[Little Devil Girl]

There are 2 bars in Johnstown that are non smoking and believe it or not, both places are packed on the weekends....on a regular basis. The one bar has bands and dj's and the other is just a small bar that people go to watch the games at and such. I smoke myself and it was hard not to light up while enjoying a beer, but instead of smoking a pack in one night out, I only smoked about 7 cigs....nice the next day.

Would you ride in the car with your windows up and smoke around your baby??? I guess that since you may not know all the people in the bar it really doesn't matter that your smoke is hurting them.....

Just food for thought....
_________________
If you have an EGO, go look in the mirror, then you will realize you shouldn't.

[lonewolf]

[Team Transylvania]

The "Smoking section" or area was the compromise. Thats not good enough for them now. thats funny.


To quote the amazing Bill Hicks:
"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your fuckin' mouth."

A video of his smoking routine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9ySCcnoo3c
_________________
www.myspace.com/condemnedexistenceband
www.myspace.com/endofthesun
www.dropthepisshammer.com
The Musical Exorcist

[Bag]

The bowling alley that I used to manage went smoke free about 10 years ago. Some of the league bowlers swore that they would quit. Some did. As a smoker myself, I thought it was ridiculous, as they could go outside whenever they want and have a cig. I on the other hand, was stuck inside for 10 hours. I HATED it at first, but had to admit that clean-up was alot easier at the end of the day, not having ashes all over everything and burns in the carpeting. And I probably went from 2 packs a day down to 1. That being said, business DECREASED drastically, especially on the weekends when there was "open" bowling. The younger crowd just doesn't come there anymore. We used to have waiting lists EVERY Friday and Saturday night, but rarely ever have one now. I honestly still think that the smoking ban has alot to do with it. But the owner always wanted a more "family" type atmosphere, so he doesn't seem to mind.

As far as a bar, I'd still go see bands and probably smoke alot less. But it would be a huge P.I.T.A. to go outside every time I wanted a smoke. I'm sure the doorman will not be happy either.

I think it should be up to the OWNERS of the clubs/business' what they want to do with THEIR establishments. NOT "big brother."
_________________
You don't shoot a man in the dick!

[mjb]

i wish smokes were banned, so i could start bootleggin them!

[Colton]

Does this effect private clubs? We may see some bars changing if private clubs arent forced to be non-smoking.
_________________
Laugh if you want to, really is kinda funny, 'cause the world is a car and you're the crash test dummy.

[lonewolf]

[MeYatch]

what if you could create some kind of thing where everyone that worked there were actually part owners, and agreed to allow smoking? just curious
_________________
Stand back, I like to rock out.

[lonewolf]

[RobTheDrummer]

[Hawk]

I've been thinking about this becasuse I'm really on the fence (as to whether it's right or wrong )and many of you have good points for both sides of the issue.

If a place is open to the public (even if it is privately owned) no one should have the right to poison me. You will argue, "don't go to that bar then". But if I want to see your band, and you only play in smoking bars, I have no choice (If I want to see you badly enough) but to go in and be poisoned. Which is what I do now.

I've been to NYC smoke free bars, and it was great. I loved it.

If a place is a private , members only club, I could see them being allowed to smoke. As the membership should be able to decide for themselves.
_________________
www.showtimesoundllc.com
Flashpoint!
SKYE 2.0
Triple Threat

[ToonaRockGuy]

Normally, ucjoe and I don't see eye to eye on too much. But he hit the nail on the head...

There is no law that says someone can't open a non-smoking bar, or change their bar to non-smoking.

Yes, I'm a smoker. Yes, I know it's bad for me and bad for others. I do try to be polite about it, and respect non-smokers. Hell, when I go out to eat, I ask for the non-smoking section. But this (to me) is the government going where they shouldn't. There are bigger fish to fry, like the war in Iraq, the National Debt, Social Security, Healthcare, etc. What's next on the ban list? I mean really, everything is bad for you.

I've no problem if someone wants to change their place to non-smoking, or opens a non-smoking place. But ucjoe is right, Big Brother is on the way with this one.
_________________
Dood...

[UNEARTHA7XMatt]

We recently played at Peabody's in Cleveland Ohio and it is also Smoke free. You had to walk outside to smoke a cigarette! Not to mention it was FREEZING.
_________________
We got all highed Up and somebody put the car in the Pool!

[lonewolf]

[HarleyRo1]

I can't wait to go out for a night...see some great bands...go home after a fun night and lay my head down on my pillow at 2:30 am and not have the stench of cigarette smoke rolling off my hair and onto my pillow.
_________________
Who needs gold and diamonds when you can have chrome....

[DrumAndDestroy]

[DrumAndDestroy]

i don't smoke ciggs. but i don't care who does or doesn't at a bar. i think the ban is stupid.

maybe we should ban fireworks at lakemont park..afterall, smoke fills my neighborhood for hours after the fourth of july and curve games.

this poses more of a threat to live music than guitar hero. priorities people....priorities!!

