Smoking ban in Philadelphia approved

[PhillyGirl]

Philly City Council Bans Smoking In Bars, Restaurants
Some Buildings Exempt
POSTED: 2:03 pm EDT May 26, 2005

PHILADELPHIA -- A proposal to ban smoking in bars and restaurants in Philadelphia has been approved by a City Council committee.

Councilman Michael Nutter re-presented the bill he offered previously -- but this time with changes. It passed Thursday afternoon on a vote of 10-to-7.

Nutter had withdrawn the bill in March after it became clear it didn't have enough votes to pass.

Nutter introduced amendments that would exempt sidewalk cafes, offer private clubs a waiver, and give bars an extra two years to become smoke-free.

Bars would be defined as establishments where receipts from food sales are no more than ten percent of the total.

For other businesses, the ban would go into effect in January 2006. For bars, it would be 2008.

[rjs246]

Give me a break. I hate anti-smoking laws. And I don't even smoke. Idiots.

[MURP]

Nutter is a douche.  Hope he chokes to death on smoke.

A guy I used to work with said that where he lived before (somewhere out west) banned smoking in bars.  Every bar just became a "club" with a $1 yearly fee and you could go in and smoke if you wanted to.

[PhillyGirl]

Nutter is a douche.  Hope he chokes to death on smoke.

A guy I used to work with said that where he lived before (somewhere out west) banned smoking in bars.  Every bar just became a "club" with a $1 yearly fee and you could go in and smoke if you wanted to.

LA had the ban implemented when I was living there. It sucked. Bars lost a ton of business.

[Wingspan]

yep, all these places got to do is charge a cover and call it a member fee, and this is all for naught.

there are a lot of places in NY that just ignore this with a "tip jar" for fines.

[RomeyRome]

I've been smoking for around 10 years out here in Cali and smoking is banned out here in the same manner.  I don't mind it, in fact I think it is a good thing.  I think definately there should be no smoking in any restaurant.  I mean, putting some of the people in a "smoking section" in a restaurant that is 20 feet from some family trying to have a nice meal is rediculous to me.  The people who work in restaurants shouldn't have to inhale that crap all day everyday either IMO.

As a smoker you get used to it.  It's simple, you walk outside of a bar or restaurant and have a smoke.  It's actually cool, because then you go outside and meet all the other outcasts.  As a smoker I try to keep my smoke away from children, even if I am outside I try to stay away from families because I don't want to impose my smoking habit on those childrens lungs.

As for bars, it does suck sometimes.  I mean when you are a smoker, you love to have a smoke with your beers but at the same time I don't want to shove my smoke into other peoples faces when they want to have a few drinks without coughing.  Shoot people who aren't "smokers" like to have a cig with their drinks sometimes, but I still think it is no big deal to ask someone to go outside.

[RomeyRome]

Oh and another thing, there are rumors out here in Cali that they are soon going to ban smoking in homes.  I am not saying that new bill will pass, but it could be the next step.  This may be going to far, but for people who have children, I think it should be illegal to raise their children in a smoke filled house.  Then again that is going pretty far so I don't know how that would work for all those people not living with children.

[MURP]

lol, cant wait to see what it will be like with everyone in center city going in and out of packed bars every time they want a cig.  That should be a blast.

[RomeyRome]

LA had the ban implemented when I was living there. It sucked. Bars lost a ton of business.

Those were more short term losses, people got over it/used to it and it is back to normal for the most part nowadays.

[PhillyGirl]

LA had the ban implemented when I was living there. It sucked. Bars lost a ton of business.

Those were more short term losses, people got over it/used to it and it is back to normal for the most part nowadays.

Not being able to smoke in small dive bars killed them. I'm not talking about restaurants...I'm talking about the little dive bars in Hermosa, Redondo and Manhattan Beaches.

[Rome]

The smoking ban in Florida turned out to be a boon for bars & restaurants.  It allowed them to open up sidewalk seating which in a lot of cases meant a huge increase in business.

Florida is not Philly, however, and standing out in the freezing cold for a smoke will most definitely suck for those of you who light up.

[RomeyRome]

I know what you mean, the bars are doing fine now.  Some people still bitch about it, but most people are so used to it they don't think about it.  I've been to countless bars and people don't seem to mind anymore going out, having a smoke and meeting people. 

Now, having to go outside to have a smoke in 30 degree weather is another thing  , but out here it is nice to go outside. 

[PhillyGirl]

I know what you mean, the bars are doing fine now.  Some people still bitch about it, but most people are so used to it they don't think about it.  I've been to countless bars and people don't seem to mind anymore going out, having a smoke and meeting people. 

Now, having to go outside to have a smoke in 30 degree weather is another thing  , but out here it is nice to go outside. 

Sure, if you don't die from the cigarette, you can die from the smog. 

[RomeyRome]

I know what you mean, the bars are doing fine now.  Some people still bitch about it, but most people are so used to it they don't think about it.  I've been to countless bars and people don't seem to mind anymore going out, having a smoke and meeting people. 

Now, having to go outside to have a smoke in 30 degree weather is another thing  , but out here it is nice to go outside. 

Sure, if you don't die from the cigarette, you can die from the smog. 

If you can't beat'it, join it.

[mussa]

not taking place by 2008-so hopefully ill have quit by then