Smoking ban on South Padre

[martyc]

The lady from Dorado's is right. Many of the restaurants would like to go non-smoking, but the pressure from their smoking customers won't let it happen. That's why it needs to be a Town ordinance, like Harlingen.

My wife and I had to quit going to a couple of our favorite restaurants on account of the smoke. Years ago we quit going to our favorite bar because the smoke was so thick we could not even see each other.

[mermaid66]

I'm all over this idea. Smoke really cuts down on the number of places I can go on the island.

[islander]

If you all are really serious about this, you need to get an alderman sponsor. It won't be easy, so prepare for a fight. This issue is controversial everywhere it's been tried, so the aldermen in favor of it will have to have strong wills. I can see both sides of this argument, but the bottom line is I don't want to get lung cancer and I don't want to see my friends get it either.

After the election is likely best to bring this up.

[Jeannie]

I would support an indoor smoking ban. I agree with Islanders strategy. Find an alderman to sponsor after the election.

[BillRich]

Originally Posted by 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.

SPILULU, no disprect intended however; I experienced by-pass surgery in 1994, the life expentancy on by-pass surgery is 10 years I am currently beating the odds. I will not dine at any establishment which allows smoking. I was a smoker 50 years ago at the rate of a pack a day.

A business person has to decide, what is in their best interest and what is in the best interest of employees and customers. You simply need to stiffen your backbone and appreciate many people do not want to inhale second hand smoke. Also, many have health problems which will not allow them to patronize an establishment that puts their health at risk.

Bill Richardson

[Joni]

Spilulu,

For what it is worth, I have had several people, that when invited to go to Dorado's, for a meal and to play trivia, declined because of the smoke. Several of these were winter Texans, staying at La Quinta, who eat at least one meal a day out.

I agree with Rob and others, ask your regulars, set up a place for them on the patio, they should understand./Joni

[Beerman]

When Brenda and I have some time to get out and go to town we frequent our local pub. We know the 5 o-clock crowd and catch up on events and taste the newest beer offerings. But we come home smelling of smoke L On SPI we always chose the bar over a table as we like to meet the locals and guests from outside of Texas. We would love to know that some bars would be smoke free.

However the best Sub Shop in Wichita Falls closed when the city told him to be smoke free or provide a separate area for smokers, which was not physically possible. He and his employees smoked and by God this is America isn’t it?

If I owned a business I would resent 4 entry level pols telling me how to manage my livelihood. How can anyone present a business plan for XYZ knowing that after the next election one elected official can propose a new law and if 2 others go along with it you will have to change your business, lose a parking spot etc?

I think this tread has been an excellent example of how this forum should work. You have locals as well as visitors able to say, yes, voluntarily go smoke free, see what happens, it’s easy to take the No Smoking sign back down.

But leave the BOA out of it, I’m a fat boy, the next thing the government will go is tell be how much fat I can consume, wait they already control trans-fat. I can see the day when a waiter tells me he saw me sneaking a few fries off my wife’s plate and I’m over fat my limit, he can’t bring me that piece of White Chocolate Butter Cake with Caramel and Fudge Sauce!


Tha Beerman

[jollyroger]

Just leave the Coral Reef and Kelly's alone please. Some bars are simply made for drinking and smoking. I think the freedom to smoke in these types of places, where the owners smoke and usually every employee smokes and people that go there, is more valuable than the rights of families and healthy people who don't go there anyway. Owner's have the right to choose. Would Merle Haggard patron a non-smoking establishment?

Place a ban and everyone just continuously walks in and out of the building and stands around the front door smoking, wishing they could smoke inside. Preserve the last frontier-style bar where you go to hang your hat, and drink and smoke.

[Tim]

'Course the other side to that is some of us enjoy the atmosphere and fun in those places, but can't stand the smoke. How is that fair?

[RayDean]

Maybe its fair cause they OWN the joint ! ! If you want one, please make a clone only smoke free and everyone wins instead of some having to lose.

[SouthPadreLive]

Originally Posted by jollyroger

Just leave the Coral Reef and Kelly's alone please. Some bars are simply made for drinking and smoking. I think the freedom to smoke in these types of places, where the owners smoke and usually every employee smokes and people that go there, is more valuable than the rights of families and healthy people who don't go there anyway. Owner's have the right to choose. Would Merle Haggard patron a non-smoking establishment?

Place a ban and everyone just continuously walks in and out of the building and stands around the front door smoking, wishing they could smoke inside. Preserve the last frontier-style bar where you go to hang your hat, and drink and smoke.

you will not see chris to owner of the reef ever light his stogie

[Swells]

Try this one out for size - not to argue but see it another way.

If you have a public place you are subject to certain regulations and laws such as Americans with Disabilities Act. If you don't comply you could get fined, end up in court, or even be shut down.

But if you have a private club for members only, you are not a "public" business. These regulations do not even apply in this case - code enforcement can't even inspect the kitchens.

So there is an expectation that if you have a public place, you follow all the rules. If no-smoking becomes an ordinance, that's how it would work.

Of course, the BOA hasn't even addressed the issue so at this time it is a moot point. But some people feel as though their Libertarian freedoms outweigh the public good, a dangerous concept in my opinion, like not paying any taxes. -sam

[sandyfeet]

This thread makes me think of Boston, where smoking is (apparently) illegal inside all bars, etc.

Crowds of people congregate outside drinking establishments to smoke. It is like running the gauntlet to get in somewhere and the butts are everywhere. Really disgusting.

I don't know what the answer is, but I am mostly against more laws.

[Swells]

New York City and Austin went the same way, Feets. It's a mess no matter how you cut the cheese.

[mermaid66]

The Grapevine Cafe has gone all non-smoking. Congratulations to them.
Let's support them.