Right, so the wheezing and panting that I feel after coming out of a smoke-filled restaurant or bowling alley is just baloney? I believe you owe many, including those with allergies (people with allergies may be more sensitive to cigarette smoke than other people, and research studies indicate that smoking may aggravate allergies -- Alan Greene MD FAAP), a huge apology for your overgeneralization and insult there.

 

I am alergic to dairy, can we work on making that illegal so my restaurant experiences can be more plesent?

 

We could ban someone blowing powdered milk right into your face.

^ ^ You can quit smoking anytime? You must be a social-situation smoker, so you still have options. I know friends who are my age (22) and are so addicted that they have tried many times to quit and have been unsuccessful. My mum finally quit the habit, but was forced to after having a double-bypass heart surgery; dad hasn't yet, although he has tried many times with pills, herbal remedies, etc.

 

Consider yourself lucky.

^ ^ You can quit smoking anytime? You must be a social-situation smoker, so you still have options. I know friends who are my age (22) and are so addicted that they have tried many times to quit and have been unsuccessful. My mum finally quit the habit, but was forced to after having a double-bypass heart surgery; dad hasn't yet, although he has tried many times with pills, herbal remedies, etc.

 

Consider yourself lucky.

 

(Slowly shakes head and moves on...)

From the 6/21/07 Dispatch:

 

 

Bar owners' group gives up push to ease smoking ban

Other owners to discuss fate of ballot bid

Thursday,  June 21, 2007 7:39 AM

By James Nash

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A quest by some bar owners to chip away at Ohio's strict smoking ban lost momentum yesterday when a key group said it was abandoning the effort.

 

Patrick Carroll, president of the Buckeye Liquor Permit Holders Association, said the Cincinnati-based group will not collect signatures for a November ballot initiative that would weaken the smoking ban passed by voters last November.

 

The group was daunted by the requirement that it collect 402,276 petition signatures toward a constitutional amendment that would exempt private clubs, bowling alleys and many bars from the smoking ban, he said yesterday.

 

Read more:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/21/SMOKING.ART_ART_06-21-07_B5_Q472TL6.html?type=rss&cat=21

---

Also posted in the Cincinnati smoking ban thread.  Link contains photos.  From the 6/21/07 Cincinnati Post:

 

 

Smoking ban cuts businesses both ways

Some Ohio patrons make run for border

By Juliann Vachon

Post staff reporter

 

It's been more than six weeks since Ohio bars were forced to put away their ashtrays, and some businesses are seeing the fallout from the statewide smoking ban.

 

Some Northern Kentucky taverns and restaurants report seeing an increase in customers from Ohio, a fear opponents of the ban raised during the campaign preceding the vote to ban smoking in public places. Other bars in Cincinnati are reporting that business is holding steady, and restaurants and bars are welcoming Ohio and Kentucky patrons looking for a smoke-free environment.

 

Read more:

 

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/NEWS01/706210372

 

From the 6/22/07 Sandusky Register:

 

 

PHOTO: Smoking, which is prohibited by law inside Markley's Restaurant, is allowed at designated tables in their new outdoor seating area.  Register photo/ABIGAIL BOBROW

 

Where there's smoke there's a patio

By JENNIFER GRATHWOL | Friday June 22 2007, 3:21pm

 

SANDUSKY Outdoor patios may be a breath of fresh air for area restaurants and bars.

 

Under the recent Ohio Issue 5, smoking is banned indoors at all public places and places of employment -- but outdoors is another story.

 

Some restaurants had plans to add patios long before Issue 5 took effect, but the smoker-friendly environments could very well be bringing back some customers who had been deterred by the smoking ban.

 

Read more:

 

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/06/22/front/319316.txt

 

Well considering smoking's banned at countless outdoor stadiums the patios will be next.

^ Hasn't happened yet in Lexington, and our ban is considered one of the most strict in the state. No one has even challenged the patio smoking. Could be different up there.

I guess my point is this, odor alone is not really a fair factor to include in the anti-smoking campaign. Another unfair, but unspoken, factor is also the mere sight or thought of someone lighting up. For instance I wonder what made those people who never go to bars anyway to vote no on Issue 4. To focus on the odor or sight of smoking could be interpretted as a sign of intolerance.

