Monday, January 4, 2010
NC Smoking Ban Takes Effect - It'll Be a Cold Day, All Right
Posted by Partnership for Prevention at 2:42 PMAnybody else notice that a recent Arctic blast hit the mid-Atlantic region just about the same time that the statewide smoking ban in North Carolina restaurants and bars took effect on Jan. 1? Is it a sign that perhaps another place with an even warmer climate froze over? Given that North Carolina is the country's largest tobacco-producing state, few probably would be surprised.
"Even as recently as a decade ago, this was unthinkable," Ferrel Guillory, a professor and political expert at UNC Chapel Hill, told the Charlotte Observer. The new law imposes a fine of up to $50 for smoking inside bars and restaurants and $200 for business owners who permit smoking.
Some bars and restaurants have expanded their patio options to allow smoking outdoors, while others are getting around the ban by choosing to operate as a private club. But others embraced the change enthusiastically. “We expect a 15 to 20 percent increase in business,” Doug Jones, who owns Fishers Grille in downtown Greensboro, told the Greensboro News-Record. “We’ve had people say they’d bring their families if it weren’t for the smoke.”
Labels: North Carolina, smoking, smoking ban, tobacco
1 Comment:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
As for all of these bars and restaurants that are claiming to love this new law, why didn’t they go non-smoking on their own? The large chains are not going to be negatively affected by this, but several small businesses that have had a majority of smoking customers may likely be forced to close their doors now that their clientele has been made to be outcasts.
It happened with seatbelt and helmet laws, and once smoking is conquered, who knows what right of choice will be taken away next. By the time most of the sheep in this country realize what has happened, it will be too late.
I've started a petition to try and save our freedom of choice at: http://www.gopetition.com/online/33301.html
I’ve caught a lot of flack stating that petitions don’t work. Without any support, I can be assured that it will not. However, at least I can say that I’m trying something and not just rolling over. If you want to be a sheep and follow the herd, that is your choice. If you would like to “try” and make a difference, please take a moment to read the petition. If you agree with it, please sign it. If you don’t, don’t. That’s your choice (for now anyway).