Posted on 06/05/2006 7:07:50 AM PDT by SheLion
MONROE TWP. -- About a half dozen American Legion members sat around an old picnic table behind Post 252 Friday, despite the humid heat.
Inside, the air conditioner was keeping the bar cool -- but out here, they can smoke.
Thanks to new state legislation prohibiting smoking in all public places but casinos, this American Legion post lost approximately $5,000 in bar income during the month of May, said Commander Joe Reed.
The post has a gaming license that allows them to operate a couple of Pull-Tab gambling machines, and the income from them is down about the same amount, Reed said.
Three-quarters of all the money brought in through the Pull-Tab machines goes to charity, he said. Last year, the post contributed approximately $90,000, but this year, Reed said, with the smoking ban cutting post income, the donations, too, will suffer.
"People are having a couple of drinks. They get tired having to go outside (to smoke), and leave," Reed said.
"There are no (new) non-smokers coming in, and smokers are just not coming," he said. In fact, he said, non-smoking members often join the smokers outside, since the camaraderie is an important part of why they come.
Members here agree on one thing: They don't think the state should be allowed to legislate what people can or can't do in what is essentially a private, members-only club.
Veterans, according to a letter Reed is preparing to send to Gov. Jon Corzine, "need a place where they can talk about things only another veteran can understand."
Watching members with disabilities have to struggle to go outside to have a cigarette "would break your heart," Reed wrote. "Have we forgotten the Greatest Generation? This act has, and does."
Smoking "doesn't bother me. It never has," said non-smoker Rick DeHart. "You can see the difference. There are less people here."
"It's not right," said smoker John Barton.
In one of my previous lives I was a bartender. I can tell you, smokers tip better than non-smokers and stay longer at the bar. I have also noted that smokers are a lot more fun to talk to than non-smokers.
It will be real interesting to see if the non smoking trolls show up at this thread.
My hometown of Bloomington/Normal IL will be smoke free as of 1/1/07. I have never smoked, but I was very vocal against the ban. If I were a business owner, I would sue the city!
I don't smoke - I never did - and, though I grew up in a smoking household, now I hate the smell. I've come across so many rude smokers, blowing smoke all over me when I was pregnant, blowing smoke near my babies,...
But I would NEVER support a smoking ban aimed at private property. It goes completely against the idea of limited government. It's the nanny state.
Woo HOO!@!!!
My American Legion mail just sent me back this:
"Presidant Bush signed exc order that All Veterns Building and Lodges were exempt from the non smoking Law. Let them know state law has no effect on them."
I will have to get a note to them!
bttt
whoever says or produces statistics that show the smoking ban has a positive effect on the bar/tavern/saloon business is extremely naive.
Where are the smoke-easies?
Bottom line -- Big Casino operators have more rights than Vets.
There are hedonists and health freaks. I have never seen a smoker/drinker try to shut down a marathon because of the body odor produced. Bars can be fun and entertaining. People do what they want with their lives. My observation still stands, smokers make better bar patrons than non-smokers. There is a strong streak of puritanism associated with the health freaks, thus the moniker "health NAZI." There is one fact I think we can all agree on, everyone is going to die. A friend of mine just lost a good buddy at the age of 42 to a heart attack. He never smoked and did not drink. What does it mean? I don't know, but I hope for him that he a good time while on earth.
I agree with you totally. I just won't go out of my way to laud smokers as the Minutemen of our day fighting for our liberties. Most of them in the end are probably crying for government (me) to pay for their oxygen tanks to be delivered to their house and hospice care.
"Where are the smoke-easies?"
they do exist, at least here in NYC. Ssshh.
Ditto. Smokers and drinkers have been carrying a heavier tax load for decades. These so called sin taxes have been a favorite for politicians for years. BTW, smokers generally cost governments less because they die earlier and faster than their healthier counterparts. Also, who here wants to outlast the rest of us in the nursing home anyway??
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.