 

The answer, unfortunately, is busybodyism.  It's quite clear that before the issue was politicized and twisted out of shape, the science that existed favored the idea that ETS may be annoying to some, but was not hazardous (note the OSHA opinion and World Health Organization studies mentioned earlier).  "Protecting" employees was an excuse all along, the disregard for normal methods of employee protection (specifically the concept of PEL) has made that clear.

 

It's really no different than the CCV types, who (presumably) never go to strip clubs, forcing through laws that restrict activities there.  Unfortunately, we haven't matured as a society enough yet to butt out of matters that don't concern us.

Source:  JAMA and Archives Journals  |  October 13, 2006

 

Smoking Ban Associated With Rapid Improvement In Health Of Bar Workers

 

Science Daily — Bar workers in Scotland showed significant improvements in respiratory symptoms and lung function within 2 months following a ban on smoking in confined public places, according to a study in the October 11 issue of JAMA.

 

Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is a major worldwide public health issue, according to background information in the article. The effects on individuals has been difficult to measure, but a number of studies have established an increased risk of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and lung cancer, and the 2006 report by the U.S. surgeon general highlighted the causal relationship between secondhand smoke and premature death. In addition, for patients with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma, secondhand smoke leads to poorer disease control and more frequent hospital admission.

 

 

link unavailable.

From the 6/24/07 Youngstown Vindicator:

 

 

Smokers light up across state line

Some people are traveling from Ohio to Pennsylvania bars where they can smoke.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

 

SHARON, Pa. — Geno Rossi used to see the same faces day after day at the bar he manages, Our Gang Lounge on Sharpsville Avenue — until Ohio banned smoking.

 

"There are a couple of [periods of the week] that are really dead and then we started getting people in. We figure they're coming from Ohio," Rossi said.

 

Read more:

 

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/289194904642567.php

 

Both from the 6/27/07 Springfield News-Sun:

 

 

Owners to smoking ban groups: Where are the lines?

Area restaurants and bars see decrease in business, not the promised increase.

By Sarah Jacobson

Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

 

Ohio's Smoking Ban was promoted not only as a health initiative but also as a way to get customers who had fled smoky bars and restaurants to return.

 

Two months after enforcement of the ban began, however, operators of several local establishments say they are still waiting for the lines to start forming.

 

The situation is still in flux, and restaurant owners and other business operators say they are frustrated at how the smoking ban has been implemented.

 

"Because of the way the ban is being enforced, some of the businesses who are following the law are hurting while those who are not are laughing at us," said Lisa Grigsey, president of Miami Valley Restaurant Association. "Since it's up to the Health Department to follow up on complaints, and the Health Department is understaffed, it's hard to keep everything a level playing field for the local businesses.

 

Red more:

 

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/26/sns062707barbusinessseg.html

---

Not all businesses dislike smoking ban

Some plan to solve the problem by building a separate deck or porch where smokers can light up.

By Sarah Jacobson

Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

 

Amanda McGraw has been a bartender at Murphy's Irish Pub, 229 North Belmont Ave., for six months, just enough time to see what business was like before Ohio's smoking ban took effect.

 

"Some people say they won't come in now, and business has really slowed down because of it," she said. "If you put the ban on top of the pace of summer, it makes business really slow. There is definitely a drop in sales.

 

Read more:

 

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/26/sns062707barbusinessinside.html

 

What I hate most about the smoking ban is that it's turned a lot of the patios into smoker's havens.  Now, in a lot of places, if you want to dine al fresco or enjoy a beer on the deck of a restaurant or tavern, you're surrounded by patrons stepping out to smoke.  We were recently having dinner on the patio after work when someone leaned over my dinner to partially extinguish a cigar in the table's ashtray; we were all non-smokers at the table.  I guess I'll have to have the server remove the ashtray from the table next time I sit on the patio.  I wish I had a list of Cleveland area establishments with non-smoking patios.

What I hate most about the smoking ban is that it's turned a lot of the patios into smoker's havens.  Now, in a lot of places, if you want to dine al fresco or enjoy a beer on the deck of a restaurant or tavern, you're surrounded by patrons stepping out to smoke.  We were recently having dinner on the patio after work when someone leaned over my dinner to partially extinguish a cigar in the table's ashtray; we were all non-smokers at the table.  I guess I'll have to have the server remove the ashtray from the table next time I sit on the patio.  I wish I had a list of Cleveland area establishments with non-smoking patios.

