Lawmaker wants smoke-free Pa. bars and restaurants

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/20040720smokep6.asp

An influential state senator is proposing to extend smoking bans into Pennsylvania’s bars and restaurants.

Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery County, today announced he would push for legislation that would follow a pattern set by seven other states, including California and New York.

FWIW, I for one support this. Hey, for once I can agree with a Republican.

[Divernan]

1. Here's out it works in the PA House & Senate

Whenever leadership wants to shake loose BIG bucks from major lobbyists, it introduces a bill which scares the shit out of them. Press conferences and hearings are held in districts throughout the state - particularly where Repugs are fighting off close challenges. After the maximum publicity has been milked out of our crack journalists, and maximum checks have been written by the tobacco & restaurant/bar lobbies, the bill is kept in committee for "fine-tuning". It is way too late in the year for the Senate to complete all of its ponderous hearings and committee meetings to pass the bill. Everyone has gone home for the summer.

If, by some unprecedented miracle, the bill passed the Senate next fall and was immediately sent to the House, it will die there. The House will be in for probably 2 weeks in September, 2 weeks in October and then recess to campaign. Nobody will have time to hold hearings. Any bill that came over from the Senate to the House would die in November when the two year session ends.
On edit: And now Pennsylvania has the massively wealthy gambling lobby to oppose this. No way do they want smokers to leave those thousands of slots PA has just approved to take a cigarette break.

Yes, the PA politicians are past masters at the legislative shakedown. And when the Dems were in the majority, the same thing happened.

[RamboLiberal]

2. Well sooner or later it will happen

The laws are trending that way. And since smokers are actually the minority it could well be that the casinos won't be that against it.

May not happen in PA for awhile - but it will happen.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

3. I'm from PA.

I don't drink anymore, but when I used to go to bars in Pittsburgh and it's suburbs they were totally filled with smoke. My girlfriends and I used to take Visene with us to clear our eyes. I can't remember anyone who we went out with that didn't smoke and I can't recall anyone who didn't smoke. If they do this, it would probably do harm to the bar business all together. Drinking goes along with smoking. Personally, I don't care because I don't drink anymore but I think bar owners must be pretty upset about the idea that they may lose a lot of customers.

[RamboLiberal]

4. I think bar owners are the one blowing smoke on this

You know what hurt their business worse IMHO is the .08 law that we had to put in effect a few months ago. Everyone I know that has to drive from a bar is now afraid to get the one extra beer or glass of wine.

[RobinA]

5. I Dunno

I'm a smoker who pretty much gave up drinking when smokers started to be treated like pariahs out in public. Used to be fun to sit around in a place and have a beer or two and some cigs with friends. Once it became too much of a hassle I stopped. Still have the friends, still have the cigs, but bars don't have my $$$$. Now, I never did keep the bar industry in business all by myself, but if others feel as I do, it could add up to some lost business. I haven't had a beer out with friends in YEARS for this very reason. It's just no fun any more.

[napi21]

7. I did the same thing.

I still smoke, and still drink my beer, but just do it at home. I miss the fun and conversation at the bar, but it's just not worth te hassel. Seems to me the best answer would be to let it up to the bar owners. Post a big sign outside that says "Smoking" or NO_Smoking" and let the customers decide where they will spend their time ond $$. I can't help get pi**ed at the all or nothing crowd.

[gauguin57]

6. Yes, please!

Hell's bells. If they can get a smoking ban in the pubs of Dublin, Ireland, they can do it in PA. I'd love to go to a jazz bar and hear some music -- I can't, because I'm borderline allergic to cig. smoke.

But more importantly ... those poor nonsmokers who work in bars and smoking-section restaurants ... their lungs need to be protected.

Second-hand smoke hurts everyone, not just the smokers.

[FDRrocks]

9. As a tobacco addicted Pa'er I totally concur.

I usually opt for non smoking in restaurants and tend not to smoke too much in a public building unless im stuck in there for a while (like a concert).

Ban the smoking inside, its a health risk. It also would be novel to position ashtrays more liberally around urban areas, as its a shame to see so many butts all over the ground. But, to be fair, the gum people throw on the street is alot worse. :)

[Ravenseye]

8. Just Back From MA.

Lived there for 7 horrible years. When specific towns and areas were 'dry' of smoke, they suffered, but when the whole state went non-smoking businesses evened out.

It was actually better for going out. I'm a smoker, but it kept me from chainsmoking in a bar which I'd be wont to do. Also it kept the air fresher, which was better for my wife who quit over a year ago, and for people with alergies etc.

The PROBLEM was when you just wanted to go to the corner bar with friends and have a few beers at the bar and smoke a few cigarettes.

Whats the difference?

Yeah it's subtle but it's there.

Anyway I'm one Liberal who is against smoking bans. If a business wants to be that way then it should be. I know all the arguments, so don't try and hit me with them. Even after all of them, I sorta still want to be able to go into a bar slap down a couple bucks for a Yuengling and enjoy a smoke and a drink with a friend.

[PittPoliSci]

10. bars? no. restaurants? yes.

I feel that restaurants are more of an atmosphere in which people dine, and don't want smoke everywhere. Bars though? I know people that go to the bar TO smoke. Let's just leave it up to the individual areas to determine whether or not they want to be smoking or non-smoking. If you don't want to go somewhere that permits smoking, and you don't want to breathe smoke, don't go there. It's that simple.

[EmmaP]

11. I'd love it

I'm in Erie, PA and rarely go to bars anymore because b/f and I can't stand breathing the smoke, not to mention the way our clothes and hair smell when we get home. I would love to see a complete ban...or at least some bars that ban smoking, but, alas, I doubt it will happen...Erie's a pretty "smoky" town.

Some restaurants have gone completely smoke-free and we frequent them as much as possible to encourage the trend.

[bleedingheart]

12. Mr B and I don't go to bars because of smoke

I am asthmatic and I suffer horribly from going out to jazz clubs etc....the next day is always the worst, I feel like I smoked a pack of cigarettes.

In fact there is a local restaurant I won't go to anymore because the smoking section is not really separated from the non-smoking section...so no matter what you eat your nice meal with the smell of someone's "dessert cigarette" wafting over...