Restaurant smoking ban and now more

A couple of years ago, Albuquerque banned smoking in restaurants in spite of their wailing about how their business would go to hell. Well, hell, now even they admit that business is better than ever. I know that I like eating at restaurants much better now that I don't have to smell cigarette smoke. How 'bout you?

Today is the day that a statewide ban on smoking in bars goes into effect. The only exceptions are cigar bars, private clubs, and fraternal organizations.

Albuquerque's mayor also issued an executive order that also takes effect today banning smoking from all city property: city buildings, parks, golf courses, etc. What a change! I remember, years ago, going to a city department for something and the clerk behind the counter was smoking and blowing smoke in my direction while helping me.

But, wait...that's not all! The cockfighting ban goes into effect today, dragging New Mexico into the 21st century and making Louisiana the only state that allows it. You should have heard the pathetic excuses from the pro-cockfighting people: "It's our culture." Well, when they invaded the New World, they didn't exactly appreciate the culture of the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, and slaughtered them out of existence.

Living up here in the enlightened north, we've had the smoking ban even in bars for a couple years now. Anyway, I think that's how long it's been.

The cockfighting thing really ticked me off. How barbaric. My neighbors claim not to be into it, before or now, but tell me why one needs 10 roosters when one has no hens. I don't believe for a second that they are all going into the soup pot!

We've had it in NZ for a while now. No smoking anywhere - no restaurants, no pubs, no bars, no hospitals, no workplaces. Nowhere inside except in your own home or in your own car. And in some public places, e.g. hospitals, not even in the grounds.
But it is still really awful walking past a designated smoking area, and in the summer it can intolerable sitting in the outdoor area of a restaurant - not from the heat of the sun, but by the smell of the cigarette smoke. Although, it seems fewer people are smoking. There was a lot of protest when the laws were brought in but it seems to be working and it is so much more enjoyable going to a restaurant or bar and not have cigarette smoke filter through your clothes and hair.

As for cockfighting - definitely barbaric.

Last year Tulsa instituted a restaurant ban on smoking, and I cheered! Nothing worse than berathing someone else's smoky breath while I am trying to taste my food! I for one would vote to make it a hanging offense to light up or grow the s***.

We love not smelling cigarette/cigar smoke here in Redding. Many buildings such as hospitals, and others do not allow it on their property. So nice. I hated when the law first came into being that there was "no smoking" sections in restaurants. Stupid idea. Now, there is no smoking at all! Yes, yes, I love being smoke free. We do not allow it in our home or property either.

What baffles me is how smokers can smell or taste anything at all, what with the stuff they're inhaling.

I've always wondered what it would be like to be there when the National Socialist Party was founded.

>Well, when they invaded the New World, they didn't exactly appreciate the culture of the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, and slaughtered them out of existence.<

"They" didn't invade.

>Well, when they invaded the New World, they didn't exactly appreciate the culture of the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, and slaughtered them out of existence.<

Ah, I see now! You were talking about them destroying the culture that gave us tobacco!

Tsk, tsk, el Jefe. Sloppy form.

You're supposed to take one good pithy potshot at people, not an unending series. Comes off too much like "I wish I'd thought to say THAT!" when it's bing...bing...bing.

And invoking the Adolf Rule in the first one gets you a whistle anyway.

Not good. Not good at all.

C'mon, you can do better than this, man. Sharpen that wit. Work on that nuance.

First they came for the Marlboros and I didn't say anything because I don't smoke Marlboros...

Half the year we live in the "tobacco state." It makes us very selective on where we dine. Many places make you walk right through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking section and there are no partitions between the two. It can be really bad, especially since there are so many smokers here.

I agree with Sue. It's almost just as bad when they allow smoking on the patios. We've had many meals ruined by people lighting up at the table next to us. It can be quite cloying. And cigarettes are bad, but cigars are the worst. We had a table of cigar smokers next to us a week ago and we had to get up and move inside--and it was such a perfect evening for dining outside....