 

Just put the ashtray on an unoccupied table.  No one will complain.  If there's a table that includes smokers, put it there. They will probably thank you.

 

This is what's called "unintended consequences", and is what happens when laws are passed which grossly contradict the desires of the majority of those who are directly affected.  People who want to smoke don't give a damn about the "spirit" of the law, they think the law is bullmodell and are going to find ways around it.  What that means is they are finding bars and restaurants which already have decks and are patronizing them.  So the decks, which were probably the least smoky spots before, are now the smokiest.

 

If there's a demand for it, eventually you will find bars and restaurants who will cater to said demand.  Mention it to the management.  But keep in mind that right now, the "demand" side of the equation is going to be strongly in the other direction.

^i mean, in the past there was no such thing as a non-smoking bar even though bar owners could have made that policy.  We'll see if any bars make their patios smoke-free.  Maybe one or two will, or maybe one will designate a non-smoking area of a patio, but it won't be widespread.  Right now they're losing maybe .01% of business versus losing 20-30% by banning smoking on their own patio. 

From the 6/28/07 Youngstown Vindicator:

 

 

The smoking ban has businesses rethinking smoking areas

By ANDREW GAUG

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

 

It's been almost two months since the statewide smoking ban went into effect in Ohio, and some businesses are looking for a way to keep employees and patrons who smoke happy.

 

The Lordstown General Motors plant is changing its previously strict smoking policy out of concerns for employee safety.

 

Because the company doesn't allow smoking on the premises, many employees went to the roads outside the plant to smoke during their breaks, said Michael Rhodes, an employee assistant at GM. But a growing concern for its employees' safety along the roads has prompted GM to install smoking shelters where people can light up.

 

Read more:

 

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/327480099924472.php

 

Link contains a photo.  From the 7/14/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram:

 

 

VFW member smoking mad

Veteran says he was barred from club after filing complaint

Joe Medici | The Chronicle-Telegram

 

ELYRIA — A Korean War veteran said he has been barred from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1079 on South Abbe Road after complaining to the state health department last month that the club was allowing its members to smoke in the building.

 

Richard Bungard, 75, served in an Army tank battalion in 1952 and 1953, but last month the lifetime VFW member was told to leave Post 1079 on two separate occasions, he said.

 

“It was during dance night on Friday, June 15. I walked in and Commander John Victor called me aside and he jumped all over me asking me if I had reported the post about the smoking ban,” Bungard said. “I told him that I had, and then he started yelling at me and told me that I was no longer a member.”

 

Read more:

 

http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/07/14/vfw-member-smoking-mad/

 

From the 7/15/07 Enquirer:

 

 

Cigar bars ask relief from ban

Assaults continue on smoking law

BY CLIFF PEALE | [email protected]

 

Cigar bars could be exempted from the new smoking ban in Ohio under a bill proposed by state Sen. Gary Cates of West Chester.

 

Senate Bill 195 would allow smoking in bars and restaurants that have a walk-in humidor of at least 300 cubic feet and at least four air-filtration systems, Cates said.

 

One example is Anthony's Cigar Bar & Grill off Cox Road, which opened a year ago in the Voice of America retail complex in West Chester. Owner Greg Varacalli said his business is down at least 60 percent since Ohio officials started enforcing the smoking ban this year.

 

Read more:

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/NEWS01/707150406/1056/COL02

 

From Business First of Columbus, 7/16/07:

 

 

Smoking ban proponents look to Marysville park rule as model

Business First of Columbus - July 13, 2007

by Cindy Bent Findlay

For Business First

 

The statewide ban on smoking in indoor workplaces and public spaces passed by voters in November exempts outdoor spaces such as restaurant patios.

 

But as the Smoke Free Workplace Act in Ohio settles in, municipalities around the state are beginning to think about further smoking restrictions - in certain outdoor public places.

 

In November, the Marysville Parks and Recreation Department banned smoking in Eljer Park, a 25-acre park with playgrounds, ball fields, picnic areas and walking trails.

 

Read more:

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/07/16/focus6.html

 

From the 7/17/07 Lima News:

 

 

Legion post in Wapak gets property rezoned to enable smoker-friendly beer garden

Bob Blake | [email protected] - 07.17.2007

 

WAPAKONETA — Business at area veterans and fraternal groups went up in smoke when the state smoking ban went into effect in December. When enforcement began in earnest, at least one local club decided to do something about it to keep smoking patrons coming.

