A SAMPLING OF YOUR RESPONSES:
Probably not, because more people who don't like to be around smoking can enjoy a peaceful meal.
Tom Hill, Oak Hill
They have no smoking areas now . Why should it hurt the business. I do not smoke so it really does not matter to me any way.
Bruce Todorovich, Oakhill
I say let them smoke after all 90% of the non smoking, complaing, cause finding, selfish me only people, are bar hopping social drinkingbetter with more rights in thier opinion only then the nasty smokers well I'm a non smoker and I am in no way offended by smokers in fact I find them better then those self rightious holier then thou jerks who do not believe in smoking but drinking and driving is what they do best.people like the non-smokers make me want to light up and and say kiss this.
Cindy Jones, Charleston
Here's an issue that needs to be raised: Are more people going to continue dying from second-hand smoke because they are exposed to cigarette smoke ? I fully support the ban and hope it stays in effect.
Jessica James, Dunbar
I think that it will affect the resturants business because more and more people are starting to smoke and if their not going to be allowed to they will stop going out to those places.
Kenneth Neil, Jodie West Virginia
Even as a smoker, I can agree with resturants not allowing smoking. As for bars, I have to question that. I think that people should know, that by going into an enviroment such as a bar, they are going into an enviroment that may not be healthy for them. I believe that resturants will survive a No Smoking ruling, but that bars, if they are orders to do this, will have a hard time making up for the loss of patronage.
C., Ripley
Making any sort of a comment that would defend my stance to ban smoking in public would just seem redundent. Why does it take a detailed explaination to get it though to the people who smoke, that smoking in private or public is just simply bad for your health and the health of the people who have breath your smoke. So really my comment responding to your question can best be summed up in one word. That word is (DUH!)
Kent Roatcap, Cortez, CO
They may in the short term, but I don't think so in the long run. As a smoker, I respect the rights of those who do not smoke. It is not that difficult to refrain from smoking in an area or someone's home where they prefer you do not smoke.To me it is a matter of courteousy and respect for each person's choices. If someone chooses not to smoke that is their business. If they choose to smoke that is their business. Neither side should try to push their preferences on the other side.
Harold Spangler, Charleston
People should be able to eat a meal without having to have a cigarette. Second hand smoke has been proven to be harmful to children.
Larry Kidd, Cross Lanes
I am not a smoker but I do believe that they will lose business just because there are more people that smoke (even if it is a social thing) than people that don't smoke. My opinion is if you can't stand cigarettes the, stay at home and eat at your own house where you don't have to worry about anyone smoking! You know, you are going to second hand smoke from somewhere because you can't control everything as long as it is collecting money for the state. I think we need to worry about the drug problem then we can worry about smoking in public facilities.
Tara, Charleston
Being a smoker, I enjoy a cigarette after a meal. That doesn't mean I want to leave the restaurant. On the other hand, I would leave the restaurant before I lit up a cigarette in the midst of others who don't smoke. At the very least, I would ask those around me, Mind if I smoke?
Angie, Huntington
I can't eat a meal and have a cigarette afterwards unless I leave the premises, (although this is not the fault of the restaurant) because my second hand smoke offends someone. Well, the guy/gal who staggers from the bar and drives on my tax dollar paid for highways offends me. Let's pass a law stating that anyone who consumes any alcohol, whether it's one can of beer or whatever, is under no circumstances allowed behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Rob Johnson, Belle
Because if they can get a cig in then they probably will feel incomfortable because they won't be calm. this will probably be good for the grocery stores because they will have people buying food (maybe not kroger) that was a joke hahaha well thats all peace out.
Elizabeth Ann Crowder, Rrand
Whatever happened to a free marketplace? If a restaurant wants to allow smoking it should post a note that they have a smoking area. If people don't want to be around smoke then they can choose to NOT go to the restaurant or be in the non-smoking area. Let's ban loud music since it's bad for your ears. Let's ban butter and fatty foods since they lead to heart attacks. Let's ban people that have a cold since their sneeze could spread cold germs. Let's ban people that wear christian symbols since that offends those that worship differently. Where does it end?! Quit trying to protect me. If enough people DON'T go to a restaruant that offers smoking, the restaurant can put its own rules against smoking in place.
Michael, St. Albans
I can accept no smoking in restaurants if there is a smoking area close by. ( even outside the restaurant door if necessary ). Tucker County has also put a ban on smoking in bars. This is intolerable. You expect to smoking to be in a bar. I do not feel that I can patronize these businesses under these conditions. There is no smoking allowed within 10 feet of the door of a business. That puts employees out in the street or in the middle of an alley. This has gone too far.
Elressa Baumgardner, Thomas
Ilived in Ridgeley, WV since 1985. Ridgeley is only 2 miles from Cumberland Md,and 10 miles from Lavale Md. I didn't see any lack of customers in th e steak houses, and Chinese Resturants.
