Questions about Pool Room closings due to smoking bans

[Da Poet]

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

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

Kevin

I live in a city with lots of different types of pool halls and it's a mixed bag on the results of the smoking ban. There is an extra factor here in Chicago that many pool halls are not allowed liquor licenses so it may be different here than other places. A citywide ban went into effect a year ago, but that only affected dedicated pool halls. The statewide ban hear went into effect on Jan 1st. City Pool Hall on Hubbard, which somehow was exempt from the previous ban, has seen an increase in business largely I believe because it is upscale and serves up some pretty decent food. This is very encouraging. I like the fact that it has done well also because it is an owner run place and not a chain. The lower scale places seem to be the ones that have seen the biggest drop off. Unfortunately this includes Chris's, and most of the other more popular places with serious players that proudly qualify as lower scale places. lol


There was a place up in the northern suburbs that closed as soon as the local city council passed the smoking ban. It was a bit of a surprise. No one is really sure the smoking ban was the real reason or not. I doubt there will ever be any definitive statistics on pool halls closing because of the smoking ban and even if there were, pool halls aren't exactly cash cows and wouldn't have the resources to change things anyway. Personal observations are all there will ever be.

 

[DoubleA]

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 widoabsolutely nothing ll . 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.

Actually, if you don't smoke, having a cigarette will make you more jittery due to vasoconstriction and increased heart rate which results in elevated blood pressure.

 

[hang-the-9]

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!!

The non-smoking poolrooms, half have shut down or were in big trouble before any war. Same thing for gas prices, they were high for a while, but many of the rooms closed before gas broke 3 or even 2 dollars. The only reason the economy is bad is because people are seeing the $5 drive to play turn into a $15 drive, and so on with everything. There is also the fear that consumers don't know what the future will be like, which cuts spending. Food prices are going up, but really many items are adjusting to a more true value. Milk already did that a while ago when it shot up by a buck a gallon, that did not change how much people were buying. People also did not drive any less untill a month or so ago. Wal-Mart and Best Buy are doing record business even these days, HD items like TVs, PS3, etc.. are selling strong, that would not happen in a true bad economy or a resesion. Check when pool rooms started to close vs. smoking ban vs. economy you will see 2 of those match up, and it's not the one that starts with e.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Since I do not understand the mentality of smokers,

Ditto.


Here is something to think about a gentleman I know who is a Pool Player, and Smoker for the most part can not still play league, as his lung just don't work from smoking.

I mention one day to him some portable O2 to take with him to the Pool Room when he get short winded. He admitted he uses 02 at home, and buy still his Cigarette from the indian Reservation because they are cheaper. Her smoke a lot, like maybe 2 packs a day.

Like I said he is on O2 for Breathing Problem, but refused to give up the Smokes? Go figure.

 

[hang-the-9]

Ditto.


Here is something to think about a gentleman I know who is a Pool Player, and Smoker for the most part can not still play league, as his lung just don't work from smoking.

I mention one day to him some portable O2 to take with him to the Pool Room when he get short winded. He admitted he uses 02 at home, and buy still his Cigarette from the indian Reservation because they are cheaper. Her smoke a lot, like maybe 2 packs a day.

Like I said he is on O2 for Breathing Problem, but refused to give up the Smokes? Go figure.

Not only that, oxygen is very flamabale. Smoke and oxygen tank not a good mix. In fact, I would avoid visiting this person unless you bring along a fire extinguisher or a bomb suit.

 

[DoubleA]

I live in a city with lots of different types of pool halls and it's a mixed bag on the results of the smoking ban. There is an extra factor here in Chicago that many pool halls are not allowed liquor licenses so it may be different here than other places. A citywide ban went into effect a year ago, but that only affected dedicated pool halls. The statewide ban hear went into effect on Jan 1st. City Pool Hall on Hubbard, which somehow was exempt from the previous ban, has seen an increase in business largely I believe because it is upscale and serves up some pretty decent food. This is very encouraging. I like the fact that it has done well also because it is an owner run place and not a chain. The lower scale places seem to be the ones that have seen the biggest drop off. Unfortunately this includes Chris's, and most of the other more popular places with serious players that proudly qualify as lower scale places. lol


There was a place up in the northern suburbs that closed as soon as the local city council passed the smoking ban. It was a bit of a surprise. No one is really sure the smoking ban was the real reason or not. I doubt there will ever be any definitive statistics on pool halls closing because of the smoking ban and even if there were, pool halls aren't exactly cash cows and wouldn't have the resources to change things anyway. Personal observations are all there will ever be.

If we say that smoking bans cause pool rooms to close, there may be many more smoking bans. I think most politicians would like to see the pool rooms closed.(not their kind of places)

 

[chris_williams]

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

Smoking tends to calm you down.