 

Members of American Legion Post 330 in Wapakoneta decided to take their club’s fate into their own hands. Club members put up a fenced-in patio for smokers. They wanted an outdoor beer garden. Now, they’ll be able to pursue the project.

 

Read more:

 

http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=40705

 

From the 7/18/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram:

 

 

State logs 9K smoking complaints

Nearly 400 in Lorain County, most against private clubs

Joe Medici | The Chronicle-Telegram

 

ELYRIA — More than two months after the statewide smoking ban went into effect, the Ohio Health Department is still receiving smoking complaints about bars, restaurants and private clubs —  9,169 complaints, to be exact.

 

The anti-smoking law, which passed in the November 2006 election with 58 percent of the vote, eliminated smoking at businesses throughout the state, and residents have not shied away from reporting locales that aren’t following the rules.

 

More:

 

http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/07/18/state-logs-9k-smoking-complaints/

 

State logs 9K smoking complaints

Nearly 400 in Lorain County, most against private clubs

...

 

* VFW Post 1079 500 S. Abbe Road, Elyria 79 complaints

* American Legion Post 118 921 N. Lake St., Amherst 42 complaints

* Elyria AMVETS Post 32 11087 Middle Ave., Elyria  18 complaints

* Spirit of 76 American Legion 518 S. Main St., Wellington 17 complaints

* Fraternal Order of Eagles 1255 Lowell St., Elyria 12 complaints

* Ray’s Memory Lane 3680 Pearl Ave., Lorain 10 complaints

* Amherst Eagles Club 1442 1161 Milan Ave., Amherst 8 complaints

* Ford Motor Co. 650 Miller Road, Avon Lake 7 complaints

* AMVETS Post 47  3009 Broadway, Lorain 5 complaints

 

I guess that oath of enlistment comes with some nuances. Though, I suppose technically there is no Constitutional smoking ban...

 

...YET!

 

[cue ominous music]

god you're such a fascist.

I believe the preferred term is "Nazi."

But this is so hot!

 

But this is so hot!

 

 

Seicer...sweety....step away from the keyboard then pull the cord to your CPU from the electrical socket.  ok.....thanks sugar.

hey i see they rescinded the exemption for private clubs at the last minute. heh heh i will put that one to the test next visit to lorain.

 

its funny to read about how this law is shaking out. same as everywhere else. the difference in ohio seems to be that the legislators sure overly complicated it by not tightening up the loose ends and enforcing it right away.

its funny to read about how this law is shaking out. same as everywhere else. the difference in ohio seems to be that the legislators sure overly complicated it by not tightening up the loose ends and enforcing it right away.

 

That's not the legislature's fault.  The initiative passed without defining the rules, and the advocates then tried to define them through the false rumor process as broadly as they could.  The bar owners called bullmodell on that and sued the state.  The state agreed to stay enforcement until they could actually write the rules.

 

It's a weakness in the initiative process.  Legislation usually has all the details worked out before its enacted.

[youtube=425,350]IQ4n7g31RlE

.

Other states have passed successful smoking bans but allowed some places to remain that alow smoking. For instance I've noticed Boston and New York all have cigar bars and Hookah bars that will permit smoking, and California has coffee shops and very liberal definitions of patios where people can smoke. 

 

^ what's this? very overstated. you can count the kosher grandfathered-in cigar bar, etc establishments where smoking is legally allowed in nyc on one hand.

 

Other states have passed successful smoking bans but allowed some places to remain that alow smoking. For instance I've noticed Boston and New York all have cigar bars and Hookah bars that will permit smoking, and California has coffee shops and very liberal definitions of patios where people can smoke. 

 

^ what's this? very overstated. you can count the kosher grandfathered-in cigar bar, etc establishments where smoking is legally allowed in nyc on one hand.

 

 

and those business had to make modifications.  the cigar place on sixth ave near 57 is an example.

No, this was not overstated. I'm sure those cigar bars did make modifacations, but many exist nonetheless. Ohio's law does in fact eliminate cigar "bars" and did not grandfather in those businesses. Ohio's ban did grandfather cigar/tobacco "shops" to allow smoking. Establishements where 80% of revenue comes from tobacco are allowed to permit smoking in their current locations, which (despite the allowance) essentially kills cigar bars.