[Hawk]

[Klamachpin]

I don't mind going outside to smoke, actually. But I should have the right to do it inside. Especially if the place is serving alcohol. After all, alcohol & cigarettes go together like french fries & ketchup. Duh! So why isn't alcohol illegal? Maybe because it makes so much money or the good 'ole boys of politics enjoy a drink or ten before they wanna get fucked, who knows? But drinking several alcoholic drinks is most likely not recommended by the "surgeon general" & we all know how "he" feels about smoking so I say if an establishment serves alcohol, smoking should be permitted as well. And all non-smokers just have to deal with it. But I know the ban coming. I'm not stupid, just addicted.
_________________
I gave you my heart. Whatever God gave me.
You took to the grave, now it's gone - Tom Evans.

[lonewolf]

[songsmith]

A smoking ban would likely help my situation more than hinder it. Because of the type of music I play, the audience skews older. At bars, we get more hippy-types, 21 to 30-ish. But at outdoor shows, which are almost always well-attended and all-age, we see more rural types, families, and lots more 40 and over people. I think with a smoking ban, we'd draw more 40-and-overs, but that might not be a great thing for, say, a modern rock or metal band. It's different audiences, so I can see where it might hurt the rock guys. Any evidence I have as to whether a ban works, is anecdotal at best, my wife works with someone who turned his bar into a smoke-free bar because he was diagnosed with COPD, and lived upstairs over the barroom. When he made the switch, his food sales shot through the roof, and now he sells more alcohol because the people stay longer. I must admit, though this place is relatively near here, he doesn't do entertainment, so he couldn't really speak to how it would affect bands. My thought is that more mainstream, family friendly music would do okay with a smoking ban (not necessarily a good thing, we need some rebellion).--------->JMS

[bassist_25]

[mikers85]

"- Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time can have immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and interferes with the normal functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase the risk of a heart attack.
- Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 - 30 percent.
- Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 - 30 percent."

- source: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov

Keep in mind that lung cancer will kill more people this year than:

* breast cancer
* prostate cancer
* colon cancer
* liver cancer
* kidney cancer
* melanoma
...combined

-source: http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/facing/facts.html

Also keep in mind that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States

-source: http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

Here is an article for those who think this is about the annoyance of smoke: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/46133.php

To those asking well if you go this far why not alcohol too or next?
Drinking alcohol doesn't substantially affect the life expectancy of those around you unless you do it irresponsibly (drunken driving and so on) which is illegal. Also this isn't to make smoking illegal, it is to make it illegal in public places in which it affects those around you.
The ban isn't about stopping you from doing something thats bad for you, its about stopping you from doing something that is substantially bad for those around you.

Also, leaving the immediate area of the smoker in a building or moving to a nonsmoking section is not enough to eliminate the risk and effects.

No one holds a gun to nonsmokers heads and forces them to go to places where people smoke, but nonsmokers shouldn't be forced to suffer the horrible effects of second hand smoke if they choose to work or play music in an average bar. I think most arguments focusing on the annoyance of the smell distract from the real issue which is the health effects, because the smell on clothes and equipment is trivial in comparison. Should million of people be exposed to horrible poisons proven to kill you even when they are only passively inhaled in small amounts so that other people can have their "right" to smoke in public places? Or is this one right people can do without, for the good of others?

As far as the bar scene goes, I hope it does not hurt it but I think its right to do it regardless. Lead paint recalls may hurt holiday toy sales but some things like health are just more important.
_________________
www.thesyrins.com

[Hawk]

"Freedom taken away." This phrase has been used in this thread.

I'd like my freedom too. Free to breath non poisonous air in public.

If you are loosing a freedom, others are gaining one.

Big Brother has been mentioned as well. Big Brother is a general reference to the Federal Government. This is not a ban coming from Big Brother. Some of you wanted the power to be with the State Government. That's what this is. The State doing it's job.

A couple of you seem to be against the government doing anything. Even if it is for the common good of the general public. I think this IS for the good of the general public.
_________________
www.showtimesoundllc.com
Flashpoint!
SKYE 2.0
Triple Threat

[ZappasXWife]

I, too, am 'on the fence' because I do see this as more government interference, but I realize it can affect the health of others. Great post btw mikers85.
I do see this ban hurting the bar scene in Altoona, and no you can't compare State College, lots of people up here are used to things like this (coming from many other places) and it seems to me that there are not as many smokers up here. I see this ban hurting an already struggling scene. Must admit it would be nice to not smell like smoke after going out and the smoking hangover someone brought up was interesting...I have always suspected there was such a thing; I have worse hangovers from bar drinking compared to other drinking situations.
Some comments: