Smoking Allowed? State By State

Maine, no-smoking except for the private clubs and they have to hold a membership vote on it.

How about letting the folks who take the risk determine what takes place in their establishment? Restaurant, bar or pool room owners should have the final say in this matter. They have the most at stake.
 
Deleted... and posted in it's own thread... didn't want to hijack this one.
 
Last edited:
Wa

Washington State is smoke free. The exception is one bar(dump) that uses a loophole in the law to allow smoking upstairs.By designating there employees as volunteers they have a nice smoke filled bar with dirty pool tables.The law is written to allow this if a business has a separate area on the second floor witch they call an employee break room.
 
lodini said:
It is almost shocking how many threads come up in this forum about smoking. Is this connection between cigarettes and pool possibly one of the reasons pool is looked at so negatively in the outside world? As well, how could one consider an activity to be a "sport" when so many people absolutely MUST have a cigarette in their mouths in order to enjoy themselves doing it? Just some thoughts...
Click to expand...


It's no doubt that smoking laws across the country have been the greatest impact on poolrooms since the Color of Money. So many threads pop up because with every state that enacts their version of the smoking law, there is an immediate and dramatic impact on pool in that state.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
It's no doubt that smoking laws across the country have been the greatest impact on poolrooms since the Color of Money. So many threads pop up because with every state that enacts their version of the smoking law, there is an immediate and dramatic impact on pool in that state.
Click to expand...

The reason is that most people are cows. A statewide smoking ban is instituted, and they automatically think, "ZOMG!! I can't smoke inside?!?! I am NOT going to the pool hall or bar anymore!!!"

Then, they sit at home. By themselves. Then, they start thinking how bored they are, and say to themselves, "Gawd, this sucks. I wanna go out and hang with my old friends at the pool hall again. I guess I can smoke outside."

Then, they go back to the pool hall. They start to notice that the pool hall kinda sucks, and there is nothing to do there but play pool. Because they are not focused on going there just to smoke, they start noticing how bad the waitresses are, how bad the food is, and how watered down the drinks are.

And the funny thing is, the waitresses, food, and drink, were ALWAYS bad, but when the smoking ban was initiated, was the time the smoker noticed. Before, they simply dealt with it, because there are not many places to smoke inside.

So, what really happens is that smoking bans kill BAD pool halls. The upscale pool halls with good food, friendly staff, varied activites, and a fun, upbeat environment do JUST fine.

The only reason a lot of pool halls have been hanging on is because they are one of the last indoor places where smokers could congregate and pollute the air together.

No use complaining about it, room owners. If your state does not have a smoking ban NOW, they will likely have one in the next 15 years. If you expect to survive, stop complaining, and start diversifying your business. Train your staff to be friendly to ALL customers.

Owners, try to remember your customer's names. I have a story on that.

Due to work requirements, I have barely been able to step foot in Wally's Billiards in my home town in the last three years. After having been in Iraq for a 6 month stretch, I come back to town, and decide to shoot some balls for a few hours. I come in the door, and the bartender says "Hey, Russ!", before I even give him my driver's license for a set of balls.

That actually meant something to me. To be remembered after months being away. The reason that means something to me, is I am not the most social person when I go into a pool hall. I am there mostly to practice, since I haven't got to play much in the last 5 years.

Now, on the other side of the coin, I have a little bit of money, so I can afford to have a bit of food and a few sodas while I am there. But, because I have the look of a "serious player" when I am practicing, the waitresses don't ask me if I want anything.

That's been a common theme whenever I've went there. I can't say I am crazy about that, as I get extremely focused on my practice, and will often become dehydrated by playing hours and just not wanting to go track down a waitress. I can "kind of" understand this, however, as this may be owner guidance to not disturb the real players.

More than anything, I think it is my responsibility to tell the wait staff that I don't mind being asked once an hour or so if I want anything. I understand that the young groups of people there to listen to music, drink, and socialize are their main business.

To sum up, there are a lot of bad pool halls out there hanging on in states that still allow smoking. They do little to nothing to market their establishment, and they have ZERO chance of attracting many of the upscale clientele that have money, because of a thick cloud wafting over the tables, cellophane-wrapped microwaveable food, and canned sodas. So, they scrape by on razor thin margins, "hoping things get better".

It's a recipe for failure.

Russ
 
Last edited:
Neil said:
Mi. should have been by now, but it hit a snag. Supposed to happen sometime next year. For the record, I'm against it in privately owned businesses. If you don't like the smoke, go somewhere else, or get a job somewhere else.
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as a "private business" except for work-at-home activities.

Generally, businesses are licensed and controlled in many ways and especially the kinds of businesses pertinent to pool players...i.e. pool halls and saloons.

