Smoking ban in Houston.

Uh-oh !

Ruthless said:
I also believe the world was created the second I was born and will end when I die.
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Yipes !
How old are you and how are you feeling ?
Doug
( gathering up my stuff for a Yard Sale )
 
Then the point of the law is bad. Waitresses and bartenders can apply at non-smoking establishments that are created by the free-market as the tolerance for smoking in an establishment goes down. Smokers are fast becoming pariahs anyway. The market can correct for itself. Choosing to work in a high-risk environment is an act of free will on the part of the employee. Just shows that we two differ in the role of government in the marketplace.
 
Smorgass Bored said:
Yipes !
How old are you and how are you feeling ?
Doug
( gathering up my stuff for a Yard Sale )
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;)

If the world does go on after I'm gone Doug there will be stacks of un-paid bills for someone to pay, because that's all I'm leaving for them.

But no worries soon...I learned it is safer behind you in the buffet line :)
 
kudos to all of the governments enacting this legislation. Smoking is a proven killer. The lack of smoke would not make me enjoy the game any less.

If I smoked i'd probably feel differently thoughh
 
RedGuru said:
Then the point of the law is bad. Waitresses and bartenders can apply at non-smoking establishments that are created by the free-market as the tolerance for smoking in an establishment goes down. Smokers are fast becoming pariahs anyway. The market can correct for itself. Choosing to work in a high-risk environment is an act of free will on the part of the employee. Just shows that we two differ in the role of government in the marketplace.
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As has been referenced in this thread several times, the smoking community is decreasing more and more as time goes on. Smokers are indeed becoming pariahs. I think this law is an outward expression of the marketplace and our society. A majority of the society here in Houston is behind this legislation. There will always be a differing view to such a hot topic as smoking bans; however, the majority has spoken. This is democracy in action.

I also agree that choosing to work in a high-risk workplace is an act of free will, but that doesn't mean that the employer should be able to wash his/her hands of the responsibility to make the workplace as safe as possible. Unfortunately, large and small businesses alike have shown that legislation is what it takes to make them jump when it comes to workplace safety.

I think we probably agree about the role of gov't in the marketplace. I hate taxes too.:)
 
Ruthless said:
;)

If the world does go on after I'm gone Doug there will be stacks of un-paid bills for someone to pay, because that's all I'm leaving for them.

But no worries soon...I learned it is safer behind you in the buffet line :)
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That's not true... I eat in BOTH DIRECTIONS.
Doug
( don't get between me and the coconut shrimp )
 
I didn't know this was done by referendum. If that is the case, as in the Florida-wide restaurant ban, then I am all for it. I thought this was done by an act of the City Council.
 
RedGuru said:
I didn't know this was done by referendum. If that is the case, as in the Florida-wide restaurant ban, then I am all for it. I thought this was done by an act of the City Council.
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Yes, you are right. It's an action of City Council and Mayor White. At the public meetings, there was a clear majority of citizens that supported their action. Perhaps I wasn't clear on that point. My bad.

There was definitely a minority of anti-ban folks who showed up too. Let me be clear about that. There are two sides to the coin here in Houston, for sure.

The Houston Chronicle has done a few informal studies about the support of this action by City Council. I think the last one was 95% for the ban, 3% against it, but I'm not 100% exact. It was very lopsided though. This is what I was referring to. Sorry if I was unclear.:)

The vote at City Council was 13 - 2. Interestingly, the two dissenters were both Democrats who had taken a stand against the Mayors' plan long ago. They were Michael Berry and Addie Wiseman, I think.
 
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mnorwood said:
This week the Houston city council voted to enact a universal smoking ban in public places.

At first I thought this will be bad for pool halls. However, I think there are some positives. People who detest smoke will be more likely to go to a pool hall. I think this opens up pool halls for younger players whose parents do not want them around smoke.

As for the smokers that play pool I think they will still come out to the pool hall and will still buy drinks.

I would like to hear from room owners in other cities who have a smoking ban.
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I'm not a room owner, but I'll give my opinion nonetheless.
Personally, I live weekdays in NH for work. There is a room in the town I live in 5 minutes away, I drive 25 minutes 2 nights a week to MA to play in a smoke free environment. I sure there are others in MA who drive the opposite way to be in a smoking environment.
The big danger for you (I assume it is your room) is that only Houston went smoke free. If there are rooms in the surrounding communities smokers may choose to drive there. If a whole state goes non-smoking I think it works better, when 1 city or town does, it can create problems.
One thing to consider is what the guy who owns the room I go to did. He opened a Cigar Shop attached to the room with an entrance from the room. Smoke shops are exempt from the law in MA and people can go smoke in his cigar shop without having to go out in the elements.
 
smoking

they put a note on by door here in ga, that i must comply of face a fine 500-100 bucks. but must say my room is a lot more plesant now.:D :D :D :D :D
 
Just about every pool hall worth it's weight will be affected by this ban.

For reference, the following will be affected:

Bogie's Billiards- site of several high profile tournaments over the last few years. Lots of high caliber play on a regular basis. The gem of the north side of Houston.

Cue and Cushion- Of course, they're almost downtown. Lots of 1 pocket players, if I'm told right.

All Fast Eddie's- FM 1960 and Fuqua are both on the Olhausen/Fast Eddie's Texas Tour.

