Questions about Pool Room closings due to smoking bans

[Kevin Lindstrom]

Since I do not understand the mentality of smokers, I have a few questions that maybe some can answer or offer opinions on.

It seems as if every Pool Room that has closed in recent times wants to blame the smoking bans for the reason Pool Room businesses have gone out of business. If this is truely the reason for the falure of the Pool Room my questions are this.

1. Where do all the smoking pool players now play pool? Have they all moved to different states that still allow smoking in the pool room?

2. Have they just given up on the game and totally quit playing pool because now they cannot smoke in the pool room?

3. Have they considered quitting smoking so that they can start to support any new rooms that have or will eventually open once people get accustom to the non smoking bans?

4. Does anyone have any figures on how many bars or nightclubs that have closed due to smoking bans?

5. How many smokers will continue to smoke if the only place they will be allowed to smoke is in their own home?

Thanks for your time and any answers or opinions you may offer.

Kevin

 

[hang-the-9]

Since I do not understand the mentality of smokers, I have a few questions that maybe some can answer or offer opinions on.

It seems as if every Pool Room that has closed in recent times wants to blame the smoking bans for the reason Pool Room businesses have gone out of business. If this is truely the reason for the falure of the Pool Room my questions are this.

1. Where do all the smoking pool players now play pool? Have they all moved to different states that still allow smoking in the pool room?

2. Have they just given up on the game and totally quit playing pool because now they cannot smoke in the pool room?

3. Have they considered quitting smoking so that they can start to support any new rooms that have or will eventually open once people get accustom to the non smoking bans?

4. Does anyone have any figures on how many bars or nightclubs that have closed due to smoking bans?

5. How many smokers will continue to smoke if the only place they will be allowed to smoke is in their own home?

Thanks for your time and any answers or opinions you may offer.

Kevin

I don't own a pool room but have been around a lot. If you think smoking has nothing to do with pool rooms going out of business.. EVERY SINGLE one of the rooms after the smoking ban dropped attendance by 30%+. Places that used to have waiting lists are half-full on weekends. A year later they are shut.

1. The players that are "Players" stay and play, all the casual players go do something else. The problem is that the hard-core players, that play several times a week for hours are a small percentage of all the people that come in. Or used to be. Now we are probably the majority of people that are around pool rooms, at least those without bars.
2. see 1.
3. see 1.
4. bars and night clubs are not as affected because they A. have a liquor license which many of the pool halls that closed did not. B. are a known place to try to get laid. And no amount of smoking ban will get people away from that.
5. I don't smoke so can't answer that. However, from what I have seen smokers do in order to get a cig in, if the only place they can smoke is on a wing of a plane flying at 10,000 feet, they will head out there and puff.

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[lodini]

B. are a known place to try to get laid. And no amount of smoking ban will get people away from that.

I don't know... I am starting to think this smoking ban is going to prevent people from getting laid.

 

[hang-the-9]

I don't know... I am starting to think this smoking ban is going to prevent people from getting laid.

Nah.. the only difference between smoking and drinking is, no matter how much you smoke, the other person never gets prettier.

 

[hang-the-9]

Let me try and answer a few of your questions from a smokers perspective.

Smoking tends to calm you down.

This is not true. What is happening is the addiction to the substances gets you antsy for a cigarette, then when you have one you feel better, relaxed even. It's a circular cycle. If you are not at all a smoker, and you get nervous about something, having a cigarette will do absolutely nothing. The best thing to relax and calm are some meditation tricks or a walk in nice weather.

You smoke, which makes you addicted to it, which makes you feel better when you smoke, so you smoke some more, your body never recovers, and on and on.

 

[lodini]

Nah.. the only difference between smoking and drinking is, no matter how much you smoke, the other person never gets prettier.

That's not the only difference... the smoker sure gets uglier! Wrinkles, nasty teeth, bad breath...

 

[Neil]

...............

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Whoa, I think everyone is jumping to conclusions here. Poolrooms didn't go out of business because pool players that smoke stopped showing up. They started going out of business because SMOKERS stopped showing up. Smokers are always looking for a place to go. Poolrooms were an easy destination, especially for smokers under 21.

 

[Stryfe2010]

The bars around here in NM just added a enclosed outdoor smoking area, and if were at the pool hall we just take a break and go out side to smoke, or if were in the middle of a tournament we just wait till there's a break in between matches. Our problems here are just trying to get the people to show up for a tournament.

 

[Russ Chewning]

That's not the only difference... the smoker sure gets uglier! Wrinkles, nasty teeth, bad breath...

Oh baby, oh....ummmmmmmmm..... uhhhh....

"Gee, I wish I COULD give you a ride home, ma'am, but my dear old mum nears a heart transplant, and I am in the middle of a $20 dollar set that's gonna help pay for it. Every dollar counts, you know.."

Russ

(Cringing in terror from the likely response this is gonna get. )

 

[stuckart]

The Economy is 95% to blame for pool rooms closing down. And the bad Economy is a direct reflect of us being at War for so long.

I only think Smoking bans have anything to do with the closing of bars where there normal patrons can drive a similiar distance to an adjoining city/town and still can smoke. For the State's that did a full ban on the entire State I just think it's bad timing with the economy going back. And smokers and room owners want someone to blame.

Businesses are all doing bad right now. Unfortunately for us, pool players, pool is a luxury and not a necessity. Imagine if we were all strippers? Ok, stop now. jeez!!

