New Orleans Passes Extensive Smoking Ban

www.nola.com...


It bans smoking in bars, restaurants, casinos, concert venues, amphitheatres, hotel/motel rooms and private clubs - pretty much everything that tourists appreciate about New Orleans. Even drive-thru lanes at fast food places. LoL! Like it's okay to eat some artery-clogging Popeyes but don't light up while you wait.

Now I don't smoke, in fact I hate it. Really hate it. But I do think businesses, particularly bars and restaurants where people go to relax, should be allowed to establish their own rules.

Additionally, what I find so perplexing about this is that so little consideration has been given to one of the main sources of revenue for the city, tourism. International tourists are not going to like this. Advocates insist it won't impact Mardi Gras or the Jazz and Heritage Festival. What? I've never been to either one without coming home reeking of cigarettes, it's just how it is... AND the ban kind of pretends that there aren't other huge health issues impacting city residents like obesity or the chemical corridor that exists between New Orleans and Baton Rouge due to all of the chemical plants.

After looking at the particulars of the ban, it doesn't even seem that enforceable.

So what the heck ATS? Will this hurt New Orleans or have very little impact?

Sounds like Michigan and it works well. Some whine but the rest of us can have a couple of beers after work without having to leave our clothes outside when we go home.

a reply to: mikell

Is it enforceable though? Do they actually even try to enforce it? Because, honestly, I don't see that happening in N.O.

a reply to: kosmicjack

In the UK we have the ban and really its not that bad or as bad as we thought it may be... Bars was the sticking point for many but over here its fine people go outside and have a ciggy then pop back in, It seems a big step before it happen but once it does it becomes normal, I could not imagine someone smoking in a restaurant now or a bar?? Its odd how you become quite accustomed to it, I smoked but now i don't really it was always to much hassle going out in the cold lol, I guess at the end of the day its not good for us or those taking in the fumes so its not a bad thing in my opinion..

a reply to: kosmicjack

But I do think businesses, particularly bars and restaurants where people go to relax, should be allowed to establish their own rules.

God forbid. Now patrons will be told to go outside to smoke. Can't imagine anything more 'unhealthy' than a bunch of drunk people milling around in the parking lot.

I was drunk in a bar, now I'm drunk in public.

originally posted by: kosmicjack
a reply to: mikell

Is it enforceable though? Do they actually even try to enforce it? Because, honestly, I don't see that happening in N.O.

Ohio is the same way. In the beginning you had your non-compliance places, but after quite a few hefty fines and some places getting shut down everyone seemed o get on board with it.

It's a non issue now though. You still have your grumblers here and there, but most bars have smoking patios now and other places designated smoking areas.

Don't you dare smoke!
Unless it's marijuana, that's ok...

This reminds me of when they did this in Manhattan, NYC. It was kind of funny really just how out of touch with "regular" people the rich politicians truly were. Bars still allowed people to smoke in them after a certain hour. Some bars had basements that they opened up as "smoking" areas. So the ban really didn't stop it from happening at all...just like when they tried to raise tobacco prices so high to force people to quit smoking and enforce their ridiculous "quality of life" campaign which only served to create a fantastic black market for cigarette/tobacco dealers. You would see former drug dealers who we called the "smoke smokes" now selling cigs for $5 a pack instead of drugs lol. You could even buy single cigs for $1 each on the Avenue of the Americas from many many people.

Why don't the politicians do something actually worthwhile and go after drunk drivers instead of smokers. Drunk driving is a much, much, much, much bigger problem in New Orleans than somebody freaking smoking in a drive thru. Heck, they even have drive through liquor stores...I mean...seriously? Come on man.

a reply to: kosmicjack

a reply to: kosmicjack

Canada set in most of those same laws at least a decade ago.
Hotels /motels usually have a couple of rooms for smokers, which are also the rooms for people traveling with pets.
No smoking in commercial vehicles either - taxis, buses.
People just go outside to smoke, at a required distance from the building. Usually a few feet.
In the winter we see various employees freezing their butts off smoking outside.