Those businesses serve food and beverages...often by the glass. Few would want the health regulations and inspections that such businesses are subjected to to be repealed.

Plenty of people get sick EVEN WITH health regulations and oversight.

Banning smoking is NO different that "banning" infectious organisms in the form of cleanliness requirements. Same song, second verse.

Regards,
Jim
 
Tennessee...banned in all governmental facilities. For public businesses those who restrict customers to 21 and up can allow smoking...which only proves what we already know...that politicians are mostly a bunch of self-serving, self-interested practitioners of the world's second oldest profession.

(-:
 
In Hawaii a smoking ban in all public places has been in effect for about 5 years now. You also can't smoke withing 20 feet of any public entrance. So, for those smokers that go outside to smoke, they have to go at least 20 feet from the entry way. This really hasn't affected any business at all. Most bars and other similar places have stated they lost a few smoking customers, but gained non smoking customers so it balanced out or they actually gained. The local pool halls here are still open. The ones that closed down had done so long before the smoking ban and mostly because of criminal activity, fighting, and such.
 
Russ Chewning said:
The reason is that most people are cows. A statewide smoking ban is instituted, and they automatically think, "ZOMG!! I can't smoke inside?!?! I am NOT going to the pool hall or bar anymore!!!"

Then, they sit at home. By themselves. Then, they start thinking how bored they are, and say to themselves, "Gawd, this sucks. I wanna go out and hang with my old friends at the pool hall again. I guess I can smoke outside."

Then, they go back to the pool hall. They start to notice that the pool hall kinda sucks, and there is nothing to do there but play pool. Because they are not focused on going there just to smoke, they start noticing how bad the waitresses are, how bad the food is, and how watered down the drinks are.

And the funny thing is, the waitresses, food, and drink, were ALWAYS bad, but when the smoking ban was initiated, was the time the smoker noticed. Before, they simply dealt with it, because there are not many places to smoke inside.

So, what really happens is that smoking bans kill BAD pool halls. The upscale pool halls with good food, friendly staff, varied activites, and a fun, upbeat environment do JUST fine.

The only reason a lot of pool halls have been hanging on is because they are one of the last indoor places where smokers could congregate and pollute the air together.

No use complaining about it, room owners. If your state does not have a smoking ban NOW, they will likely have one in the next 15 years. If you expect to survive, stop complaining, and start diversifying your business. Train your staff to be friendly to ALL customers.

Owners, try to remember your customer's names. I have a story on that.

Due to work requirements, I have barely been able to step foot in Wally's Billiards in my home town in the last three years. After having been in Iraq for a 6 month stretch, I come back to town, and decide to shoot some balls for a few hours. I come in the door, and the bartender says "Hey, Russ!", before I even give him my driver's license for a set of balls.

That actually meant something to me. To be remembered after months being away. The reason that means something to me, is I am not the most social person when I go into a pool hall. I am there mostly to practice, since I haven't got to play much in the last 5 years.

Now, on the other side of the coin, I have a little bit of money, so I can afford to have a bit of food and a few sodas while I am there. But, because I have the look of a "serious player" when I am practicing, the waitresses don't ask me if I want anything.

That's been a common theme whenever I've went there. I can't say I am crazy about that, as I get extremely focused on my practice, and will often become dehydrated by playing hours and just not wanting to go track down a waitress. I can "kind of" understand this, however, as this may be owner guidance to not disturb the real players.

More than anything, I think it is my responsibility to tell the wait staff that I don't mind being asked once an hour or so if I want anything. I understand that the young groups of people there to listen to music, drink, and socialize are their main business.

To sum up, there are a lot of bad pool halls out there hanging on in states that still allow smoking. They do little to nothing to market their establishment, and they have ZERO chance of attracting many of the upscale clientele that have money, because of a thick cloud wafting over the tables, cellophane-wrapped microwaveable food, and canned sodas. So, they scrape by on razor thin margins, "hoping things get better".

It's a recipe for failure.

Russ
Click to expand...


While I agree with much of what you have to say, I was working at Amsterdam Billiards at the time the ban took effect and I have to say, the drop-off in business was noticeable and frightening and this was an upscale room rated as one of the most beautiful in the country! Yes, business rebounded but now Amsterdam is only one location as opposed to TWO. What's more, there are far less rooms throughout the city.

Bars also saw a HUGE drop in business for a time. Once again, business rebounded for them but a lot of places closed down before that happened.
 
OHIO has a smoking ban in public places.. Unfortunately, many of the bars don't follow the law. It does not seem to be enforced or the fines are not stiff enough to make the owners stop the smoking.

