The Real Reason to Ban Smoking
We've stumbled upon what we believe to be the real reason that the City is looking to ban smoking in bars, bowling alleys and similar businesses and the main reason that State Rep. Cullerton (a wholly owned Machine politician) is trying to force the issue into State law a year early:
- Bar owners in three south suburbs are hoping for a break from a recent smoking ban they say is killing their business.
- "Our sales to date are down over 30 percent from the same day last year," Booth said.
- It's a no smoking sob story that is repeated by business owners by in Oak Forest and Tinley Park, which enacted similar bans. Community leaders in all three towns have heard the complaints.
If it's happening in the burbs, it's happening in the city. Anyone who pays attention to licensing knows that the number of taverns in the city declined from 7,600 to under 1,300 in the past 100 years, and much of that decline occurring under the current political administration. The reason behind much of it is neighborhood involvement in shutting down problem establishments. That's great - democracy in action, voice of the people, quality of life issues. But we've reached a point where the bars that exist are, for the most part, located in neighborhoods that want them there, the taverns are mostly good neighbors, and the owners jump through an inordinate amount of hoops to keep their licenses problem free.
So how to continue the crusade against bars? Make it harder for them to attract the crowd they cater to by banning other behaviors. People like to smoke in bars, bowling alleys and pool halls? Ban smoking. Ban the sale of smokes. Pretty soon, they'll be banning the arcade games and pool tables too. Then start banning the transfats (bar food) that people like to eat when they're drinking beer. Pretty soon, there won't be a reason to go to bars, especially with the soon to be overpriced beer when bar owners can't sell smokes, food or let you play pool and video games.
We guess a lot of coppers are going to have to go home for the first time in years and see how big the kids have grown. And we'll bet the number of bars drops to under 1,000 by the time the 2011 mayoral election rolls around. And the Olympics.
So how to continue the crusade against bars? Make it harder for them to attract the crowd they cater to by banning other behaviors. People like to smoke in bars, bowling alleys and pool halls? Ban smoking. Ban the sale of smokes. Pretty soon, they'll be banning the arcade games and pool tables too. Then start banning the transfats (bar food) that people like to eat when they're drinking beer. Pretty soon, there won't be a reason to go to bars, especially with the soon to be overpriced beer when bar owners can't sell smokes, food or let you play pool and video games.
We guess a lot of coppers are going to have to go home for the first time in years and see how big the kids have grown. And we'll bet the number of bars drops to under 1,000 by the time the 2011 mayoral election rolls around. And the Olympics.
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
38 Comments:
How about we ban the people that make these continous bans!??!?!?
Don't we have bigger and better things to worry about? Such as the broken down CTA, getting our Chicago Cops up to speed with other departments (equipment, etc), finding ways to generate revenue to help out our neighborhoods in the city, etc.
Government control over peoples' behaviors?....hmmmmm
While you are on the subject of neighborhood bars and an over-legislated public, it brings to mind another yet reason to find a time machine, SOON!
The loss of the neighborhood bars that our parents and grandparents were lucky enough to have has also led to the rise in getting drunk and having to drive your car instead of stumbling your way home to bed. This is causing the over the top DUI laws that will soon have penalties more draconian than if you were a serial killer of nuns and orphans. Let's all admit it: Drunk Driving is a very very bad thing! ...But to have a bunch of lobbyists running around in Springfield with revenge and hate seething in their brains instead of ordinary common sense and looking out for the regular Joe...well then, take me straight to that neighborhood bar in Chicago.
I think they should ban me from hitting on fat ugly women at my local watering hole.
I for one, am not a smoker! But... I do however know and have always respected the fact that if I walk into a drinking establishment, there's a great probability that someone will be smoking, and I'm ok with that. Just one of those places where you can relax, wind-down, and kick back.
Unfortunately, it's working in NY. There's a No Smoking Ban, and it's working.
Trying to stop smoking is like trying to get off heroin... But I say to our City, Leave our smokers alone!
As a Non-Smoker in Chicago, I feel for those who do smoke, and can only say, you can thank our Mayor... so go ahead, and vote for him this coming election.
