Maine: Smoking ban suffocates profits at area bars ~ and so it starts....

Kennebuc Journal ^ | February 16, 2004 | FELIX DOLIGOSA JR.

[SheLion]

I'm a bit confused by your post. All the bars I've been in in Maryland permit smoking - as do most of the restaurants. The reason I know this is because we all used to go to maryland after the smoking ban went into effect in Maryland, and now the bar that is closest to where I live happens to be in Maryland.

I'm glad you saw this, Gabz. I was going to ask you about it.

[Gabz]

But, facts notwithstanding, the liberals threaten dire consequences again and again, elsewhere, to push their nanny-state agenda.

Definitely needs repeating.

[SheLion]

Time after time, liberals say that the smoking ban will be good for business, because non-smokers will flock to businesses once smoking is banned.

Spin and lies, spin and lies. The professional anti's go in, they control and conquer, then move on to take over another business.

And smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes are paying for their wages. Nice, eh? not!

[AzSteven]

I think these Nanny-state laws are wonderful. I feel so much better now that I don't need to think or make decisions for myself. The stress in my life has just melted away...

OK, seriously though - I would be careful about using profitability as your primary argument against restaurant smoking bans. Here in Tucson, we had a smoking ban in restaurants enacted about five years ago. The main argument used by the local business community was one based on profits - nobody argued against it as an unwarranted intrusion of regulation in private commerce.

Initially, there was a dropoff in business, such that the local government said they would revisit the issue in the next year. So what happens next? The restaurants business really picked up, surpassing their pre-ban numbers. The reason for this was the local population growth was ginormous - I think Tucson was like the fourth-fastest growing area at that time (still up in the top 10 or 20). Since all the anti-ban arguments were couched in terms of profits, the whole thing faded away. The ban is now in place and permanent. Not a chance it will go away.

Personally, I prefer to eat without smoke, but before the ban I did not have any trouble finding smoke-free places to eat (either they did not allow smoking, or there was an adequate non-smoking area). Now, it does not matter what I like or dislike; the choice is made for me.

[hosepipe]

Whats next a ban on DARTs..?

They COULD be a nasty weapon you know.. and in the wrong hands could put out an eye.. ok ok maybe a license(tax) to throw darts with proper certification...

[Gabz]

You make some very good points.

Regardless of what arguement is used the antis always find another one, particularly when they see they have lost one, they drop it in favor of another, until that too is proven wrong.

The proponents of the bans are the ones that started with the profitability arguement, in their divide and conquer scheme.

But you are correct, all choice has now been taken away from everyone.......Restaurants that were smoke-free by choice have had their market taken from them in the name of a level-playing field. Those that catered to smokers have had their market removed from them. The choice to work in a smoke-free or smoke-filled place has been removed from employees in the name of protecting their health, even though most didn't ask for the protection. the same goes for customers.

[NetValue]

Sorry for the confusion. Please check Howard County's experience and Montgomery county's too although it is a newer issue there.

[M-cubed]

The lost liquor taxes must be enormous."<< The state with the blesssing of Baldie has already farmed out the profits to the Mass. Mafia
It will get worse."<< Always does when the "powers that be" decide what is best for "We the People"

[HannagansBride]

It's sad to see what continues to happen to Maine. It's turning into a real nanny-state.

Just notice all the road signs on Route 95 in Kittery driving in from New Hampshire. They warn of the consequences of disobeying Maine's laws... fireworks, "headlight usage when operating windshield wipers (???)", blah, blah. Nothing is left to chance.

Within that grouping of warning comes "Welcome to Maine" and "The Way Life Should Be"

Yeah, right!

[Gabz]

No need for an apology. where I was confused, but figured it out after I reread your post is that in Maryland the issue is controlled by the counties and not the state.

I'm not familiar with the situation in Howard County, I am well aware of the situation in Montgomery county.

One thing I have noticed in all the years of living on this side of the Chesapeake is that the Eastern Shore of both Maryland and Virginia have a much lower tolerance for this nanny-statism. The exceptions to this rule appear to be Talbot and Cecil counties.


Unfortunately there is a similar divide in Delaware (upstate/downstate) and the major population center, which basically controls the state, is full of the same type of nanny do-gooders.

[tdadams]

This is mostly driven by leftists. If you want to have some fun, try this. If you happen to see any of these smoke ban proponents, ask them if they're pro-choice (pro-abortion). If so, does not that freedom of choice extend to smoking?

[Seajay]

Baltimore City (of all places) is teetering as we speak ...

[Gabz]

I have actually had some of these leftist ban proponents claim children are better off being aborted than being born to parents who smoke.

[Gabz]

Hopefully sanity will prevail.

Do you have any details, this is the first I've heard of it in Baltimore?

[ccmay]

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom

Being subjected to filthy, disgusting, unhealthy tobacco smoke in public places is a violation of MY freedom.

I say, hurray for the state of Maine. Smoking ought to be forbidden everywhere except on your own property.

Stay at home and poison your own fool self, if you are a weak, pathetic, butt-sucking, nicotine-junkie loser who can't kick the addiction.

Don't light your filthy cancer sticks anywhere the smoke will drift into MY clean air, otherwise you are selfishly violating MY freedom.

-ccm

[Gabz]

Grow up - if you are in a private business establishment the air, if it belongs to ANYONE, belongs to the owner of the establishment who permitted your entrance.

[2banana]

Being subjected to filthy, disgusting, unhealthy tobacco smoke in public places is a violation of MY freedom.

I say, hurray for the state of Maine. Smoking ought to be forbidden everywhere except on your own property.

Stay at home and poison your own fool self, if you are a weak, pathetic, butt-sucking, nicotine-junkie loser who can't kick the addiction.

Don't light your filthy cancer sticks anywhere the smoke will drift into MY clean air, otherwise you are selfishly violating MY freedom.

I guess you care nothing for the concept of private property. You know the concept, where you are allowed to own and do with what you want with your own private property. If you don't like a bar because there is smoking going on, then go to another bar.

Now you do have a point in public places that you do not have a choice (public bus, public train, etc.)

And PS - I do not smoke. I hate smoking. But this issue has nothing to do with smoking...

[ccmay]

Grow up, yourself. Bars and restaurants are public accomodations. We don't allow bar owners to turn away black people or the handicapped. Nor should we allow them to inflict poisonous tobacco smoke on non-smoking patrons or employees.

-ccm

[SheLion]

Maine forced a complete restaurant ban in 1999. So, we went to the local Tavern for our meals and beverage and spent out money where we were wanted.

Now, the State did a full smoke ban with the Taverns, bars and Sports Inns. And it's really killing the private sector.

I didn't write this article, but we sure have been keeping an eye on the outcome. It isn't pretty. And I am sure you who do not like to be around smokers, could have found a place to eat that didn't HAVE smoking. Why not let the business owner decide and not the state?

[SheLion]

Within that grouping of warning comes "Welcome to Maine" and "The Way Life Should Be"

I know. LOL!