I don't think it affected tourism much, there's a lot of nonsmokers these days.

originally posted by: mikell
Sounds like Michigan and it works well. Some whine but the rest of us can have a couple of beers after work without having to leave our clothes outside when we go home.

You can't really compare the tourist impact using Michigan vs New Orleans.

Not even the same World.

Peace

originally posted by: snowspirit
a reply to: kosmicjack

Canada set in most of those same laws at least a decade ago.
Hotels /motels usually have a couple of rooms for smokers, which are also the rooms for people traveling with pets.
No smoking in commercial vehicles either - taxis, buses.
People just go outside to smoke, at a required distance from the building. Usually a few feet.
In the winter we see various employees freezing their butts off smoking outside.

I don't think it affected tourism much, there's a lot of nonsmokers these days.

It closed a lot of bars and pubs tho. People started staying home where they were free to have a cig with their beer.

That's a huge impact.

Peace

a reply to: intrptr

LoL! Or in the streets of the French Quarter.

I guess I'm just stunned because smokey bars are just part of the New Orleans experience. Right or wrong. They say it's a worker's rights issue too but I think the worker new it was smokey when they applied.

Anyways, I'm on the bubble. I detest smoke/smoking but love the laid back ambiance of N.O. that I grew up with and this risks messing with that.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: kosmicjack

But I do think businesses, particularly bars and restaurants where people go to relax, should be allowed to establish their own rules.

God forbid. Now patrons will be told to go outside to smoke. Can't imagine anything more 'unhealthy' than a bunch of drunk people milling around in the parking lot.

I was drunk in a bar, now I'm drunk in public.

Ha, that's exactly what happened in NYC as well. People were forced to go outside and smoke, now you had tons of drunks on the streets instead of in the bars making mad amounts of noise. And so all the neighbors started b#tching about the noise...you just can't please everyone.

a reply to: jude11

Native casinos got more business too. They were exempt from the smoking rules. Not sure if it stayed that way....
I lived in BC when the ban was set in, and knew mostly non smokers.

I've noticed a lot of people in Alberta and Saskatchewan are still smokers. And they're outside smoking at sub zero temperatures.

In the Slocan Valley area (Nelson), there's very very few cigarette smokers, it's a different sort of smoke at the bus stops and other outside spots.....

originally posted by: kosmicjackLike it's okay to eat some artery-clogging Popeyes but don't light up while you wait.

You can’t compare my decision to eat unhealthy fast food to your decision to suck on cancer sticks. Me eating fast food has no negative affect on your health. Your smoking, however, does have a negative affect on my health. I don’t want to have to walk through your cancer cloud when you exhale it in my vicinity. I understand your right to smoke, but that doesn’t trump my right to not get cancer. BTW I don’t eat fast food either.

originally posted by: snowspirit
a reply to: jude11

Native casinos got more business too. They were exempt from the smoking rules. Not sure if it stayed that way....
I lived in BC when the ban was set in, and knew mostly non smokers.

I've noticed a lot of people in Alberta and Saskatchewan are still smokers. And they're outside smoking at sub zero temperatures.

In the Slocan Valley area (Nelson), there's very very few cigarette smokers, it's a different sort of smoke at the bus stops and other outside spots.....

Hey!

I just moved from Trail a few yrs ago.

Damn! Should have met up for a coffee.

Outside of course...can't have coffee without a cig.

Peace

a reply to: kosmicjack

Boston did this like a decade ago and as a smoker... it's not bad at all. Second hand smoke is just as deadly as being a smoker and I've never smoked around my child, I like having the freedom to go to restaurants etc... without having him exposed. And as for nightlife... it's nice to go to a club/bar and not have smoke hanging around.

a reply to: jude11

I'm in northern Alberta now

Some of the restaurants with outside areas keep them open all year, but it's just too cold. Except this month. For some reason there's always a January warm up, then more cold for a couple of months.

originally posted by: snowspirit
a reply to: jude11

I'm in northern Alberta now

Traveled all over the West. N. Alberta is just a day trip...or 2.

Peace

a reply to: ratcals

And I don't smoke so.... lol!

I guess my take on this has more to do with the character and ambiance of N.O. And smokey music halls and bars are an historical part of that. Maybe that can change, I dunno.