Smoking outside restaurants under scrutiny

[The Straight Story]

Smoking outside restaurants under scrutiny

Last Update: Mar 20, 2007 10:16 PM

BAKERSFIELD - People who smoke in outdoor sections of restaurants in Kern County may soon be asked to butt out.

It’s the law in many cities in California, and now, the Board of Supervisors is looking into the possibility of regulating smokers who eat in outdoor sections of restaurants.

Ray Alameda enjoys smoking in the outdoor patio of Chuy’s Restaurant in northwest Bakersfield.

It’s one of the few places where he can smoke without getting hassled for lighting up his cigar.

"Everybody knows when they come to an establishment like this they have an outside smoking area so it makes the customers that do smoke feel comfortable to come out here and relax," said Alameda.

"The question that's being raised by the public is whether or not those that eat at restaurants outdoors should enjoy the same smoke free environment that they enjoy indoors," said Supervisor Mike Maggard.

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5e177e08-7d54-4ca1-9675-3b06a04fe920

What a bunch of damned whiny bastards. You wanted a smoke free food joint, you got it - no smoking indoors. You have CHOICE already (and technically before too since a food place could choose to be or not be smoking....).

I cannot believe there are not more pressing things for them make laws and regs about. Sheesh.

[robinlynne]

1. and these same supervisors won't act on election fraud....

[Glorfindel]

2. I'm an ex-smoker who firmly agrees with you about the whining

Besides, I still love the smell of a good cigar or pipe.

[Warpy]

3. I agree, it goes too far

Outdoor smoking still stinks, but it doesn't make me sick, and I'm terribly allergic to tobacco smoke. Smoking in those outdoor areas makes a lot of sense, tends to keep the flies away.

Still, when it's a stinking cigar in any eating venue, it gets a dirty look, at least.

I'm for smoking bans in all indoor public places. Trying to ban it outdoors is just too much and I think the authors of this bill may be trying to invite rebellion. Whether or not that's the intent, they'll certainly get it, and deservedly so.

Given the chance, I'll vote against any outdoor smoking ban, period.

[unpossibles]

4. ok, this pisses me off

I am not a heavy smoker, and while I do not like the idea of forced bans from a business side (I think it would be more fair to some small bars to allow them to purchase "smoking licenses" or pay an extra tax or whatever, and limit the number of those much like liquor licenses), but personally I don't mind not smoking inside restaurants and going outside to patios or sidewalks at bars because it makes me smoke less.

But this shit is getting ridiculous.

[William769]

5. What a bunch of ass wipes!

[BlackVelvet04]

6. And smokers may just decide not to eat out at all....

piss on these idiots.

[Jonathan50]

7. Personally I think until cannabis is legalized that tobacco should join it

as a schedule one drug.

Totally illegal.

Alcohol too...

Yes, I know I'm unreasonable, but I'm sick of the double standard.

[Jonathan50]

8. Personally I think until cannabis is legalized that tobacco should join it

as a schedule one drug.

Totally illegal.

Alcohol too...

Yes, I know I'm unreasonable, but I'm sick of the double standard.

[wakeme2008]

9. You should hear the whiners in 90 Deg Florida..... the smokers got the best seats

outdoors and they forced the non-smokers to seat inside in the A/C... I kids you not.....

[skypilot]

10. A smoking ban just passed...

...in my city. I'm actually fine with it because it gives "shot and beer" joints that serve little or no food an exemption--if they want one. The thing that is annoying the shit out of me though is that suddenly there are little "No Smoking" and "Thank You for not Smoking" stickers every-fucking-where. They are even on the doors and windows of businesses where people NEVER smoked BEFORE the ban. Maybe it's just me but I find it irritating as shit.

[Nikki Stone1]

11. I can see the non-smoker point of view here

These outdoor sections are often enclosed with low walls away from the street and function like an extension of the indoor sections they are adjacent to. They are often heated with heat lamps and the tables are fairly close together. Cigarette smoke can blow as easily into your face from a patio table like this as an indoor table. As someone who is really allergic to cigarette smoke, I have to forego patio seating if smoking is allowed. Patio seating is really pleasant way to have dinner that shouldn't be off limits to non-smokers because of other folks' cigarettes.

Now, if the outdoor section is cafe style, by the street, not enclosed, that's a different story. The smoke can move more freely and there's enough car exhaust coming from the street already that a few cigarettes aren't going to make a huge difference.

[skypilot]

13. I can see that point as well.

I guess even as a smoker I just don't really have a problem with NOT smoking at restaurants.

[Nikki Stone1]

15. I wonder sometimes if it's the attitude more than the actual laws that upset smokers

There's a real self-righteousness behind the folks who sponsor anti-smoking legislation. It's as if smoking is a form of pure evil that has to be stamped out to make the world free from contamination. The object of some of these anti-smoking folks is to make smokers pariahs everywhere. Smokers are made to feel shame for being so "weak" against their addiction, for "costing the state money" and for "poisoning" others with second hand smoke. They are "sent outside" to smoke, and some lawmakers even want to take that away. No wonder laws like these make smokers furious; it's a way of shaming and ostracizing people to get them to conform. Self righteousness is like that.

