Smoking around a baby vent

[Hillbeans]

Ok, i'm not sure who i'm upset with, but this is the story.

My DH and I went out to eat last night for our anniversary, and we went to a Johnny Carino's, a chain type Italian place. My brother's family babysat our 3yo. I personally don't smoke, however I knew the wait would be long, so I said we'd sit in either section just to get seated faster. We ended up in the bar area.

It seems there were some NCAA playoff games on last night and there were lots of men in the bar area watching. What BOTHERED me the most was there was a family of 4, waiting for a table at the bar. The man was holding what appeared to be a 6-7 month old and the woman had a 3 year old - and they were sitting at the bar for at least 30 minutes. A few people "lit up" and I was so appaled that these people didn't move and go wait for their table in the lobby or outside. They even gave dirty looks to the people smoking, and I even said that if I saw a family with a baby, i'd not smoke around them. I'm sure you got by this post that I pretty much don't like smoking. It wasn't just a little smokey either.

Who's at fault here? The family (mom and dad) weren't smoking, but why in god's name would you go sit with your family at a bar and let 2 babies suck in smoke?? To watch a basketball game?? The people smoking at the bar had every reason to be allowed to smoke also, but isn't it unfair to them to have this family with babies right there also? It's a bar.

 

[Manda1219]

If it's a bar where smoking is allowed, the family should not expect everyone to stop because of them. They should have waited elsewhere, or ate somewhere else.
I am a non-smoker with bad asthma, so I simply refrain from going to places that will bother my lungs. I will only eat at restaurants (referring to Jersey because it is illegal to smoke indoors in NY now ) that offer sections, and I sit in the non-smoking every time.
If they were smoking in a non-smoking section, I would complain-Since they were smoking in an area where smoking is allowed and common- The parents obviously could use common sense to decide where to stand and wait.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

The parents were obviously only concerned about what they wanted to do, and not what was good for their children. Selfish. very, very selfish.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I agree with the previous posters. If you are going to sit in the bar there will be smoking, and NO the smokers should NOT have to quit smoking to appease the non - smokers. I would never expose my children to smoke, so I believe the parents should have moved.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Same as said above. The family, IMO, should not have had the kids in the smokey bar. If the whole place was smokey, I would have left, I can't take it. Someday, hopefully, the country will follow the lead of states like NY and CA, and countries like Ireland, who, tomorrow, takes smoking out of any public area. Hopefully, some day.

 

[Hillbeans]

I just don't think they should allow babies in the bar area of any restaurant, especially at the "bar" itself.

In addition, it was well after 8 pm...another strike in my book.

I'm also not trying to be too judgemental, but this just bothered me. I know parents want to get out of the house and eat out just like everyone else, (me included) however have some common sense and stay out of the bar.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

If it's a bar where smoking is allowed, the family should not expect everyone to stop because of them.

Ditto, and you cannot be the world's police. If they choose to have their kids in there, it's none of your business.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yup - the parents were in the wrong to be there with their kids. That said - I'm really glad that I live in California - where this isn't even a concern!

 

[IloveDMB]

Totally off topic, but did you like the restaurant? Did you go to the one in Howell? We had a HORRIBLE experience there and I love to hear what other people think about the place.

As for the smoking thing, it's just something that is going to happen until NJ finally wises up and makes it illegal to smoke indoors.

 

[pumba]

except at the private clubs....like the Elks..........so we can go to a bar and go dancing and no smoking anymore........YIPPEE for maine.....and I am a previous smoker....I smoked heavily for many years.......

 

[Hillbeans]

Ilovdmb, this one in Bridgewater was pretty good. My DH and I split the pepperoni bread app, I had angel hair, he had the baked tortelloni and we split the cannoli for dessert. I'm generally on a low-carb diet, so this blew that totally out of the water, but it was for a special occasion.

I've not been to the one in Howell, although I am familiar with that one. We've been to Nona's Family style and to Michael's Cuccina down your way. I used to love Amici's in Belmar, but now it's a rib place. I think "chain" Italian generally isn't anywhere near something like Carmine's in NYC, however both of our meals were decent and we spent in the neighborhood of $40.

Interested to know what your bad experience was, unfortunately ours was more watching this family and their babies at the bar. The more I think about this, i'm sure that these types of places should mandate that anyone near the bar area be over 21. I wouldn't even doubt this may be a law yet not enforced.

 

[beachbunny]

I was a child of two smoking parents who developed asthma because of their smoking.

Yup, the parents were wrong to bring the babies into a bar area. Unfortunately, this happens way too often but it's their kids and they can do whatever they want with them.

What really gets me are parents who bring babies and very young kids to Las Vegas on vacation - my parents liked to vacation there when I was young. The entire city is smoke filled. There is no way to avoid it. Just walking from through a casino to your hotel room, you smell like an ashtray. Think about what it's doing to a little one's lungs. But since it is not illegal, the only thing I can do is rant about it here...

 

[binny]

Originally posted by beachbunny


What really gets me are parents who bring babies and very young kids to Las Vegas on vacation - my parents liked to vacation there when I was young. The entire city is smoke filled. There is no way to avoid it. Just walking from through a casino to your hotel room, you smell like an ashtray. Think about what it's doing to a little one's lungs. But since it is not illegal, the only thing I can do is rant about it here...

wooopppss I was one of those people. I didnt have a choice though it was dhs family reunion and Kaylee was only 6 weeks old. Reservations were made the year before.

Anyway, we kept her out of the smokey places as much as we could. and actually didnt find it to be that bad at least where we were.

 

[4greatboys]

If the parents didnt like the smoke they should not have been at the bar. Im not a smoker, never have been, but I dont expect everyone around me to not smoke IF Im in a place that allows smoking. Now if its non-smoking they should not be smoking.

 

[Keli]

You know, I guess I just have a different outlook on this situation but I feel like if the parents want to take their child in the smokey bar while they wait for a table that's their business. I really don't feel that there will be any long term effects on the child for somthing like that and as for it being after 8:00pm, well, that's their business too. Anyway that's JMHO.

 

[Hillbeans]

Keli - you're probably right, I guess it just makes me sad to think about going home that night, changing the kids out of their "Day" clothes and those clothes smelling like smoke. It was a 6 month old.

I guess i'm just so against babies in a smokey bar, regardless if it's 30 minutes or an hour.