I only enter bars one night each week for leagues, thats enough for me. I cannot stand coming home smelling like an ash tray after a few hours of play in a bar!!
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
While I agree with much of what you have to say, I was working at Amsterdam Billiards at the time the ban took effect and I have to say, the drop-off in business was noticeable and frightening and this was an upscale room rated as one of the most beautiful in the country! Yes, business rebounded but now Amsterdam is only one location as opposed to TWO. What's more, there are far less rooms throughout the city.

Bars also saw a HUGE drop in business for a time. Once again, business rebounded for them but a lot of places closed down before that happened.
Click to expand...

I agree this can happen.

Lesson?

See it coming and build your business so that you appeal to EVERYONE, and set enough in reserve to weather the tough period when it comes.

I just personally take offense to people who say the smoking bans kill businesses. No, they don't. It's bad business management that kills businesses. As pool halls ALL OVER the country have proven, there is no business reason a statewide smoking ban should kill a business outright in a short period.

Russ
 
Russ Chewning said:
I agree this can happen.

Lesson?

See it coming and build your business so that you appeal to EVERYONE, and set enough in reserve to weather the tough period when it comes.

I just personally take offense to people who say the smoking bans kill businesses. No, they don't. It's bad business management that kills businesses. As pool halls ALL OVER the country have proven, there is no business reason a statewide smoking ban should kill a business outright in a short period.

Russ
Click to expand...

If it were only that simple. I mean, in New York City it was easy. New Yorkers don't leave the city unless they have to. I would imagine any poolroom that sat near a smoking/non-smoking border would suffer since the public doesn't have to make that adjustment. All they need to do is take their business elsewhere. What's more, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a modest business plan assuming the monthly nut is taken care of. I'm not going to fault the ex-pool player who chose to open up a room where people could go and not spend an arm and leg to play for the day.
 
California's strict smoking laws were implemented over 10 years ago with some of the strictest laws in the country. Cities are now banning smoking in outdoor public areas, such as beaches and within 20 feet of building entrances. Some are trying to ban smoking in your own apartment.

The trend now is going toward entire "smoke-free" cities, especially in areas prone to fire.

While some of this is entirely overboard, the up-side to these restrictive smoking laws is that more and more people are quitting. Smoking is now at a record low in California.

Chris
 
TATE said:
California's strict smoking laws were implemented over 10 years ago with some of the strictest laws in the country. Cities are now banning smoking in outdoor public areas, such as beaches and within 20 feet of building entrances. Some are trying to ban smoking in your own apartment.

The trend now is going toward entire "smoke-free" cities, especially in areas prone to fire.

While some of this is entirely overboard, the up-side to these restrictive smoking laws is that more and more people are quitting. Smoking is now at a record low in California.

Chris
Click to expand...
Oh, I miss the days when smoking was allowed inside Danny K's and Hard Times.
I bet Efren misses his days of coughing badly from smoking. He quit after The Color of Money match with Earl.
I hope they bring back asbestos filtered cigs too.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Oh, I miss the days when smoking was allowed inside Danny K's and Hard Times.
I bet Efren misses his days of coughing badly from smoking. He quit after The Color of Money match with Earl.
I hope they bring back asbestos filtered cigs too.
Click to expand...

Joey,

You're younger than me, so you probably don't remember the days when most shoppers went about smoking in grocery stores, dangling their ashes over the meat and produce, and stomping their cigarette butts on the floor. It was disgusting. I'll never forget my indignation when someone told me smoking wasn't allowed in a restaurant. It's painfully embarassing for me now to to think back to the days when I believed I had a "right" to smoke anywhere and everywhere.

That cigarette ad was right "You've come a long way, Baby." - it was just not the direction they had hoped for. Thank god that nightmare addiction is over for me. I hope Barak Obama has the fortitude to quit smoking for good too.

Chris
 
*sigh*

Another smoking thread. :o Smoking as of last year was prohibited in over 50% of the USA (by population) in all public buildings/businesses etc. Anyone that believes their state will remain smoke free is living in fantasyland. Insurance for businesses are skyrocketing because of smoking in states that still allow it. My business has just been labeled "high risk" because we allow smoking. We are now 3 times as likely to have a fire according to our insurance company. Guess what it will cost my pool players. About $12,000. Yes, the POOL PLAYERS MUST PAY THIS. Does everyone get this? When expenses, taxes, gov't laws, fines etc get put on a business, the customers pay through higher prices. So, when my insurance renews.... I have to decide whether to go non-smoking; or charge every single person that walks in a cover charge to pay for the extortion...Umm...I mean insurance charges. That was a typo I swear. :) What would YOU do....

We don't have any idea what we are going to do yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top