When the smoking ban hits, what are you going to do about going out?

Question

I'm an ex smoker so I can guess what you're going through but I also work in the leisure industry and if you stay in I'll have to lay off staff!

Answer 1

hate the smokeing ban we live in a nanney state

Answer 2

This is already in place in Ireland. At the time I was a smoker. Alot of pubs etc provided a smoking area. It cannot be enclosed but it can have a roof and 3 walls. Like a canopy. Alot of these have seating and Patio heaters to accommodate smokers.
You get used to it pretty quickly.
When we go out in N. Ireland the hase of smoke would choke you and actually started to sting my eyes.
In saying all of that all the pubs in the south have slowed down dramatically and some have closed but I'm not sure if this is just because of the ban or if other factors also contributed. Like the cost of living and mortgages here are colossal at the minute.

Answer 3

It was a little adjustment for me when I moved to Cali where there is no smoking in any establishment. The restaurants and bars here provide patios and heaters during cold weather and butt receptacles. And in all honesty, you meet some fantastic people outside during a smoke break!

I once stopped by a local place on a nice day and the bartender was outside having her smoke break. She comped me a glass of champagne. You never know who you'll meet!

What I hate about the smoking bans are they're getting too overboard. Like not on college campuses, nowhere on hospital grounds at ALL, not even the parking lot. At offices you have to go 30 feet from a doorway even though the receptacle is right outside the doorway. I think it's getting too out of hand. About the only place you can smoke anymore is your car, which makes you smell like a bar and then your co-workers hate you. And now they're banning smoking in parks. Where on earth are us LEGAL smokers supposed to go??

Sorry about the rant.

Answer 4

A smoking ban was initiated in my community a couple of years ago, and it did not deter my social pursuits. During warm weather, I find it's nice to go to a restaurant that offers an outside deck/patio where I can smoke. If I choose to go to a club, I have no problem going outside for a few minutes when I want to smoke; and I find I meet some of the more interesting people outside. If you're in the business, and you want to get a jump on the competition, you might check into doing what one club here did: offer a separate area of your establishment as a private club and charge a membership fee for those who wish to enter and pass their time there. The way that works here, smoking is allowed in the private club area of the establishment. It will depend on the statutes in your area, but would be worth the research.

Answer 5

I'm a social smoker. I don't smoke at home and only have a few when I've had a few drinks. I would not smoke while eating. I will probably still go out but for pre-club drinks would choose a bar with an outdoor area and preferably patio heaters. I think riverside bars and restaurants and ones with gardens will be the winners come July.

Answer 6

already in force in Scotland where I live. In the summer we have a barbecue and drink in the garden. In the winter I stay in or go to friends houses. After all the price of drink has not gone down in the pubs, now that they don't need the air conditioning or have to repaint every so often. Staff also doesn't need to clean ashtrays any more. Prices have stayed the same. Why. Even the insurance must be cheaper for the landlord, now there isn't a fire risk.

Answer 7

You may well have to lay off staff. When it was introduced in Scotland there were reports that people stopped going out, i believe this to be pure myth. But i had no sympathy with the leisure industry as they did not fight against it. I would say the majority of people find it helps them cut down, and have had no real problems with it.

Answer 8

I bet lots of people quit smoking me included and then there will be the defiant ones who will still smoke in public places...it might be chaos at first and pubs will close through lack of customers but everything will be fine in the end....i would really like to see tobacco banned full stop and i'm a smoker saying that

Answer 9

for me an non smoker and an employer in the leisure industry im hoping it wont hit us too hard otherwise i have to lay people off and thats the last thing we need although i publically support it i just hope it doesnt take to long for people to come back from sulking about it, for the sake of my staff.

Answer 10

I'm still going to go out hun!

I live in Birmingham (UK) and most restaurants do not allow smoking any more. I'm quite happy to sit through a meal without smoking. At least I don't have to worry about making sure it doesn't waft in the face of the non-smoker sitting next to me!

It's a bummer of course, but hey, it's for our own good.

xx Emmie

Answer 11

I gave up smoking three months ago. As sad as it sounds, I just don't see the point in going "down the pub" anymore - I used to enjoy a cappacino or a drink and ciggie at the end of the day with my man - talking about our day etc but now I just feel boring - I might as well be at home. Maybe I will feel better when you can't smoke - not sure.