 

[Russ Chewning]

Yes, but it calms you down. I never said it would calm down a nonsmoker.

If by "calms you down", you are rferring to the way a heroine dose "calms down" a heroine addict, the I guess you are right.

Though I submit most people would debate your usage of the term "calms you down", as a "calming effect" is one that generally lowers your heart rate, which is the exact opposite of what happens when you smoke a cigarette.

Russ

 

[tpdtom]

I smoked for 37 years and quitting was my greatest accomplishment thus far in my life. Well, at least it was the most difficult thing I've ever done. At the end I smoked 3 packs a day. My car wouldn't start unless I had a cigarette in my mouth. I haven't had a puff now in 7 years, but I still crave smoke often. I think I understand the addiction.

I feel strongly that the only fair way to regulate smoking in a business is to leave it up to the owner. He should post his smoking policies on his entry door. Those that don't agree with them can go elsewhere. Simple huh ?

The smoking police and those idiots who say, "why doesn't he just quit" , are really ignorant, intolerant imbeciles. Now that I've quit, I really don't want to smell smoke either, even though I crave it, but I would choose to patronize a smoking poolroom regardless. I like a poolroom where you can smoke and swear and woof and even drink sometimes after playing, and I can understand someone wanting a smoke with their cocktail. If you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the a**...Tom

 

[Russ Chewning]

The Economy is 95% to blame for pool rooms closing down. And the bad Economy is a direct reflect of us being at War for so long.

You might want to check your economic statistics before making claims like this. Wars statistically in America have improved the economy, and in most cases, DRAMATICALLY. World War II pretty much ended the Great Depression, our country's single worst economic downturn ever.

Now, if you want to say the effects of THIS particular war on oil prices has created a economic slump, I will give that to you, "to a certain extent".

The main reason for the economic downturn is basically the same as what caused the Great Depression:

Uncontrolled investment speculation. People who in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM could afford to buy the houses they were buying were attempting to "flip" houses in a short period for profit.

Massive profits doing this caused more and more people to buy and sell houses for profit, which led to builders building more houses.

Eventually, the correction happened, and wiped out a good percentage of the housing market.

Let's be clear. In comparison to what most other countries in the world pay for gas as a percentage of their income, American gas is WAY underpriced right now. We are just SO USED to cheap gas, we have become a nation of whiners every time our gas goes up 10 cents.

We cry about how bad the economy is when we can't affod two SUVS, two nights a week out at a medium priced restaraunt with the entire family, trips to the movies 4 times a month, and a triple shot machiatto every morning on the way to work.

God, Americans have become totally out of touch with how the rest of the world lives.

Russ

 

[Johnnyt]

Nah.. the only difference between smoking and drinking is, no matter how much you smoke, the other person never gets prettier.

Depends what you smoke. Johnnyt

 

[Johnnyt]

I smoked for 37 years and quitting was my greatest accomplishment thus far in my life. Well, at least it was the most difficult thing I've ever done. At the end I smoked 3 packs a day. My car wouldn't start unless I had a cigarette in my mouth. I haven't had a puff now in 7 years, but I still crave smoke often. I think I understand the addiction.

I feel strongly that the only fair way to regulate smoking in a business is to leave it up to the owner. He should post his smoking policies on his entry door. Those that don't agree with them can go elsewhere. Simple huh ?

The smoking police and those idiots who say, "why doesn't he just quit" , are really ignorant, intolerant imbeciles. Now that I've quit, I really don't want to smell smoke either, even though I crave it, but I would choose to patronize a smoking poolroom regardless. I like a poolroom where you can smoke and swear and woof and even drink sometimes after playing, and I can understand someone wanting a smoke with their cocktail. If you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the a**...Tom

Well said. Johnnyt

 

[Stones]

You might want to check your economic statistics before making claims like this. Wars statistically in America have improved the economy, and in most cases, DRAMATICALLY. World War II pretty much ended the Great Depression, our country's single worst economic downturn ever.

Now, if you want to say the effects of THIS particular war on oil prices has created a economic slump, I will give that to you, "to a certain extent".

The main reason for the economic downturn is basically the same as what caused the Great Depression:

Uncontrolled investment speculation. People who in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM could afford to buy the houses they were buying were attempting to "flip" houses in a short period for profit.

Massive profits doing this caused more and more people to buy and sell houses for profit, which led to builders building more houses.

Eventually, the correction happened, and wiped out a good percentage of the housing market.

Let's be clear. In comparison to what most other countries in the world pay for gas as a percentage of their income, American gas is WAY underpriced right now. We are just SO USED to cheap gas, we have become a nation of whiners every time our gas goes up 10 cents.

We cry about how bad the economy is when we can't affod two SUVS, two nights a week out at a medium priced restaraunt with the entire family, trips to the movies 4 times a month, and a triple shot machiatto every morning on the way to work.

God, Americans have become totally out of touch with how the rest of the world lives.

Russ

Just curious, Russ,

What's the price of gasoline where you are?

Stones

 

[Johnnyt]

I don't know... I am starting to think this smoking ban is going to prevent people from getting laid.

Does this mean I should cut back on my Viagra deliveries from Canada? Johnnyt

 

[Russ Chewning]

Just curious, Russ,

What's the price of gasoline where you are?

Stones

Not sure. I'd imagine it is pretty much in line with other Arab countries, which is to say, much cheaper than in the U.S.. This does not offend me, however, as the cost of gas in relation to local wages is probably greater than in the U.S..

Russ