I'm a recovering smoker (27 years) I detest second hand smoke, but would prefer that we not have all these regualations. I'll go along with smoke bans in workplaces and public buildings, but the restaurant ban has never been an issue for me. Before our local ban went into effect, there were many enlightened owners who voluntarily banned smoking and that is where we chose to dine. If a restaurant choses to allow smoking, isn't it relatively easy to avoid the place and go someplace else with clean air? Restaurants will only allow smoking when it makes economic sense for them to do so. Remove that financial incentive by boycotting them and watch them clean up the air. The problem is that non-smokers as a group lack the fortitude to vote with their $$ and choose to let the government do it for them.
Now I really think banning smokes on the golf course is a bit much. What is the point? Is the second hand smoke really an issue on the 16th green?
I would be very happy not to ever experience second hand smoke, but not at the price of additional unneed regulation.
'Winger

And cigarettes are bad, but cigars are the worst. We had a table of cigar smokers next to us a week ago and we had to get up and move inside--and it was such a perfect evening for dining outside....

Silly you...you're trying to interfere with smokers' civil rights. (I've always loved that argument.)

Before smoking was banned on airlines, I remember sitting behind a guy who was smoking a cigar on a commuter jet on the last leg of my flight. >gag<

What baffles me is how smokers can smell or taste anything at all, what with the stuff they're inhaling.

I couldn't agree more. And the number of cooks who smoke. I don't get it.

I have smoking friends who are incredibly fussy about their food and ingredients (the princess and the pea syndrome), but I doubt they can really taste things. And they are so fastidious about eating organic foods and are so paranoid about what goes into their bodies--except for tobacco. Go figure.

I've always wondered what it would be like to be there when the National Socialist Party was founded.

Were you alive in 2000?

BTW, your number of posts seems to be stuck on 41 (at least on my computer).

I detest second hand smoke, but would prefer that we not have all these regualations. I'll go along with smoke bans in workplaces and public buildings, but the restaurant ban has never been an issue for me.

But a restaurant is a workplace, too.

If people really, truly believe that privately owned businesses have benefited from the smoking bans, then they should have no problem with repealing them. After all, who'd be crazy enough to change a business practice back to a worse one for the bottom line, eh?

But a restaurant is a workplace, too.

Good point, but there are surveys that demonstrate that smokers tip better
'Winger

The servers will need the extra money for their health issues. >Hack, hack< Thank you for smoking.

[Robin Garr]

After all, who'd be crazy enough to change a business practice back to a worse one for the bottom line, eh?

Assumes facts not in evidence, i.e., that small business operators invariably are competent, exercise common sense and act in their own long-term best interests. HAHAHAHHAAAAA!!!

Tsk, tsk, el Jefe. Sloppy form.

You're supposed to take one good pithy potshot at people, not an unending series. Comes off too much like "I wish I'd thought to say THAT!" when it's bing...bing...bing.

And invoking the Adolf Rule in the first one gets you a whistle anyway.

Not good. Not good at all.

C'mon, you can do better than this, man. Sharpen that wit. Work on that nuance.

Nullum est iam dictum quod non est dictum prius.

[Robin Garr]

Nullum est iam dictum quod non est dictum prius.

You did <i>what</i> in your hybrid Toyota!?

I've always wondered what it would be like to be there when the National Socialist Party was founded.

Were you alive in 2000?

BTW, your number of posts seems to be stuck on 41 (at least on my computer).

Yeah, something is wrong with my Firefox interface here. I have a hell of a time getting in and can't hold the connection sometimes when I do. Only place it happens.

Yes, I was alive in 2000, but it was a estival kinda year.

Nullum est iam dictum quod non est dictum prius.

You did <i>what</i> in your hybrid Toyota!?

Shhhh...

(I'm practicing pithy. So, don't get pithed off at me.)