Air is clear, patrons scarce after smoking ban

north.cbc.ca ^ | 10-08-03

[SheLion]

Air is clear, patrons scarce after smoking ban
WebPosted Oct 8 2003 05:37 PM CDT

YELLOWKNIFE - A bar manager in Yellowknife says the new smoking ban is killing his business.

Trevor Glowach, who manages the MacKenzie Lounge, says his sales have gone down by 80 per cent since the smoking ban took effect a week ago.

City council banned smoking in all bars and clubs in August. The bylaw came into effect on Oct. 1.

Glowach says customers used to come to the lounge so they could have lunch and smoke.

"It's not all negative. I do see some pros. When we bring up lunch, you can smell the lunch a little bit better, and it is a little bit clearer and it does have a bit of a fresher, cleaner feel to the lounge," he says. " But that's fine. It'll be like that when we're closed down."

Glowach says some non-smokers have started to come to the lounge, but not enough to make up for the drop in smoking customers.

Several other bar managers in Yellowknife contacted by CBC reported a drop of 30 to 70 per cent in business because of the ban.

Law is being obeyed

Any bar that decides to contravene the ban could face fines of up to $5,000.

But compliance isn't a problem so far. Doug Gillard, who's in charge of by-law enforcement for the city of Yellowknife , says he's only received six complaints about smoking.

"Our indication is that businesses are doing a lot of work and they're asking people to desist from smoking, which they're required to do. And it sounds like they're getting fairly good compliance," he says.

Back at the Mackenzie Lounge, Trevor Glowach says he'll continue to enforce the bylaw.

But he says he might not have to do it much longer – if the customers don't come back, the lounge may soon close.

Glowach says some non-smokers have started coming to the bar, but not enough to compensate

 

 

 

[SheLion]

Pity. Another business bites the dust.......

Thanks Anti-Smokers!

[SheLion]

Hopes, Dreams, Blood Sweat Tears and Money.......down the tubes.

[Just another Joe]

We try to tell them the effects of a ban on business but they just won't listen.

It's like a three year old with his fingers in his ears going, "LA, la, la, la, la, la, la...."

[SheLion]

We try to tell them the effects of a ban on business but they just won't listen.

And you see what he says:

Glowach says some non-smokers have started coming to the bar, but not enough to compensate

The anti's keep saying if they clear the air, then they will go.......well, this just goes to show us that they DON'T go. If they didn't GO before, why should they go now?!

[SheLion]

Darn it. What's wrong with that picture?

There it is.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The world would be a better place if this addiction had been kept an Indian secret.

[CSM]

Glad to see such a thought provoking post, please enlighten us little people further.

[metesky]

For cryin' out loud, Yellowknife is a frontier town! true, it's the capitol of the Northwest Territories, but the population is under 20,000 and it's covered in snow, what, eleven months of the year.

Fortunately they have municipal elections coming up on Monday, 10/20/03. Lets see if they divest themselves of the geniuses behind this ban.

[metesky]

Nothing worse than a reformed whore.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Quit smoking March, 1986.
Perhaps you could name a single benefit from smoking tobacco for me ?

[G.Mason]

"Perhaps you could name a single benefit from smoking tobacco for me ?"

For you? Nah

For me? I just love the smell of cigarette smoke in the morning.

[CSM]

"Perhaps you could name a single benefit from smoking tobacco for me ?"

I can't name benefits for you, regardless of your preferences for nanny type governments to do your bidding. That is a decision that you have to make on your own.

Now I can think of many benefits for me, but that is just me. The bottom line is that by allowing these bans, we are supporting the dictation of private property uses. Therefore, private property is eliminated.

Have you been keeping up to speed on the Eminent domain issues going on all over the country? There is no difference between those cases and these bans!

[MileHi]

"Our indication is that businesses are doing a lot of work and they're asking people to desist from smoking, which they're required to do. And it sounds like they're getting fairly good compliance," he says.

Yea, both of the customers put their smokes out.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Don't confuse my opposition to smoking with nanny state policies. I'd be happy to compare my conservative bonefides with you or anyone else. Smoking stinks and so do smokers. Get a (smoke free) life on your own !

[Leisler]

There has been for over thirty years, consistent scientific evidence that nicotine stimulates thinking. Not that you’d know anymore.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

'sOK by me. Just don't exhale.

[Grit]

I'd be happy to compare my conservative bonefides with you or anyone else.

Ok, you go first...

Do you support the government (any govt) banning smoking in bars/restaurants?

[CSM]

A true conservative believes in individual rights regardless if that other individual is participating in an activity that they find offensive. A true conservative believes that we are not free unless we are offended by others that are free.

You, on the other hand, believe that smoking "stinks" and because of this offensive behaviour you support the government dictating activities on private property. That causes freedom to be lost. Any true conservative would speak against any confiscation of freedoms.

[Eastbound]

Personally, I hate the smell of booze and think that all bars should stop selling alcohol products. How nice it would be if I could just sit on the stool and watch football and enjoy my peanuts and popcorn in a smell-free tavern. I also think that all patrons should be sprayed with cholorphyl when they come in the door to remove offensive body odors.

(Now if only those vinegar vapors from the pickle jar could be eliminated . . . Hey! Where'd everybody go?)

[Sunshine Sister]

Taxes paid! I don't have to pay them!