Now that I think about it, the only high profile pool hall around Houston that won't be affected is Legend's in League City (home to the Houston Open). There are some Slick Willie's and Barney's locations around the outer suburbs that won't be affected also, but I don't count them as high profile.
 
catscradle said:
The big danger for you (I assume it is your room) is that only Houston went smoke free. If there are rooms in the surrounding communities smokers may choose to drive there. If a whole state goes non-smoking I think it works better, when 1 city or town does, it can create problems.
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I agree. Everyone needs to be treated the same. If there's a close-by border of smoking-ban/non-smoking-ban, it can cause issues for the folks in the ban area - as the smokers will be more inclined to drive the extra distance out, as opposed to continue to frequent their old places and deal with smoking outside or whatever.

Colorado's ban is state-wide - and I see plenty of folks at the rooms I go to that used to have smoking. I see plenty of these people stepping outside for a fix, too. :D The ban doesn't seem to have hurt business in the places I go to.
 
The city council did the same thing in Philadelphia. I went to Tacony for the first time in 4 years last Saturday and it was great! They had an APA thing going on, but the place was still packed with regulars on the 35+ tables that are there.

When it really turns cold the RO will have to think of something to keep the cold air out when all the smokers step outside to light up. But for once I didn't smell like an ashtray when I left.

Barbara
 
They just passed a smoking ban here in Columbia, MO that will take effect starting Jan. 9th. It will be interesting to see how it affects the pool halls in town as the state capital has some pool halls and is only about a half hour away. I think it would be much better if it were state wide like some others have stated.

I, being a non-smoker, will for sure enjoy my time at the pool hall more now. That being said, I also believe that it is a slippery slope when "Big Brother" starts to restrict our rights "for our own good". I think this one is on the right side of the line but I can see how this could easily lead to things that are on the wrong side of the line.
 
It's not legal to run around and put small doses of mercury in everyones coffee at the local diner and no one seems to have a problem with that being a law.

Let's not forget the 3 unalienable rights put forth by the declaration of independence - Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

The issue here is that one persons "rights" (to smoke) in this case are negatively impacting another persons "rights" (to not be killed by cancer caused by smoke).

Someone mentioned drinking in some form of an analogy but your drinking does not negatively impact ME while being in a bar or restaurant, etc. Yes granted you could then leave the bar and drive durnk and kill 10 people on the way home BUT let us not forget that DUI *IS* also illegal and you will be arrested for it, that being the problem in that analogy.

Your of course, under the same constitution, entitled to your opinion and I'll respect that but won't agree with it but I am quite glad that the overwhelming majority does not when it comes ot enacting these laws.

Invent a cigarette that doesn't effect me and I could care less who goes in a corner and kills themselves.
 
GTeye said:
It's not legal to run around and put small doses of mercury in everyones coffee at the local diner and no one seems to have a problem with that being a law.

Let's not forget the 3 unalienable rights put forth by the declaration of independence - Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

The issue here is that one persons "rights" (to smoke) in this case are negatively impacting another persons "rights" (to not be killed by cancer caused by smoke).

Someone mentioned drinking in some form of an analogy but your drinking does not negatively impact ME while being in a bar or restaurant, etc. Yes granted you could then leave the bar and drive durnk and kill 10 people on the way home BUT let us not forget that DUI *IS* also illegal and you will be arrested for it, that being the problem in that analogy.

Your of course, under the same constitution, entitled to your opinion and I'll respect that but won't agree with it but I am quite glad that the overwhelming majority does not when it comes ot enacting these laws.

Invent a cigarette that doesn't effect me and I could care less who goes in a corner and kills themselves.
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"Now you've gone and done it Ollie." :D This thread is going to go down that smoker's vs. non-smoker's rights road, which has been done to death on this forum before. :rolleyes:
 
Bad Smoke!

The smoking ban should be statewide and it wouldn't hurt inner city room owners as much.

My wife and I worked in a Bingo hall for 9 years. When we tried to get life insurance we were informed that we had high amounts of nicotine in our system:eek: .We fought and finally received non-smoking rate.

The worst smoke is found in pool halls and bingo halls.These both have players lighting up and letting them smolder in the ash tray while playing. This practice is putting unfiltered smoke in the air.

Steve Martin put it best."mind if I smoke" no "mind if I fart".

You have a stogie and I'll have some red beans and beer. :)
 
Cuetique - What's That About Chicago?

cuetique said:
What it does in the short term is cause "feast and famine" zones. The rooms just outside the ban areas get flooded with new customers, and the rooms in the ban zone turn into absolute ghost towns. This is certainly true among the rooms run by my contacts in the Chicago area.
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Could you elaborate on what you know about how the Chicago ban has affected the rooms there - Chris's for example? I hope business isn't down so much that they're having a hard time making ends meet.
 
xidica said:
How long until I have to wear a shark-proof vest into the ocean? Federally mandated to use rounded SAFE-T scissors and plastic knives only? State forced anti-depressant drug therapy? Will they urine test me to make sure I'm taking prozac and throw me in jail if I don't? Will I be unable to get a steak or burger which is cooked rare and a bit bloody?

This has gone to far. The state should not "protect people from themselves". In doing so, we are bypassing one of the most beautiful part's of evolution. Those who are reckless and have a high propensity to die because of that will have less probability of prolonging and continuing their genetic makeup.

Thanks to all you bleeding heart liberals!
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This isn't about protecting people from themselves...it's about protecting people from the noxious gases that come from cigarettes...
________
 
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