Smoking stinks it is a foul and disgusting habit. It is the reason I don't go to bars. I can't stand the smell of smoke in my hair and on my clothes. I say ban it completely. Smokers get over yourselves and find something productive to do. How about going to the gym and working some of the fat off your lazy asses. Maybe get involved with your children or wife. Smoking kills you and everything around you. These are facts not fiction!!!!!
And let's just raise property taxes even more to cover the revenue lost from this ban. And no, I'm not a smoker and have never been.
I am a cynical geenie looking into my crystal ball.....in the near future, a casino will open downtown. There will be a whole row of slot machines that are owned by the Dem. Machine. And this casino will allow smoking necause its not a bar or restaraunt, it is zoned for gambling.
What if I start a religion where cigar smoking is the cornerstone? Don't laugh just yet...One of those Rasta religions are allowed to smoke weed...Maybe Martin Luther's long lost 96th thesis will mandate that daily cigar smoking is required as a fundamental religions offering....
Speaking of DUI's (sort of), anyone see the article recently about a Japanese auto manufacturer (Toyota, I think) that is developing technology that will make it more difficult for drivers to drive drunk: the car will have a steering wheel with sensors that will allow the car's on-board computer to detect and measure BAC in the sweat/moisture from the driver's hands. If the BAC is too high, the car will not start. Suposedly, the technology is being developed for the Japan market only (too many drunk driving incidents)...
Those smokers are just nicotine junkies! See them all huddled outside smoking in the alleys, outside mall doors. Just slap a patch on them. The city should raise their insurance rates and cut back on healthy people's cost.
Wharever happened to freedom of choice? I've been patronizing a suburban bar for years for various reasons.(1)The people there are all in my age group (2)
the majority are from Chicago neighborhoods who got smart and left.(3)No off duty coppers drunk or otherwise.(4) You can "SMOKE".When the neighboring towns went smoke free my place did'nt and his business has doubled.Myself and the other regulars are'nt to happy with the increase of volume ( except for more females coming in) but my saloon owner is ecstatic since his business has doubled.Same thing will happen in Chicago.I purposely do not go anywhere to eat and drink that does'nt allow smoking,it's my "CHOICE"! This is (was) a land of freedom and choices,now the smoking nazi's are trying to control those freedoms.I don't go into nonsmoking establishments and demand an ashtray,so stay the FUCK out of my smokers bar and go to your own.
Im counting my lucky stars. Im thankful that we have he our elected officials to look out for us.
We as a society are a bunch of lemmings that allow this to happen.
Hey all you futuristic therorists whats next? Ban....our rights to free speech? Lawfully gather to discuss? Where does it end? Does it end?
There should be smoking only bars and if you enter, enter at your oun risk of second hand smoke, lung cancer, carbon monixide, and heart problems. Make it state law to breath clean air as other states have done. Let's go back to the spit-tune days! Might not have teeth but the air will be clean lol!
I DO NOT SMOKE NOR DO I GO TO BARS WHERE THEY SMOKE. CIGARETTS ARE CALLED CANCER STICKS. SO IF YOU SMOKE YOU WILL EVENTUALLY DIE. STOP SMOKING JOIN A HEALTH CLUB AND ABOVEW ALL GET A LIFE.
"So if you smoke you will eventually die." - 4:05:19 PM aka "The Pious Proselytizer"
How fucking profound, genius. Does your statement also apply to non-smokers or are they immortal?
See ya at the next MENSA meeting.
P.S.: Please stop "shouting" with all your upper case CAPS.
Anonymous said...
Smoking stinks it is a foul and disgusting habit. It is the reason I don't go to bars. I can't stand the smell of smoke in my hair and on my clothes. I say ban it completely. Smokers get over yourselves and find something productive to do. How about going to the gym and working some of the fat off your lazy asses. Maybe get involved with your children or wife. Smoking kills you and everything around you. These are facts not fiction!!!!!
1/19/2007 08:48:57 AM
Alcohol stinks, is foul and disgusting. Thats why I dont go to bars. They should ban alcohol again. Then I can go to your bar for a cola. Why dont YOU find something more productive to do with your time? Alcohol kills, so when you are dead, Ill have a smoke with your wife and my new stepkids.
Stop telling me what I can and can't do... I’m a social smoker… I just got back from NY and it sucks there. The people at the bars are all gay… I spoke with some old friends and they do not even party anymore. NY sucks to party in… There are only a couple of places in America that you could have a good time… NY is not the place… I guess that’s what happens when you let Democrats start passing gay laws… good thing is that I’m a cop…so who’s going to say anything to me when I light up in a bar. Nobody…
SO IF YOU SMOKE YOU WILL EVENTUALLY DIE. STOP SMOKING JOIN A HEALTH CLUB AND ABOVEW ALL GET A LIFE.
"Damn" if I don't smoke eventually
I won,t die! Sounds good I'll
just plan on collecting my pension
for 200/300 years and when I'm ready to die I'll lite up a cigarette and drop dead on the spot!
If you don’t want to smoke don’t go to the bars… go to another bar that non-smoken… Chicago isn’t NY… we don’t take shit from anybody… I can’t wait to see someone tell me to put out my cig… talk to my SIG SAUER you will have to do….. Peace and civil war in America is coming…
Stop smoking, stop eating, and stop the war. YOU ALL are a bunch of pussies. The hell with that. I will never stop smoken; I will never stop eating…. And I loved IRAQ… going back there this summer, can’t wait.
There is an important choice coming to the Chicago City Council that will affect your rights and the survival of restaurants and bars.
OPPOSE the radical total ban ordinance to outlaw smoking even in separate smoking rooms of bars and outside in beer gardens!
SUPPORT the compromise smoking ban ordinance that bans smoking in most areas but allows some separate smoking areas in bars and restaurants! (the Coleman-Natarus ordinance)
Sixteen states, including California, Massachusetts and New York, have passed similar statewide measures, Cullerton said.
The ban would require that all indoor public places, including places of employment, be smoke free. The only exceptions would be private residences used as businesses that are not open to customers, retail tobacco stores in operation before the bill is passed, private nursing-home rooms and some hotel rooms.
If approved, the legislation would take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, and would supersede the recently passed Chicago ordinance that gives city bars until July 2008 to implement a ban, Cullerton said.
The Chicago ordinance provides an exception for taverns that install ventilation systems; there is o such provision in Cullerton's statewide proposal.
Anti-smoking advocates joined Cullerton and other legislators supporting the bill, including Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont).
"This will level the playing field so, if one town adopts a smoke-free ordinance, they're not disadvantaged by the town next to them that doesn't have it," she said. "That argument will be gone."
But the head of a group that lobbies for bars and taverns said anti-smoking groups deliberately created the need to "level the playing field" when they won the right to let local governments ban smoking.
"They push ... for municipalities to ban smoking, then push the issue that it's not fair to the guy next door," said Steve Riedl, executive director of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association. "Two wrongs don't make a right."
A statewide ban would give little help to businesses foundering under local bans, he said. It would result in a 32 percent loss of revenue, based on the experiences of bars, fraternal organizations and bowling alleys where bans are in place, he said.
"The death is delayed," he said. "They will keep the doors open just a couple more months."
Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said he understands the public health issue created by smoking, but private property owners should be able to decide whether they will allow smoking or not.
"I will not support a bill that would abolish private property owner's rights," Brady said. "Every Illinoisan has a right to not step into these places if they don't want to. Frankly, the free market will solve this."
THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO STAND UP AND TELL THIS PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN’T TELL US WHAT TO DO… I WILL HURT ANYBODY THAT TELLS ME I CAN’T SMOKE…
Bar owners in Oak Forest, Tinley Park and Orland Park complained this week that their business sank as much as 50 percent because the towns banned smoking in public places effective Jan. 2
This is why we should not ban smoking...
smoking for life...
Tobacco Lounge Blows Smoke in The Face of Chicago's New Ban... You go tobacco... ha ha to all that are for the ban... it will never happen in Chicago... plus the cops will not enforce it anyway...
