NJ Smoking Ban Starts Tomorrow!

[LoraJ]

Can't wait. We have been avoiding some pubs in the area because it's too hard to breathe in there. We finally have more variety in the neighborhood.

 

[aprilgail2]

It was such a pleasure when NY went to no smoking pretty much everywhere! I used to go to concerts and by the end of the night you couldn't gsee the stage through all the smoke, cigerette and otherwise. Now we can go to all the restaurants and clubs and not have to worry about having to burn our clothes from the smell at the end of the night and going home with no headache is VERY nice!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Did you see they also raised the smoking age to 19. i havent heard it on the news but at the grocery store they had a sign up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

cool

I'm so happy we have that hear in Florida. I consistently forget when we go to other states that we have to request non-smoking.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I'm thrilled. But there is an appeal in place. The argument is the unfairness of not forcing the casinos into the ban. I'm waiting to see how this plays out. It's possible that the restaurant owners have a valid argument here. They will lose business to casino clubs/restaurants/bars because there you can smoke.

 

[Big Dude]

Until they ban it on the casino floors of Atlantic City, this law is a total farce! Where are the rights of the waitstaff, dealers, pit bosses and hosts? Is their health not as important as the bartender at a local pub?

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[Tiggeroo]

Adam, I totally agree. They said on the news yesterday that the incidence of lung cancer is twice as high among restaurant/bar workers then in the general population.
Believe me, I"m for the ban. I just don't see how the casino exception can prove the point of the reason for the ban. If it's for workers then why don't casino workers matter?

 

[Sylvester McBean]

cool

I'm so happy we have that hear in Florida. I consistently forget when we go to other states that we have to request non-smoking.

it's so nice to walk into a restaurant and not being asked 'smoking or non?'.

 

[sweet angel]

I don't see why the casinos should be exempt anyway.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

In Florida--if you serve food, then you have to be non-smoking. So some bars quit serving food.

Not sure why the casinos are expempt though. In Florida a restaurant is a restaurant.

We do have increased patio dining as restaurants started making use of their outdoor space to accomodate diners who wish to smoke.

 

[Big Dude]

We do have increased patio dining as restaurants started making use of their outdoor space to accomodate diners who wish to smoke.

There are places here in NJ that are starting to build patios for this reason. Only problem is they would be very cold in the winter and parts of fall and spring. If they enclose them then they have to deal with different types of permits from the towns and servers would still not be allowed in them.

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[Planogirl]

Until they ban it on the casino floors of Atlantic City, this law is a total farce! Where are the rights of the waitstaff, dealers, pit bosses and hosts? Is their health not as important as the bartender at a local pub?

Adam aka Big Dude

I don't understand this logic. No one is forcing anyone to work at the casinos.

By the way, I don't smoke.

 

[ToriLammy]

Adam, I totally agree. They said on the news yesterday that the incidence of lung cancer is twice as high among restaurant/bar workers then in the general population.
Believe me, I"m for the ban. I just don't see how the casino exception can prove the point of the reason for the ban. If it's for workers then why don't casino workers matter?

Not trying to be a smart alec but if all other restuarants and bars are non-smoking then casino workers concerned for their health can go work there. They won't though because the tips and pay are often better at casinos. The bottom line for the state is gambling and smoking are vices that often go together. In order to make money they can't afford to ban smoking in casinos. Vegas has tried smoke free casinos for years and to the best of my knowledge it has not worked yet.

Big Dude we miss you on the NASCAR thread. Hope you'll visit us soon.

 

[ckret01]

If I had a problem with smoke, I wouldn't apply for a job that allowed it at the workplace.

 

[Planogirl]

If I had a problem with smoke, I wouldn't apply for a job that allowed it at the workplace.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[LukenDC]

DC implemented its smoking ban two weeks ago and it is wonderful! Smoking will be banned in DC bars beginning January 1, 2007.

 

[salmoneous]

The bottom line for the state is gambling and smoking are vices that often go together. In order to make money they can't afford to ban smoking in casinos.

As far as I know, every time a state has tried to ban smoking in workplaces, people have stepped up and said that their business and smoking go together, and they need to allow smoking to stay in business. Also, as far as I know, in every case they have been wrong. The smoking bans have gone in place, the business haven't fallen apart.

 

[azgal81]

My town has a smoking ban. It's working great! I don't care if you smoke but I don't want to smell it when I'm trying to eat.

 

[ToriLammy]

As far as I know, every time a state has tried to ban smoking in workplaces, people have stepped up and said that their business and smoking go together, and they need to allow smoking to stay in business. Also, as far as I know, in every case they have been wrong. The smoking bans have gone in place, the business haven't fallen apart.

From my original post: Vegas has tried smoke free casinos for years and to the best of my knowledge it has not worked yet.

Every business except maybe casinos . A few years ago a completely smoke-free casino opened and closed in the same year in Vegas. Until someone is successful they will continue to argue against banning smoking in casinos and politicians will agree because they want the revenue from the casinos. That was my point in the original post - until politicians have the guts to do it they will continue to buy the arguement (fed to them by the casinos) that gambling and smoking go together. Sorry if you miss understood me.

 

[salmoneous]

A few years ago a completely smoke-free casino opened and closed in the same year in Vegas. Until someone is successful they will continue to argue against banning smoking in casinos and politicians will agree because they want the revenue from the casinos. That was my point in the original post - until politicians have the guts to do it they will continue to buy the arguement (fed to them by the casinos) that gambling and smoking go together. Sorry if you miss understood me.

I'm pretty sure the only smoke-free casino in Vegas was Silver City. Silver City was a dump that was going out of business and tried the smoke-free thing as a last ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy. It didn't work. Note that the smoke-free movement is growing in Vegas, with almost all new poker rooms going smoke-free.

If bars can be forced to go smoke free and survive, I have no doubt the casinos can too. But if your point is that the representatives in New Jersey were gutless fools, that we can agree on. These are the same geniuses who though, "Born to Run" would make a nifty state song.