How do you think the No Smoking ban is going?

[progressoid]

I was recently in a small town in Iowa. It was hot, and I was thirsty so I decided to patronize a small bar on main street. There was clearly a defiance to the new law. I counted at least four of the 12 patrons smoking. And it appeared the owner encouraged it.

While the No Smoking signs were prominently posted, I think it was only in jest. In fact, on one No Smoking sign, someone had written an interesting tirade about pleading not guilty if you were ticketed. The reasoning was that the accuser (they used the word "rat") would have to show up in court if you plead not guilty. Apparently, they felt the accuser wouldn't dare go public and be exposed as a "rat". :eyes: I'm not sure how well that reasoning would work if the "rat" was a sheriff.


Ain't small town Iowa great? :)

[DU9598]

1. Not so great for migraine sufferers

I cannot patronize bars or restaurants where smoking is permitted. I have been very pleased to date with the ability to go into many restaurants I had not patronized for over a decade and I also went out to the club last week. Nobody seemed bothered by the fact that they had to go stand outside to smoke. I sure have not seen any decline in the business where I live.

[progressoid]

2. And people with any sinus issues.

We drank our one beer and left. The person I was with was starting to clog up.

[Bluzmann57]

3. I drove by a place the other day

and there was a toilet with an inflatable doll perched on it outside the place. Now this naturally caught my attention so I drove by real slowly to see what it was all about. They had a sign saying something about throwing the butts in the pot. I don't really do it justice here, but it was actually kind of funny. I wasn't sure the people at that particular place could come up with something that funny. It was a skid row type place. Seriously. If one wants to pay to get laid, just go into this place. But that statement was funny. I at first thought maybe they just didn't give a damn about the law and decided to advertise the fact that whores frequent that place.
In answer to the original question, the place I frequent has seen a lot more business since the ban. They have decent food and NTN trivia, which is now seeing a lot more players. And the servers are happy because they make a lot more money, although some of them smoke too.

[Hardrada]

4. The kitchen staff always goes out the back door to smoke

at most places I know. I think nobody is paying attention to that ten foot rule or whatever it is. Anyway if you wanna smoke inside you can always go into the casino.

[IA_Seth]

9. RE: 10 ft rule...

Regarding the ten foot rule.. a little birdy told me that he spied the wife of a very prominent ban-backer toking just outside of a bar within the past few weeks, clearly in violation of the 10 ft rule. This same birdy attempted to get a picture for posterity, but was unsuccessful.

I still don't agree with a statewide ban, I think it should have been pushed as a local option issue, but whatever I guess. I hate having a beer without a smoke but I don't drink much anyway.

[Hardrada]

10. I was just in Iowa City and parked across from a bar and here

these bearded old beerdrinkers came out and stood right in front of the door (one was sitting) and puffed away. One foot rule? Yah, well, let them do that in January then!

[Blue Gardener]

5. Every small town has the same bar

They may have a different name, but they serve the same crappy, greasy bar food, and have the same cast of characters. I've been to several over the years, and always feel like a need a shower when I leave. Same goes for some of the "neighborhood" bars in the larger cities. I bet the smoking ban isn't too popular in these establishments.

[Debi]

6. There is certainly more socializing out doors right now

don't know how these folks are going to feel come winter.

I'm still pissed about the casino exception. If you're going to ban smoking indoors - ban it everywhere indoors. x(

[progressoid]

7. If it's any consolation...

it seems the bar owner was pissed about the casino exception too. So he made his own exception to the law!

[Debi]

8. I'm not for anyone wilfully breaking the law

but what's next in our legislature?

Change the seatbelt law so that everyone has to wear one except folks who drive/ride in vehicles sold by (name of whichever car dealer makes Iowa the most money)?

[Hardrada]

11. Rants Kaiser-Frazer-Packard.

King DeSoto-Plymouth.

[Debi]

14. Ha!

:hi:

[Peacetrain]

12. I don't smoke

So I have avoided places for years that allow smoking. But I think in our area, just before the ban went through, there were all these dire predictions of buisness dropping off, etc (Never understood that one, where were the people going to go? the laundromat ). but I have heard since, on a local radio show, that the owners were "pleasantly surprised" and that the environment in the bar was more pleasant.

[rurallib]

13. I don't smoke either. But one of my big concerns is for workers

in these places. They get a good shot at cancer along with their $5 an hour. And that includes casinos.
I have never understood why smokers think they have some kind of a constitutional right to foul air and introduce carcinogens into other peoples lives. If a person owns a bar and they are the only one who works there then I guess let them do what they want. But when they hire someone the hiree should have some semblance of a safe workplace. But second-hand smoke is probably less of a hazard than unsafe coal mines or child labor - both of which seem to be in full vigor.
Sure seems like we are racing back to the 1890s.

[Peacetrain]

15. That is such a good point

about the health of the people who work in restaurants, bars, just smoky environments. Oh my gosh, you would have thought the constitution was being burned on every corner, just before the ban went through. Now here is the funny thing, they (the ultra conservs) were wailing like banshees about how their rights were being taken away by the democrats,

But not one word from any of that same group when habeas corpus was hacked to pieces.

I have never been able to follow their logic.

But as I posted before, even those most vehemently opposed to the ban (the bar owners serving food) said they were surprised at how much better the environment in their businesses were. And that there had not been a drop in buisness like they predicted. Amazing they could not put that together, if you clear out the smoke, things will be healthier, and your buisness may even pick up.

Go figure :shrug:

[Hobarticus]

16. Our friend, local bar owner, sez biz has INCREASED

Her bar had a rep as being a smoky, smelly bar...and it wasn't necessarily untrue.

Now, she says she sees new people coming in for lunch, and more young people in for bands at night. Someone told her they overheard someone saying that they were happy they could go in a bar, again.

[Rambis]

17. Iowa City bars more crowded

upswing in business seen 1 month after ban went in-