Smoking ban on South Padre

[Spilulu]

I would love to see a town ban on smoking inside all public places, including restaurants, and bars that also serve food. I have heard arguments that this would slow our convention business, but I believe that most US citizens are not only used to the idea, but embrace it. Most, if not all, of Texas' cities already have the ban. I think that as the "eco-friendly tourist destination" as we promote ourselves, we are behind on this important health issue. I would like to hear from some restaurant/bar owners and employees on this subject.
Thanks. Leah Thrash

[SouthPadreLive]

I agree, as a former smoker and husband of a smoker.
There is simply not a good argument to allow smoking indoors any longer.

My wife will smoke till she takes her last breath.
I almost took my last breath, after the quad by-pass I put em down for good.

Nuttin like being on a heart lung machine to change your point of view…

I would support such a ban.

JW

[Swells]

I'd support such a thing for enclosed public facilities ... but not in restaurant patios, open air cabana bars, beaches, etc.

I am also surprised that most venues don't have proper smoking receptacles by the front door. I have heard they are expensive for nice ones but a bucket full of sand works perfect if you keep after it. Last I checked Leah did have one at Dorados and thanks, hon, I hate walking around with ciggy butts in my pocket ... like finding them on the beach.

Here's an interesting note: some Austin bars protested the no-inside-smoking ban and appealed it to the Fifth Federal Circuit, which affirmed that Austin could enforce penalties against businesses that violated the anti-smoking ordinances. Be prepared for some resistance but also allow alternatives such as 100% separated smoking areas with proper ventilation, etc. It works. /sam

[Thomas]

I am for a ban on smoking on all parts of the premises of SPI bars and restaurants-not only for the health of myself and family, but also for the health of restaurant and bar workers. I would be surprised to see it happen any time soon on the island if at all though. I think there is more of a chance of a state wide ban than a SPI only ban.

[matt]

Being in the restaurant business and having worked in restaurants that went all non-smoking, I can tell you they did not lose a dime on the bottom line and some increased a lot. Families started coming in that had not been there before.

There are several places here we just won't go because they are too smokey. Clothes and hair reek when you leave.

[RayDean]

Heres a crazy Idea. Instead of making a law, how about if we simply boycott those places that allow smoking . That way the business owners could exercise their rights and have smoking or not and we, the customers could also decide. I would love to see all the places that dont allow smoking be listed some where. Then the non-smokers would know who wants their business. I don't like smoking but I also hate adding more laws. I don't think it would cause the island to lose much convention business. I just don't see that we need to pass a law to keep people from doing what is otherwise legal. No one makes you , me , or anyone else go into a smoking establishment. In fact I can think of a couple of bars I for sure won't go into because they are very smoky. Also, for the record, I don't much feel sorry for bartenders who work in smoky bars. They should know what the work conditions will be like when they apply for the job. If they don't want to work in a smoky place then just don't work there. Yes, that is indeed a choice I had to make as years ago I quit working in the casino industry in part because they tend to be too smoky.

[Thomas]

Yeah, we as consumers can choose not to spend our dollars in places that allow smoking, but the workers in those places do not have nearly as much of a choice about avoiding those carcinogens. What if you are a single mom and need that job to support yourself and your kids? The states and cities that have banned smoking in bars, restaurants and other public spaces have done so, for the most part, based upon on-the-job health issues.

[Tim]

I don't know if I would jump to that conclusion anymore, Thomas. I'm pretty surprised at all the people who say they would like SPI to be all non-smoking.....residents and visitors.