 

If you recall, for instance, Columbus' initial smoking ban required establishments to permit smoking if 60% of revenue was from tobacco. There is a big difference between 60% and 80%. Cigar "bars" cannot survive by requiring 80% of revenue to come from tobacco. Most of the state/city bans prior to Ohio like those in New York and California and instance probably require establishments to have 40-60% of revenue come from tobacco in order to permit smoking. Places I have been to like Stanza dei Sigari in Boston's North End and Club Macanudo in Manhattan's Upper East Side would not exist if the law stated that their revenues from tobacco must be 80% in order to permit smoking. 

^Can't establishments just lie? It cant be much different than using small businesses as a front for drugs (not that I know anything about that).

No, this was not overstated. I'm sure those cigar bars did make modifacations, but many exist nonetheless.

 

lol! again with the vast overstatement. did you miss the part where i said you could count all of them on one hand? only a very few exist.

 

^Can't establishments just lie? It cant be much different than using small businesses as a front for drugs (not that I know anything about that).

Not without running afoul of tax law in a pretty serious way.

In some roundabout way, I felt a need to post this here.

 

----------------------------

Office printers 'are health risk'

By Nick Bryant

BBC News, Sydney

 

 

The humble office laser printer can damage lungs in much the same way as smoke particles from cigarettes, a team of Australian scientists has found.

 

An investigation of a range of printer models showed that almost a third emit potentially dangerous levels of toner into the air.

 

The Queensland University of Technology scientists have called on ministers to regulate these kinds of emissions.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6923915.stm

 

 

pope funny you mentioned that. 

 

Yesterday, both my assistants had there printers moved after hearing this from someone in the newsroom at CNN or TIME.

i say ditch the office printers and smoke'm if ya got'em.

i'm so going to be carrying around an office printer to the bar now..

In some roundabout way, I felt a need to post this here.

 

----------------------------

Office printers 'are health risk'

By Nick Bryant

BBC News, Sydney

 

 

The humble office laser printer can damage lungs in much the same way as smoke particles from cigarettes, a team of Australian scientists has found.

 

An investigation of a range of printer models showed that almost a third emit potentially dangerous levels of toner into the air.

 

The Queensland University of Technology scientists have called on ministers to regulate these kinds of emissions.

 

They say some printers should come with a health warning.

 

The researchers carried out tests on more than 60 machines.

 

Almost one-third were found to emit ultra-tiny particles of toner-like material, so small that they can infiltrate the lungs and cause a range of health problems from respiratory irritation to more chronic illnesses.

 

Conducted in an open-plan office, the test revealed that particle levels increased five-fold during working hours, a rise blamed on printer use.

 

The problem was worse when new cartridges were used and when graphics and images required higher quantities of toner.

 

The researchers have called on governments to regulate air quality in offices.

 

They also want companies to ensure that printers are based in well-ventilated areas so that particles disperse.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6923915.stm

 

Published: 2007/07/31 10:27:25 GMT

 

© BBC MMVII

 

s had there printers moved after hearing this from someone in the newsroom at CNN or TIME.

The solution is obvious.  Ban "open plan" offices.  :evil: 

^Amen!

it works for some industries.

Secondhand smoke cloud migrates from Cincinnati to Kentucky.

 

CINCINNATI – A massive cloud of secondhand smoke originating from bars and restaurants in Cincinnati is being monitored closely by meteorologists this month as it floats south toward it's soon to be new home in Kentucky. Health officials have taken special interest in what appears to be appears to be an equally massive lung cancer formation closely accompanying the cloud system. Kentucky bar and restaurant owners are planning a cloud arrival ceremony during which the Cincinnati cloud will be merged with the existing Kentucky cloud to create what is being called the supercloud. Newport Mayor Thomas Guidugli commented, “The supercloud brings extraordinary economic opportunities to this region. The revenue from lung cancer treatment alone provides the capital to build additional bars and restaurants.” 

 

 

http://www.derfmagazine.com/news/politics/198.html

 

 

pd:

 

Smokers, barred from bars, puff on new patios

Posted by Joe Guillen August 17, 2007 06:02AM

 

Banned from puffing while perched on a barstool, smokers are taking their cigarettes outside.