The truth is that second-hand smoke can increase a non-smoker's chance of getting cancer, especially if it's a case of living in the same house with a smoker. But there are limits to what a law can do. I am all for banning smoking in enclosed public areas like restaurants and public buildings. I don't think the government has any business telling you what you can do in your own house or outside in an open area. The restaurant patio thing is a grey area: it's the outside enclosed to be an inside, and as such is open to debate.

[skypilot]

18. See my above post. #10

The self-righteousness does bother me as well as the "in your face"-ness of it. Like I said, I really don't have a problem with the ban in my city for the most part. There are only a small number of places where I smoke. The "No Smoking" stickers that are popping up everywhere just seem to me to be a "Nyah nyah nyah, you can't smoke here" kind of gesture. It seems very petty to me because a large number of these places are businesses where no one has EVER smoked or even thought to I'm sure. Retail stores for example. I feel like yelling "OK OK, I fucking GET IT. There's a new smoking ban!!" Jeez.

[Nikki Stone1]

20. I agree with you on that.

Some people have a hard time resisting the urge to one-down others, even when there is no need for it.

[Jonathan50]

28. You ought to try being a dirty phucking hippie sometimes..

If you want to get a taste of "holier than thou" attitude..

[acmavm]

12. How can they create all these laws outlawing the use of a legal

product? You can legally buy cigarettes but not smoke 'em.

It's killing the bars and restaurants. I don't smoke anymore but I do have sympathy for the smokers. Hell, are we still paying subsidies to tobacco farmers? Did we ever?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. Just because you can legally buy it

doesn't mean you can do what you want.

I can buy guns and ammo legally. But I can't shoot at targets in restaurants. Not supposed to, anyway. Not legally.

Dumb comparison, I know, but "buying" is not a justification for "using".

[acmavm]

26. No, I understand that. But get real, either its wrong or its not. And if it's

not going to be outlawed, then smokers should have a place to go.

We Nebraska smokers keep paying for improvements on Nebraska University's stadium, or so I understand.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. You want to talk about smokers PAYING? Okay,

Whole 'nuther subject, though somewhat connected to "where you can smoke".

MI's current Democratic governor (governess?), and the former Republican governor have both raised taxes severely on cigarettes. These taxes pass easily, and put an extra financial burden on a few, when the money just goes to the general budget. It's an easy way to jack up taxes wirh no political repercussions.

How are taxes related to "where you can smoke"? Smokers are an easy target, as they are the minority, and are not a protected minority (more of a despised minority). This is an example that proves the "Tyranny of the Majority" view of pure democracy, giving credence to "buffering" organizations like the Senate or the Electoral College.

[The2ndWheel]

14. I think everyone needs to be completely isolated from everyone all the time

everywhere they go, especially if there are people there.

[devilgrrl]

16. When are idling motor vehicles going to become illegal?

There's nothing more annoying enjoying a latte in the sunshine only to have it disrupted by exhaust fumes from an idling truck. Park it somewhere else.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Imagine how much oil would be saved if...

there was a ban on drive-thru fast food restaurants. How much CO2 would be kept from spewing into the atmosphere? How many obese people would benefit from having to get out of their cars to get that double cheeseburger and fries?

There is a burger place across the street and at lunchtime there are at least 10-15 cars in line and that period lasts well over two hours.

I wonder how many drive-thru fast food restaurants are in So. Cal. alone? Maybe you've got something there...

[youthere]

17. I'm a non-smoker who firmly agrees with you about the whiny bastards.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. If something in the air bothers you, just move

Don't like cigar smoke? sit elsewhere. Don't sit in the smoking section.

I had to move in a restaurant recently. One of the women who sat at the next table was loaded with perfume, so much I had trouble breathing, and I'm not allergic. Fortunately the restaurant had plenty of tables, so we just moved, drinks, dinner, the works. The restaurant staff was gracious enough to not ask for a reason, so they got a good tip.

Sometimes I see the point though, some of those cigars can get pretty nasty. Even outdoors.

[Bake]

23. Wow. A smoking thread that is actually REASONABLE!!!

Is this DU, or did I warp to another dimension?

Bake

[gollygee]

24. I don't like it when people smoke right by the door where you enter

but I thought the whole purpose of outdoor seating areas was to give people somewhere they could smoke? I don't understand why they wouldn't allow smoking in what seems to be the smoking area.

[Beelzebud]

25. Lifetime non-smoker here. This kinda shit gives all liberals a bad name.

If you can't handle someone smoking outside how do these whiney freak handle car exhaust or industrial pollution?

[Colobo]

27. People should have the right to smoke to death if they like

As long as non-smokers are not around. Stop getting the government involved in personal decisions about health and lifestyle.

[Jonathan50]

32. Weren't you the one that was complaining about legalizing cannabis?

"Stop getting the government involved in personal decisions about health and lifestyle."

If I'm mistaken, my apologies in advance..

[chaska]

30. Why are you whining about whining, whiner?

Smoking would be illiegal if it didn't predate health regulations.

QUIT ... smoking and whining.

[ellie]

31. Banning smoking outside is fine and

all, but only after something is done about pollution. Until then, no way.