NJ Bans Smoking!!!

[LoraJ]

Hooray!!

My boyfriend and I have been avoiding a couple of places around here due to the heavy smoke inside. Can't wait to visit them more frequently now.

Any word on how this affects the casinos? I can't think of any in AC that have non-smoking areas. Which is why we prefer Mohegan Sun.

 

[N.Bailey]

I can't give you specific references, but each time a state has banned smoking, records generally show an initial drop in revenue for bars and they are generally back to baseline or better within a year's time.

Someone who enjoys going to a bar isn't going to switch to buying a 6-pack and staying home. They could do that already and chose not to. The bar has people, music, dancing, big screen tv, pool table, video games, etc. Just not the same as sitting alone in your living room.

I really wouldn't know. I've never been into the bar scene anyway. If businesses aren't suffering, I have no problem with it though.

We always bring anything we want to drink home. It's just safer that way!

 

[disneysteve]

Well, I can tell you that living on the boarder of New Hampshire, those of us in Vermont felt the crunch financially that own/tend bars over here, when this happened here in September. Being that you can spit and hit new hampshire, people just chose to drive 20 minutes or so to a bar that you could smoke in.

This is a good point and I'm sure this may be a problem in border areas.

Cop drove by each time I was outside smoking.....cop knows who i am, and what I drive.

I'm guessing you live in a pretty small town if this is the case. Though I can't say I have a problem with a cop pulling over someone who just walked out of a bar he/she was in for a few hours. The likelihood that the person was drinking is pretty high. The cop knew you had been at the bar all evening and saw you leave and get behind the wheel. I think he was doing his job in making sure you weren't impaired.

 

[TeresaNJ]

You forgot to mention that the casinos are exempt. I guess the workers' health isn't worth the money the casinos would lose.

 

[disneysteve]

You forgot to mention that the casinos are exempt. I guess the workers' health isn't worth the money the casinos would lose.

The gaming areas are exempt, but not the bars and restaurants in the hotels.

And it probably isn't the money the casinos would lose but the tax revenue the state would lose.

 

[wvjules]

You forgot to mention that the casinos are exempt. I guess the workers' health isn't worth the money the casinos would lose.

Or the workers could choose to work somewhere that is non smoking? They obviously must not value their health that much.

 

[TeresaNJ]

It's not so easy to pick up and find a new job. I think if the state banned smoking, it should be banned everywhere. I don't gamble, I don't work at a casino, and I very rarely go to dinner there, so it is of no consequence to me, I just think if the state was so concerned with people's health it would include ALL people.

 

[rascalmom]

For many of the smokers that will refuse to go to a bar or restaurant because of a smoking ban, there will be someone like me who has refused to make myself ill from the smell & will once again go to these establishments.

I wish my state would do this - it is so nice when we travel to be able to go out to eat or to enjoy a drink without being coated with the haze.

 

[Dan Murphy]

That is great, Steve. And so very happy to see that Chicago has passed also, albeit somewhat watered down. Since the Chicago passing a couple weeks ago, many of the collar towns and counties are now talking to enact finally also. I do wish it was a statewide ban like other states, makes it a lot easier. Again, good news.

 

[vivilasvegas]

That is great, Steve. And so very happy to see that Chicago has passed also, albeit somewhat watered down. Since the Chicago passing a couple weeks ago, many of the collar towns and counties are now talking to enact finally also. I do wish it was a statewide ban like other states, makes it a lot easier. Again, good news.

I think it was a reasonable compromise. As a former smoker, with friends who still smoke, no one has a problem with the restaurant ban. And the bar ban isn't happening for quite some time. They said it's so bar owners can "wean" their customers off smoking!! I can't help it, I laugh every time when I heard of their decision on the ban!

 

[jenwolgey]

that this would spread to PA!!!!!!! How nice it would be to go hear my favorite accoustic guitarist at our local bar and not have to come home reeking of smoke, jump in the shower, and dry my hair before going to bed. Not to mention coughing for the next 2 days straight to clear my lungs of the residue of second-hand smoke. I must be this guy's biggest fan!

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[escape]

A little OT -

I was really glad that Rome, Italy (maybe all of Italy, I can't remember) banned smoking in its restaurants. I went there last summer and it was so nice being able to eat in the restaurants without breathing in all the smoke.

Maybe other parts of Europe will follow as well. I can dream, can't I?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

As previously said, California banned smoking years ago - at work, too - and it is so nice not to have to wash my hair because it smells like cig smoke, & my clothes, too.

The rascals & I can tell the difference when we go out of state to a place that does have smoking - the smell and it makes us cough (though we're never rude about it).

 

[lsyorke]

Let ban alcohol outside of the home next... another health risk that holds public health risks with drunk driving.

This should be in individual owners decision. If you don't like the restaurant's policy then don't go there. Atlantic City gets a free ride on this "employee health issue". This isn't about smoking or the ban would be statewide.Or better yet, make smoking illegal....oops then the budget goes down the tubes worse than it already is.

 

[tiggersmom2]

For as much as I hate being around smokers, I cannot condone enforcing these laws on private restaurant owners. Just like we have the choice to change the channel on our televisions, we have the choice to not eat at establishments with smoke.

And believe me, I wish all restaurants were smoke-free, but by the choice of the restaurant owner, not the government.

Well said, I agree 100%

 

[Kramer]

The other downfall, is guilt by association associated with smoking outside a bar. I can not tell you how many times friends of mine have been pulled over leaving a bar, for the simple reason that the cop saw him/her standing outside smoking...didnt mean they were drinking in the bar.

Case in point- my car was parked about 1500 feet from the bar i was in. In a parking lot of a store. Cop drove by each time I was outside smoking.....cop knows who i am, and what I drive. I walked up to my car to leave, wasnt even in 2nd gear before that cop was behind me with blues on. I hadnt had a drop to drink...the only reason he pulled me over was he saw me outside the bar a couple times in the past 3 hours.

Brandy

Man.. cops looking for drunk drivers. What is this country coming to? Next you'll tell me they were out looking for drug dealers. Sheesh!

 

[summerrluvv]

I think it's great for restaurants, but I feel sorry for bar owners. No one who smokes is going to be going into a bar if they can't smoke. IMO, it's asking too much of them and perhaps many will go out of business.

That's what everyone said around here, but that's not the case. Most bars/clubs have patios set up where people can smoke outdoors.

 

[pfishgirl]

NJ here too !!!!!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


No more asking for a Non Smoking section, only to be placed in the first table next to the Smoking section...


Sorry to all you smokers... I know it will be a pain for all of you to go outside to smoke but my LUNGS are thanking you...

 

[Feralpeg]

In Florida, smoking is allowed in bars, but not if they serve any type of food.