 

Bars and other establishments are trying to build outdoor patios, often with smokers in mind, as they try to lure back clientele they say were lost after the indoor smoking ban took effect. These patios may also corral smokers who have already spread out to adjacent sidewalks to get a smoke.

 

This migration is sparking conflicts across Northeast Ohio between traditionally-friendly neighborhood night spots and nearby homeowners, who don't want the sights and sounds of a bar in their backyard.

 

"It's just annoying," said Velvet Cunningham, who has lived in her Berea house on North Rocky River Drive for 12 years. "I'd rather not see it -- and I really don't want to hear it."

 

She said the noise is coming from a social club for the Fraternal Order of the Eagles across the street. Since enforcement of Ohio's indoor smoking ban began May 3, Cunningham said she has trouble sleeping because she hears constant chit-chat from smokers outside the club.

 

She fears the noise will increase when the club finishes building a deck behind the building where more smokers can gather.

 

"We still have the right to a peaceful neighborhood," Cunningham said.

 

Eagles trustee Douglas McJunkins said commotion on the deck will be dwarfed by the numerous trains that pass by. Plus, the club itself is a barrier between the deck and neighbors across the street.

 

Patrons can smoke on open-air patios as long as the indoor and outdoor areas are separated and the smoky air from outside does not blow back inside, according to state law.

 

Shelly Kiser, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association of Ohio, said she doesn't oppose smoking in outdoor patios because health risks are minimized.

 

Bob Visnic, owner of The Oriole Cafe in Berea, said he had no choice. "The simple fact is, people just stopped going to bars because of smoking," said Visnic, whose bar abuts a residential neighborhood. "I had to do something."

 

So Visnic is building a patio next to the building. It will be equipped with TVs and satellite radio and seat about 60 people.

 

Other cities report seeing the same thing. Four restaurants and bars in Medina city are planning so-called smoking patios, and a dozen places in Parma have sought permits, too, city officials there said.

 

"It's real new to us," Medina Planning Director Greg Hannan said. "It's exclusively due to the smoking ban."

 

Local governments usually consider potential disturbances to the neighborhood before granting permission to build an outdoor patio. Parma denied one patio request for that reason, said Brian Higgins, chairman of the Parma Planning Commission.

 

"People are going to go outside and make noises whether we have a patio or not," Higgins said. "We might as well have a controlled area."

 

When Visnic, owner of the Oriole, appeared before the Berea planning commission in July, a handful of nearby residents stepped forward to complain. An area outside the bar had already been designated for smokers and neighbors worried a patio with food and drink would worsen the situation.

 

"I have had to put up with noise, the drunks and the broken beer bottles in my yard for three weeks already," Marcy Gasler wrote to the commission in a letter dated July 15.

 

To alleviate residents' concerns, the Berea planning commission issued Visnic a three-month probationary permit and said he must stop serving food and drinks outside at 10 p.m.

 

He didn't protest the commission's conditions.

 

"You want to be neighbor-friendly," Visnic said.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdworld/2007/08/smokers_barred_from_bars_puff.html

pd:

 

Cleveland-area smokers can still find public places to light up

Friday, August 17, 2007

John Petkovic

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Ed likes to smoke. No, make that Ed LOVES to smoke.

 

He also loves to go out to bars -- which has made him public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of some.

 

Since Ohio's smoking ban went into effect on May 3, Ed, like most smokers, has been forced to think of new ways to party with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

 

At first, I couldn't relate to the gravity of his situation. Then it hit me.

 

I started smoking. When I tried to light one up at Mr. Gee's Lounge in Bedford -- I hadn't realized the ban had gone into effect -- a woman who was sitting at the bar made the equivalent of a citizen's arrest.

 

"You have to take that outside," she said.

 

I did. And I began to appreciate the Underground Society of Smokers -- or the Leper Colony of Smokers, depending on your take.

 

"Yeah, you can't smoke in here anymore," a guy in a Def Leppard T-shirt grumbled to me and another fellow puffer he'd befriended. "You can't have fun anymore these days."

 

Well, you can -- still smoke, that is. You just have to find the right place.

 

My travels with Ed for this story took me all over town. And in the process, I picked up some tips from Ed:

 

Don't let the stress of finding a place to smoke make you smoke even more.

 

Yeah, most places have patios, but you have to find one that's smoker-friendly.

