9/11/08

[bassist_25]

I'm a nonsmoker, so my issue isn't stepping out to smoke vs. smoking inside. My issue is how is this going to affect crowd attendance for us musicians, sound engineers, and waitstaff.

[Baceman Spiff]

Percentage of Population by State of Cigarette Smoking Prevalence Among Adults 18 And Older. These figures are based on the year 2005 statistics.

Anybody else notice they used MA to abbreviate Maryland? Also I never realized Tennessee owned an island off the coast of Georgia...

I would also like to see that broken down county to county. (At least for PE)

I tried a quick google search to find a stat for drinkers who also smoke, but found nothing. (a more general version of Paul's idea)

[Korruption4ever]

I haven't noticed any difference in crowds at our shows. I do hear a bit of complaining now that it is cold though. When it was warm people didn't seem to mind popping outside for a smoke. I don't smoke but as cold as it has been lately...If they told me I had to go outside to have sex...Honey I'll see you in the spring!!! lol

[Lisa]

I've mentioned this other places....

We've not seen a decrease at all. Our business keeps improving and we are very grateful to the people that come out. Sure, there are some nights that may be a miss, but they are far fewer than two years ago.

If you go to http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/healt ... p?Q=251758 you can see who was approved for the exception. This is up to date with any bar that applied before the deadline. Any bar that did not apply until after the deadline must be non-smoking until they get approval. I think that some are playing dumb or are a little naive about the law and the fact that just because they think they qualify for an exception they did not need to apply. This will start costing bars that are not legal..I think we can see enforcement slowly out and about as they want to set an example.

I heard of a state legislator who is already proposing tighter laws making it illegal in any bar. They expect such a law to be passed within a year.

On a few occasions, we've had people light up without thinking about it..heck I watched one do it and forgot about the ban. But when someone remembers, the customer is simply asked to take it out to our VIP Smoking Lounge. Some nights we find the majority of our customers out there! (We should charge cover charge for access to it!)

I think that its the economy that is affecting most places. Its hard to even turn to banks nowadays for additional operation funding. They just aren't willing to give it out.

[songsmith]

I'm with RobTheDrummer. I'd just go outside.
You have to go to a special room to pee in a bar. The bean-consumers go out for a ride, or something. Anything unsavory happens, you already gotta go somewhere else to do it.
Smokers already have to bite the bullet at work, when they shop, in other peoples' homes, etc. I think if I was a cigarette smoker, I'd accept that there are only certain places I could do it.
If you don't like going out in the cold, hey, I never like going out in the cold either, but I have to if I want to go somewhere. Smokers accept that they are slave to the nicotine, right? So why not resign yourself to doing something simple as stepping outside, it doesn't strike me as a big price to pay. Ask Santa for a warm coat, and do your thing. Everybody happy. ---->JMS

[witchhunt]

My wife and I have been 5 weeks without a smoke. We're saving about $70.00 a week, $280.00 a month, $3640.00 a year. Forget Chantix, Patches, etc. Try pneumonia. That makes it easier to quit.

[RFBuck]

Effed up as it sounds, having my clothes reek of smoke the next day is a cool thing to me. I don't like it, but I know we had a good nite 'cause everyone hung around. 'Course for the non-smoking places it has no meaning.

I just wash my clothes and wipe down my gear...not a major effort. Either way, smoking or non, it doesn't bother me.