Nicotine is a stimulant that actually speeds up your heart rate (the opposite of calming you down) The thing that calms you down is the deep breaths when inhaling the cig. Just FYI

 

[DoubleA]

Not only that, oxygen is very flamabale. Smoke and oxygen tank not a good mix. In fact, I would avoid visiting this person unless you bring along a fire extinguisher or a bomb suit.

Good advice, actually O2 itself is not flammable, but makes other materials highly flammable which makes it even more dangerous. If there is an accident, most everything around goes up.

 

[manwon]

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

Kevin it is a myth that Pool Rooms close do to smoking bans, it much more realistic to say they close due to bad Business plans. The main reasons room are closing all over the country is a failure or an inability to change. Smoking bans do not happen over night, and there is always time allowed to make the necessary changes to stay in business.

Let face it, smoking bans alone will never close a pool room only a combination of factors and a lack of changes will close a room.

 

[Russ Chewning]

Good advice, actually O2 itself is not flammable, but makes other materials highly flammable which makes it even more dangerous. If there is an accident, most everything around goes up.

Wow.. You learn something new every day. I did not know this, but was surprised that wikipedia confirmed this.

Russ

 

[ShootingArts]

saw a demonstation when I was a kid

Wow.. You learn something new every day. I did not know this, but was surprised that wikipedia confirmed this.

Russ

Russ,

There was a guy from NASA put on a little demonstration for us when I was in elementary school. He poured a little rocket fuel into a beaker and lit it. Huge flinch from everyone since we were only six or eight feet away. It burned about like alcohol. Then he pulled out a little thermos and dripped a few drops at a time of liquid oxygen into the fire from well above jerking his hand back each time. Then we got the roar and the thunder! A huge crackle of flame too. I suspect they don't let grade schoolers stick their noses into such demonstrations anymore but I never forgot how much fun liquid oxygen was.

Some engineering types started experimenting with who could get charcoal ready to cook on the fastest starting with plain charcoal out of a bag. They got it down to under thirty seconds using LOX.

Hu

 

[Russ Chewning]

Russ,

There was a guy from NASA put on a little demonstration for us when I was in elementary school. He poured a little rocket fuel into a beaker and lit it. Huge flinch from everyone since we were only six or eight feet away. It burned about like alcohol. Then he pulled out a little thermos and dripped a few drops at a time of liquid oxygen into the fire from well above jerking his hand back each time. Then we got the roar and the thunder! A huge crackle of flame too. I suspect they don't let grade schoolers stick their noses into such demonstrations anymore but I never forgot how much fun liquid oxygen was.

Some engineering types started experimenting with who could get charcoal ready to cook on the fastest starting with plain charcoal out of a bag. They got it down to under thirty seconds using LOX.

Hu

Chemistry class was the most fun I ever had in school.

Seeing the teacher cut a sliver of pure sodium under kerosene, then dropping it in a bowl full of water.. Fun stuff!

Talking the girls into superglueing their fingers together, then unsticking them with acetone.

Pouring aluminum shavings into a beaker full of boric acid, then putting the rubber stopper in, "lightly".. And waiting. (That was actually done in Drama class, as an example of how to build a simple pressure bomb.)

Okay. Wistful reminiscing time is over....

Russ

 

[M HOUSE]

Smoking Bans and pool rooms

First, let me say that I'm not a smoker. Never have been. In fact, I can't even understand how the practice ever got started. Who was the first person who thought it would be a good idea to put something in his mouth, then light it on fire?

That being said, I have owned several pool rooms and all were "smoking allowed". They all would have been non-smoking except for one thing, I needed to make a profit to keep them open.

Here in Florida the current laws are such that many pool rooms can meet the requirments to remain "Smoking Allowed" if they wish. However, some rooms can't meet those requirments which allows for some interesting observations.

Here are some samples of what I have seen:

One room which is non-smoking is doing very well. Could be that their great food has something to do with that. In fact, the food is so good they could probaly take the pool tables out and still do very good.

Another room divided right down the middle. One side smoking, the other side non-smoking. Nice gold crowns on both sides. On most days there are very few, if any, players on the non-smoking side while the smoking side is busy. Lack of revenue fom half of the floor space may be one reason this room is up for sale.

A long time room owner had the terrible experience of having to battle cancer. After being able to finally return to his room he decided to make his room non-smoking as he did not want to contribute in any way to any of his custormers having to go through what he had been through. After a few months he had no choice but to return to smoking allowed as he was losing too much business. Given what he had been through one can only imagine how he must have struggled with this decision.


Now, if Florida ever goes to a full ban on smoking it will be interesting to see how things shake out for the pool rooms, but for now it appears that unless you have something very special to offer the customer, "smoking allowed" is the way to go.