 

If the weatherman says it's going to rain, look for a place with umbrellas.

 

Sidewalk-cafe setups are hit-and-miss; look for ones that are open and airy, where beer, not food, is the reason people go there.

 

The last one can be tricky. When I recently lighted up upon leaving Great Lakes Brewing Co. -- one of the first area bars to voluntarily ban smoking -- an employee lunged at me as if I were trying to smuggle a bomb onto a plane.

 

"You can't smoke here," she said.

 

She escorted me to the curb, where, by the way, you can't bring your beer.

 

"Yeah, it's gotten really out of hand," said Ed. "Smokers are under attack."

 

Not at the Thermadore, a cozy bar in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood. The place has a covered patio adjacent to the bar. It also has a wide-screen television and comfy chairs.

 

"Almost feels like you're in someone's home," Ed said.

 

No doubt. We didn't even realize that it was drizzling. And even better, our cigarettes stayed dry as we watched Joe Borowski come in to save an Indians win against the Chicago White Sox.

 

You definitely don't want soggy cigs when he's pitching. Too stressful.

 

The rain started pouring, and we headed out. And I was reminded of a Cleveland bar that allows smoking -- "After 6, when the inspectors stop working," as the door guy said.

 

I can't tell the name of the place; smokers have to keep their secrets secret.

 

Yeah, umbrellas make for a nifty shelter in August. But what are we going to do this winter?

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4556

 

 

If you must smoke, here's where to do it

Posted by John Petkovic August 17, 2007 04:51AM

 

You gotta fight for your right to party -- especially if you do it with a lighted cigarette in your hand. These places might not allow smoking inside, but they offer a friendly shelter and don't make you feel like a leper if you light up. Let Mr. Petkovic be your guide:

Jigsaw Saloon: This magnet for locals, drinkers and rockers -- 5324 State Road, Parma -- used to be so smoky, you'd think there was a heavy-metal smoke machine in the back working overtime. No more. Since Ohio's smoking ban went into effect, the puffers have moved onto the patio. And what a patio: A bar in the back, big umbrellas for a rainy day and, yep, a lot of lighted cigarettes. That the Jigsaw plays rocking tunes that make you think Motley Crue might come strutting in makes you want to light up even more, as you're doing a shot of Jack.

Leather Stallion Saloon: This gay bar, 2205 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, has been open since 1970, which means it's than a neighborhood hangout more of a metrosexualized hub for style mavens. As a result, it used to be a hot spot for smoking. The patio -- a comfy place that feels like home -- is just as smoker-friendly. Fire it up.

 

Anatomy: The cafe-style sidewalk in front of this ultra lounge, 1299 West Ninth St., Cleveland, is great for drinking and people watching. But it's also one of the most smoker-friendly pieces of pavement in the Warehouse District. The wide-open walkways in and out of the club mean you can hear the music while you're outside having a smoke, and they make it easy to go from inside to outside and back again.

 

Mayfield Smoke Shop: Yeah, this Little Italy institution, 12307 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, sells cigars. But what do you do when you buy one? Yay, puff out on the six chairs in front! As a result, the pavement feels like a scene out of "The Sopranos," where veteran cigar hotshots puff, chat, make circles of smoke and pasta time away as people shuffle by. Yes, many of the restaurants in Little Italy allow smoking outside -- but they're restaurants, and you're likely to feel a bit rude doing it as someone is digging into their dish.

 

Prosperity Social Club: The patio is busier than the bar most nights -- why is that? Well, because it's nice to sit at the picnic tables at this Tremont spot (1109 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland). Why? Because it's quiet and laid-back, and you can talk. But you also can puff. It isn't just the open-air quality of the place; the patrons are smoker-friendly, too -- because, well, a lot of them smoke.

Thermadore: How many times have you been to someone's house and had to step out to light up? Well, the Thermadore, 17406 Grovewood Ave., Cleveland, feels like home and makes you feel like you're smoking indoors. The patio adjacent to the Collinwood neighborhood bar is fully covered -- rain, anyone? -- and there's a wide-screen television that usually has the Tribe game on. Welcome home, smoker.

 

Vhooda: The vibe smacks of Margaritaville, maybe even a little tiki, a little piratey. The place always seems to be jumping. But Vhooda (18590 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights) also is so sprawling that you don't have to worry about blowing smoke in someone's face -- and in turn have someone tell you, "Please put that out." One margarita please, as I light up.