Steve Riedl, executive director of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, said in a letter that he wrote to the Chicago Sun-Times that "smoking bans have a severe negative economic impact on hospitality venues that serve beverage alcohol for consumption on premise. Liquor-pouring establishments are more than twice as likely to experience revenue declines than non-liquor-pouring establishments (smoking laws and their differential effects on restaurants, bars and taverns), sales tax revenue from liquor-pouring establishments grew 15 percent less than the rest of the economy after the enactment of smoking bans (according to the California Board of Equalization), more than 1,000 bars and restaurants that serve beverage alcohol closed in the first year of California's smoking ban (according to the American Beverage Institute), and sales of wine and spirits in the New York metropolitan area declined 40 percent in the first six months their smoking ban was in effect, eliminating almost 7,000 retail hospitality positions (according to the Empire Restaurant and Tavern Association study)."
The Chicago City Council ordinance banning smoking in practically all public places in our city went into effect on January 16, 2006. After that date, smoking would still be allowed in freestanding bars and taverns, and within 15 feet of any restaurant bar, until July 1, 2008. Of Chicago's 47 aldermen, the only one who voted against the ordinance was Ald. Brian Doherty of the 41st ward. (Doherty has said the businesses in his ward will suffer because the patrons will go to the suburban bars and taverns that adjoin the 41st ward.) The Chicago Council last year also banned racing pigeons from the city of Chicago (the only large city in America to have done so), and is taking up again the idea of banning pit bulls.
What is going on in this Country... we are banning everthing... this country sucks...
i'm a pro-smoker... ha ha to all u who want to ban smoking...NEVER...
What's the difference between a Democrat and a catfish?
One is an ugly, scum sucking bottom-feeder and the other is a fish.
>>>I think they should ban me from hitting on fat ugly women at my local watering hole.<<<<
You're in luck.
They just passed an ordinance today, so hopefully you'll go home with a smoking hot woman instead of the snaggletooth. But just make sure you first pick up the required Permit first @ the Clerk's Office. The "I'm gonna get laid by a hot woman" Permit. LOL
The pub is a traditional place where people interact. Politics, religion, money and baseball all get discussed. When the local bars are closed by the city, the meeting place of people is closed and dialogue slowed or stopped. This administration has hammered the neighborhood place and promoted everyone going downtown to pay to park and losing cohesiveness with thy neighbors.
New study out:
The #1 cause of death in the United States today ---- L I F E!!!
Eat right and exercise -- but die anyway.
Might as well enjoy things.
I never understood why the rush to get rid of all the neighborhood taverns. You would think the city would prefer that there is a bar close enough to your house that you could walk to than having to drive for miles. Less taverns mean more drunk drivers and more DUIs. Why don't these Democrats ever think about the children.
There are too many people anyway. The grocery store lines are long. You have to wait to get gas. The traffic sucks. More people need to start smoking . Too many old people walking around not knowing who the hell they are. We are all going to die so you might as well smoke up.
to the clown who says that he feels bad for the smokers...did you force them to take up the habit ? were they predisposed to be smokers ? or did they just want to be cool and now find themselves addicted to nicotine ? do you feel bad for the crackhead because cocaine is so addictive ? you are a liberal schmuck and hope that you are not carrying a star and gun protecting my family while i'm at work and joe, juan, stanley, or any other dope fiend burglar is breaking into my house while my family is home. go FUCK yourself.
Pretty funny in the State of Illinois you can chop up a baby live traveling the birth canal while the mother is in the delivering process, call it an abortion,under Roe vs Wade. (yes we have a few hospitals in Illinois that do practice it). But the governor is concerned that I'm going to kill myself with tobacco and banned it for my own safety and my childrens' safety. Now that's fucked up.
The sad thing is there is a legion of young, dumb coppers who will leap out of roll call and hit the streets running to write up these fucking smoking offender tickets.
I'm just glad I'm old and am going to die fairly soon. I couldnt imagin having to live in this fucked up city for another 50 years.
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