[gizmolove]

Jim,

I can only tell you about the restaurants here. I have talked to owners and I have been in since the smokeing ban. Our regular haunt hoped to pick up business from non smokers comming in. The last time I was there, there were 9 people in the bar. At one point 5 of us were outside by the ashtray takeing a smoke break includeing one who joined us while we were there, who was our waitress.

I can only speak from personal experience. It has hurt business considerably. People that smoke like to drink and talk and socialize a lot. Health nuts (for lack of another phrase, sorry) generally don't spend hours in bars or pubs drinking and eating and smokeing. They have a drink or two and maybe a meal, then leave.

I don't have anything against your good health. But, this local place is a family pizza parlor. The restaurant has games and TV and bar service in the restaurant area. Smokeing was only allowed in the bar where non smokers do not have to be, and kids are not allowed in there. Before you think about conjoined air, their wasn't any. The air filtration system is completely seperate (between the bar and the restaurant).

Now, I am the last person on earth to want anyone to loose their rights. Why isn't the rest of society just as gracious about mine? I don't need to go into all the restaurants, just one or two that cater to smokers. You don't have to go there, you can have the other 300 or so to pick from, if you like.

Oh and BTW, the smokeing ban here was a few years before 2008. Long before the economy that we face now.

Just because you may not be inconvienced by a smokeing ban, there may be a ban at some point that will make you feel like you are not valued as a customer. When you feel that your rights are being stepped on. Like a restaurant that doesn't accept kids. Doesn't provide for people in wheelchairs or walkers. Maybe we can go back to the 50's and get restaurants that don't accept blacks.

Discrimination is discrimination --- no matter how you want to white wash it. And, bad service still has it's consequences, as well as not catering to your customers needs (in a reasonable way of course).

We all have a choice in how we spend our money. My new years resolution is that I will no longer spend my money where I am not welcome, where I receive bad service or a bad product; nor, where I am treated like cattle. MY CHOICE.