to discussing a smoking ban. Not enacting, just discussing. I hope this will lead to ordinance eventually. Anyway, here is the most up to date list of places in SC that have enacted a smoking ban:

• Aiken County
  
• Beaufort County
  
• Richland County
  
• Lexington County
  
  
• City of Greenville
  
• City of Columbia
  
• City of Charleston
  
• Town of Mount Pleasant
  
• City of Rock Hill
  
  
• Town of Sullivan’s Island
  
• City of Liberty
  
• Town of Bluffton
  
• Town of Hilton Head Island
  
• Town of Surfside Beach
  
• City of Clemson
  
• City of Walterboro
  
• City of Beaufort
  
• City of Aiken
  
• City of North Augusta
  
• City of Camden
  
• Town of Lexington
  
• City of Isle of Palms
  
• City of Easley
  
• Town of Johnston
  
• Town of Springdale

It's interesting how many are located in the Lowcountry. I'm not sure if there's a correlation there or not.

[Spartan]

This article from the Charlotte Observer is about the North Carolina smoking ban for bars and restaurants that went into effect in January. Definitely worth a read.

Charlotte Observer: Smoking Down, Business Up