 

Lava Lounge: The patio is a far cry from this Tremont hangout, 1307 Auburn Ave., Cleveland. It hardly seems trendy; you can't even hear the pitter-patter of the DJ spinning techno. But it's trendy for smokers looking to fire one up. And that the patio is so simple -- a few tables on concrete, fenced in -- somehow makes it seem like you're sitting behind a buddy's garage. Got a light, dude?

Garage Bar: This biker-meets-rocker-meets-poser joint, 1859 West 25th St., Cleveland, hosts rockabilly, hair-metal and biker nights -- which means you know you always can bum a Lucky Strike or Marlboro off somebody. Especially on the patio, where gulps of Pabst go down between puffs of smoke. It's open and airy, which is good if you don't want to blow smoke in someone's face. Though it probably doesn't matter much anyway, given the way the suds flow here.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/friday/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/friday/1187253866252820.xml&coll=2

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2007/08/if_you_must_smoke_heres_where.html

I wish I could breathe downtown!! too many smokers outside on the sidewalks!

^But fewer and fewer every day.

 

Smoking Ban Helping NYC Quit

Adult Smoking Down 19% in New York City In Wake Of Smoking Cessation Efforts

Jun 21, 2007 (CBS/AP)

 

(WebMD) New smoking statistics show what a difference one city can make in a few years in quitting smoking.

 

As of last year, New York City had 19 percent fewer adult smokers than it did in 2002, according to a study published today in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

 

That translates to 240,000 fewer adult smokers among New York City residents — and perhaps 80,000 lives saved over time.

 

"Since one-third of smokers die from a smoking-related disease, when 240,000 people quit, we prevent 80,000 smoking-related deaths," writes Sara Markt, deputy press secretary for New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in an email to WebMD.

 

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., notes the CDC.

 

New York's Antismoking Efforts

 

The CDC points out three ways New York City targeted smoking.

 

In 2002, the city raised its tax on cigarettes a few months after New York state hiked cigarette taxes. That made cigarettes more expensive.

 

In 2003, the city implemented a smoke-free workplace law covering virtually all indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars.

 

Those two steps cut New York City's adult smoking rate for the first time in a decade. From 2002 to 2004, the city's estimated adult smoking prevalence fell from 21.5 percent to 18.4 percent.

 

But that trend leveled off in 2005. So New York launched a quit-smoking media campaign in 2006.

 

In 2006, New York City's overall adult smoking rate didn't change. But smoking decreased among men and Hispanics.

 

Young adults aged 18-24 had the city's biggest drop in smoking — 35 percent — from 2002 to 2006.

 

Smoking data came from annual surveys, conducted by telephone, of about 10,000 adults living in New York City.

 

Tips to Quit Smoking

No matter where you live, it's possible (and worthwhile) to quit smoking.

Here are 14 tips from the CDC on smoking cessation:

 

    * Set a quit date.

 

    * Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays at home, work, and in your car.

 

    * Don't let people smoke in your home.

 

    * If you've tried to quit before, review those attempts. What worked and what didn’t?

 

    * Once you quit, don't smoke at all.

 

    * Ask your family, friends, and co-workers for encouragement.

 

    * Talk to your doctor or other health care provider.

 

    * Get counseling to help you quit smoking. The CDC notes that telephone

      counseling is available at (800) QUIT-NOW.

 

    * Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke.

 

    * Do something to reduce your stress.

 

    * Plan something enjoyable to do daily.

 

    * Interested in quit-smoking medications? Ask your health care provider about them.

 

    * Be prepared for situations where you may be tempted to smoke.

 

    * If you start smoking again, don't give up. Most people try several times before they quit smoking for good.

 

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/21/health/webmd/main2963427.shtml

 

 

^wonder what that impact upon tax revenue is? (i'm thinking more from a Cuyahoga specific scenario where the smokers fund the stadia and the arts)

 

I wish I could breathe downtown!! too many smokers outside on the sidewalks!

 

fine, let us smoke in our offices again.

fine, let us smoke in our offices again.

 

LOL

The funny thing about the Petkoivic article....Mr. Gee's let people smoke until May while the other "major" Beford bars did not.

Some of these google tags crack me up. "bong" "acupuncture".