Posted on 12/31/2010 3:56:53 AM PST by equaviator
ADRIAN, MI (WTOL)
A blatant act of civil disobedience is planned on New Year's Eve in Michigan. Bars and restaurants are being urged to ignore the state's ban on smoking in public places and allow customers to light up.
This protest is being organized by a Bloomfield Hills group called Protect Privacy Rights in Michigan. They believe you should run your business the way you see fit without government intrusion. The group claims 350 bars and restaurants have already agreed to break the law.
Since Michigan's smoking ban went into effect May 1, business at Club 109 in Adrian, MI has taken a hit. "We don't sell as much as we used to. Our food slowed down, liquor slowed down during the day. Most of it just stopped," Marcie Emerson of Club 109 said.
Smokers complain they have to go outside for a butt. They support the New Year's Eve protest. "I've smoked forever. I know it's not politically correct. I think everybody should go ahead and smoke," said one. "When you drink, smoking and drinking go hand in hand. A combination. I think they should go ahead and do it," another added.
So what's going to happen at Club 109 on New Year's Eve? "I think the people have to stand up for their rights. And if they want to smoke in public facilities, they have to do what they have to do," Emerson said.
At J. R.'s Hometown Pub and Grill non-smoking has always been good for business. "I think it's something people have wanted for a long time. I think they felt they deserved it and the non-smokers wanted it and I think it's good for the community," Jennifer Steele said.
And customers here believe the New Year's Eve protest is bad for the community. "I would disagree with it. I appreciate the fact there's no smoking in public bars and restaurants," said one woman. "Being a former smoker, I'm more sensitive to the smoke issue," a man said.
Michigan health officials say they do not plan to monitor the protest but will investigate complaints. Bars violating the smoking ban risk a $100 fine for the first offense and $500 for subsequent violations.
Have a cigar and a Happy New Year, whoever you are!
I don’t smoke except for the very rare cigar, but NO business should be forced to not allow a legal activity such as smoking. Let the marketplace decide. If enough people want non-smoking bars then non-smoking bars will do very well, but that is up to the bar owner, NOT THE GOVERNMENT! Get the hell off of our backs before we buck you off.
We have always taken care of ourselves and our families without the help of Big Brother, thank you very much! And most of all, we want to live our lives in peace without the government at every level telling us what to do--or waht not to do.
I average between 1-2 packs a week. Is that somwhow NOT smoking in moderation? I smoked more in the 10th grade, for crying out loud...The ban is said to protect everyone but I disagree. It SATISFIES a certain class of people while at the same time, it satisfies the GOVERNMENT.
I wish things were the way they used to be, Folks smoked inside and relieved themselves outside. A saloon or bar without a dog or a poker table isn’t right.
If everybody in this country quit smoking cigarettes today, the government tills would really shrink. They are the ones playing with fire—where would they make up all the tax money that smokers bring in?
Yep, I’ve been married 30 years, and smoking cigarettes is the only bad habit I have left. (Of course, if the economy doesn’t turn around soon and my business doesn’t pick up, I’ll start spending money I don’t have, but then I would be qualified to run for Congress.)
1
Alcohol but they wouldn't attempt to demonize it as they did with tobacco.......
Alcohol has destroyed more lives, more families than tobacco could ever do in a thousand years but it's left alone because too many people enjoy it.
This started in a VFW in the U.P. of Michigan. So you can send a guy off to war have him get shot at and maybe wounded but he can NOT smoke in a VFW. Another stupid Jenny law.
This is in MICHIGAN, that statist hellhole? Maybe Michiganders are waking up to the loss of their freedoms. Good thing, too— it’s almost too late. For all of us.
I smoke a pipe now and then — a couple times a week. While I wouldn’t think of firing it up in mixed company, I support individual bar and restaurant owners being able to set their own policies.
Believe me, they have so many ideas on how to rape the populace it would make your head spin.
Tax more on sugar, fast foods, liquor, walking, talking, sh!tting, shaving, you name it.
Bars and restaurants are being urged to ignore the state's ban on smoking in public places and allow customers to light up. This protest is being organized by a Bloomfield Hills group called Protect Privacy Rights in Michigan.
Michigan Lottery sales, taxes on cigarettes and casino gambling plummet; Gov. Jennifer Granholm says revenue decline is ‘breathtaking’
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/michigan_lottery_sales_taxes_o.html
“COL” = Coughing out loud.
“CALOL”= Coughing AND laughing out loud.
And that was before the 2200% tax increase on loose tobacco.
What you said!
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