Massachusetts and the moral crusade

[Loonman]

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/toba10232003.htm

[meegbear]

1. FUCK!!!!

I smoke cigars at my bar (good ones, thank you). This blows.

[jonnyblitz]

7. ewwwww.

:puke: :)

[StopTheMorans]

2. I, for one, love this

used to be a waiter in a bar downtown in Boston last year. I've never smoked, it was the only employment option that presented itself at the time, and I developed a slight cough for a few months b/c of it. I think this is great, and I go out way more in Boston since the ban passed. It's so nice not to have to come home smelling like a chimney (and having to lay next to a person whose hair reeks like smoke from the bar too). My two cents...

[MissMillie]

3. Are we sure it's about morality?

After all, why should people who want to go out and have dinner and a drink have to deal w/ second-hand smoke and all it's dangers? Why should wait-staff and bartenders have to?

[Loonman]

4. Because when you apply to a place and see ashtrays

You think, gee, people must smoke in this place.

Crying foul about it later is pretty craven.

[MissMillie]

5. Until recently

when the bans in some cities and towns were put in place, ALL restaurants and bars had ashtrays. Now 93 cities and towns (In MA) don't. How about leveling the playing field for all such businesses? How about providing a safe work environment for all wait-staff and bartenders?

I look forward to the day I can sit in the pub and have a drink, and not have to inhale everyone else's toxins.

I use motor oil in my car. When I change my oil, I don't dump it to pollute the water table. That's illegal.

Why should it be any different for the air?

[Maine Mary]

6. Maine did the same thing last spring

I think it was/is a mistake. I had no problem w/banning smoking in resturaunts when we did it in 1998. That was my first term in the Legislature and I voted for it. After all, restuaraunts cater to people of all ages. Children and the elderly should never be subjected to second hand smoke. By banning it in all resturaunts we created a level playing field for these business'.

But I think bars are a different matter. Real bars I mean... not food serving places. There was nothing in our State Law that prohibited bars from going smoke free on their own and some already had. By forcing bars to go smoke free we created a situation where groups of drunken people will probably be congregating outside. It seems to me a recipe for disaster on a law enforcement level. I bet neighbors won't like it either.

[Loonman]

8. Take a walk down "club row" in a "smoke-ban" city

You are literally knee deep in cig butts.

I live near a University, and the butts are piling up as fast as empty keg cups on a Thursday night.


Eateries? fine, no smoking.

Bars and pool halls? Banning smoking there is asinine, bar owners should have control over whether they allow smoking or not.

[TopesJunkie]

9. Good for Massachusetts.

Old habits die hard, but eventually the whining will stop. This is good, basic nuts and bolts health policy.

[Loonman]

10. Basic "the government knows what's best for you" policy

n/t

[MissMillie]

11. The good news is

Loonman, you can still smoke. The State isn't stopping you from doing that.

You just can't do it where the rest of us are trying to enjoy a cold brew, or a hot meal.

[tsakshaug]

12. new york ban

we have a similar ban in New York State. It sure is nice to go out to eat and not have to smell smoke from the smoking area. I don't go to bars, I got out of the habit when I realized I hated the smell.
don't yet know what the effect on business will be. A neighbor is a waitress, she says her tips have gone down with the ban, people that would stay, have a smoke and a few drinks don't stay after dinner anymore