[RayDean]

If that imaginary single mom works as a bar tender, she knew what to expect as part of the job. I dont think that makes it ok to take away the businesspersons right to chose. I think the single mom straw person is a very poor example that has indeed been used before. Further, mister concerned citizen, if you and your friends lead by example and use a well managed boycott you should be able to put enough economic pressure on the offending business so that they would want to change their policy. In fact if you are really serious you should be able to do so in a few weeks which is just about how long it would take to pass your law. The most likely result would be that all but one or two bars and one or two restaurants would change. Those remaining would have smoking patrons, smoking staff and most likely smoking owners. A very fair compromise. This isn't a place where the so called single mom ( whatsa matter, you only worry about single moms? what about the avg dad who still might need a job?? anyway)who works for say a MFG plant is being forced to work along side of those smoking on the job nor is it a place where their are large number of business offices allowing smoking. It occurs primarily in bars and restaurants and if it is really something that most people want it can be done without infringing on the rights of businessmen or law abiding smokers.
Finally, doesn't it seem at least a little silly to you that your well intended law would make it illegal to smoke at the place where people buy their cigarettes? Cities who have passed these well meaning laws not only make it illegal in bars , restaurants etc. they also make it so that in grocery stores, gas stations and even in cigar stores it becomes illegal to smoke. That seems absurd to me!! You can sell it but no one can light up?? Cigar smokers especially like to try their new purchase and some shops even allow their better customers a chance to try a sample . I suppose you would now argue that someone working for a tobacco shop or any place that sells tobacco products should be shocked to learn that someone might want to use what they just bought. For the record my father died of a smoking related disease. As mentioned in my previous post I quit a job in large part because of smoke...and though not a single mom I too needed the job at the time. I don't smoke, It bothers my allergies. That doesn't mean that I should infringe on smokers rights. It does mean that I won't go where there is heavy smoking and many of my friends won't either. Join us and others by voting with your wallet. Besides, wouldn't you rather the politicians spend their time worrying about sidewalks, the beach, the local economy and NOT spending $5 million dollars without so much as a vote? Do you really want the city spending its tax dollars fighting the nearly endless lawsuits that always come after such a law passes?

[matt]

RayDean, To make this work, we have to agree on a few specific places. Do you have any candidates in mind?

[RayDean]

I have no opinion as to which places to boycott first. Actually, the smokiest place that I eat at somewhat regularly is de Back Yard and most of that smoke comes from their own grill not cigarettes. Matt, you or whomever started this post please make suggestions. As to what bars to leave alone....yes I do have at least one idea...one bar in particular on the north side is so smoky now that it would have to be power washed and then I still dont know if you could make it so the smoke odor was gone.

Again, as to the poor single working parent...their isn't enough good help on this island !! A really really good worker can always find a job...if not let me know and I would be glad to try and help. This is not true of every town but on Padre Island it is difficult to find enough workers who are honest, hard working and show up on time. If you are one or know of one who fits that and want to work in a non-smoking environment I think that can happen.

[Spilulu]

Wow!! I certainly wasn't aiming to start a boycott! I just wanted some opinions on the subject. I own Dorado's Baja Bar & Grill. We allow smoking on our patio and at the bar -- BUT, our bar is inside the restaurant and it makes for a tricky situation. If I had to do it all over again, I would have never allowed smoking inside at all. But now some of my most regular customers are the smokers at the bar. Sigh.....

I, of course, do not want to upset my regular smoking customers, but fear that I am losing non smoking customers by allowing smoking at the bar. It is not an easy decision to make, but I am leaning toward smoking only on the patio. I was simply putting it out there to find out what other restaurant owners and employees' opinions were on doing it Island wide. And, of course, this would not make me the "bad guy" with my regular smokers. Maybe a bit cowardly, I admit.

[RNixon]

Smokers will conform to new rules.

I used to smoke and even then I would normally go outside to smoke at a restaurant, even if they did allow smoking because I was almost always with some non-smokers.

Why don't you poll your regulars that smoke and see if they would be offended by Dorado's only allowing smoking on the patio.

[spibeachwalker]

I would love to have a list of restaurants/bars with no smoking. We are completely unable to go to Louie's during January & February because of the thick smoke. I blame it on the Winter Texans from Canada... they will smoke no matter what.... or so it seems. I've heard that D' Pizza Joint has gone to a smoke free environment, so we'll be able to go there again... had to stop because it was too smoky.

Also, in my opinion, the young people who take jobs as bartenders & servers don't understand or care to know the implications that the second-hand smoke will have on them later in life.

[matt]

I didn't start the thread, but I hear Coral Reef is about the worst bar for smoking on the island. They open the outside doors and it still does not help. They do serve food, too.