William Sheffey Hart, South Charleston
People are too greedy to give up anything of enjoyment to themselves for any reason...health or otherwise; particularly the spending of money on eating/drinking out.I welcome the ban; it will be nice to dine without having to smell cigarette smoke.Even non-smoking areas are not smoke free (in present smoking/non-smoking establishments).This is a rather ridiculous concept!
Jo Grey, Montgomery
I have smoked for 43 years and do not feel others should tell me where I am allowed to smoke especially the ones that do not smoke. Might as well tell the people who rub or chew to quit spitting on the streets, sidewalks and roads since that is nastier than smoking in my opinion.
W G Long, Charleston
I think it's great! Now we can all breathe when we go out to eat and not come home smelling like smoke!
Kim, Charleston
If a border county allows smoking, it might conceivably impact restaurants along the border. If the whole state goes non-smoking, only restaurants along the border would be affected. Regardless, it's not going to kill a person to wait long enough between smokes to eat a meal.
Gene Garlow, Poca
I think it is silly to raise the rate. I live an road along with approx. 75 other people and they won't even put in fire hydrants, so we have to pay more for insurance if we are lucky enough to find a company that will write a policy for a house that 1.5 miles away from the nearest hydrant.
Tom, West Hamlin
Actually, restaurants may have increased business from families. Many people and their children are allergic to tobacco smoke. Restaurants will smell cleaner, be cleaner, and thus, food will be better.
Fred Westfall, Charleston
Kanawa County resturnants have already lost an estimated $5000.00 per year form me. I just eat at home more.
Bill McKinley, Poca
There is an enormous body of evidence that shows that restaurants are NOT hurt by smoking bans. Smokers linger at tables to light up while non-smokers eat and go leaving the eatery able to turn tables over to more customers. Those are the facts.
MH, Parkersburg
I am HAPPY they ban smoking. I will eat out more!! Yippee, no more second hand smoke. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
Jenny, Charleston
I no longer go to resturants that do not allow me to smoke at them. I know that it is not their fault, but they lose because of what the government is doing to them.
Brian Ward, Summersville
This ban will not have a significant effect on business. Take California for an example. Smokers will still want to eat out. They'll learn to light up outside after they eat rather than inside.
Amy B., Point Pleasant
I am allergic to smoke, so I am glad for the band. Some resturants keep the ban in place during the legal proceedings, and it did not affect their business.
Drema Harless, Elkview, WV
I don't think that smoking around food is a good thing. I do think that if a business owner wishes to have a smoking establishment or a proper smoking section, that should be their right as the business owner. People cry about Charleston enacting the user fee as taxation without representation; who elected the health department? Also, this is a regulation, not a law. I do think that in border communities, businesses will loose when people cross state lines, just like buying tobacco products. I know a substantial number of people who do that.
Mark Fulks, Charleston
I have found that throughout my travels, totally non-smoking restaurants tend to do more business that the ones that allow smoking. In Martinsburg for example, the wait at their Outback Steakhouse (which is 100% Non-Smoking) is half the time of the One in Charleston. It helps the staff stop with the Would you like Smoking or Non-Smoking routine and a party of 4 who comes in first come first serve, can be served before another party of four instead of waiting around for smoking preference. Plus, I have noticed that the restaurants that were not affected by the Smoking Circuit Judge in Kanawha County who issued the injunction - they are just as crowded, if not more so, and they seem to get more people in and out faster.
Bill, Sissonville
I don't think local restaurants will suffer a great loss of business, but they may see some changes. Many people are reluctant to go to resturaunts due to the amount of smoke in the air as they're trying to eat. Sometimes when you go to a resturaunt, all of the non-smoking seating is taken up and your have no choice but to sit in the smoking section. With this decision all of the seating will be available. If the smokers feel they cant hold off for just a meal, they can always go outside.
Amber Ferrell, Charleston
When restaurants had smoking/nonsmoking sections, the nonsmoking sections soon became the larger of the two sections. This proves that most people prefer nonsmoking in restaurants.
Donna Hark, Charleston
I have been breathing second hand smoke for years. I will eat out more with the ban.
Tim, St. Albans
I for one will not eat somewhere I cannot enjoy a cigarette after my meal without having to go outside.
R. Ewing, Elkview
This is just another personal choice/freedom being taken away. If I don't want to be around smokers- then I have the choice to move- I'm a Registered Nurse and smoking dangers are true- but alcohol affects the body in much worse ways, it also causes as many or more deaths per year and also domestic violence and abuse- Stop with the anti-smoking and start with the anti -drinking! Being around a drunk is much more dangerous to everyone.
Jo Clendenin, Charleston
I think the restaurants should be able to chose whether to have a smoking restaurant or non- smoking restaurant. And than post it on the door!!
Sandi Elam, Charleston
An already hurting industry will now have food establishments becoming more booze mills just to keep their smoking clientele. There should have been a compromise of some sort instead of going to the extreme of banishment.
Sammy Smoker, Charleston
I believe what will happen is a slow switch of consumers. Smokers will initially buck the court's decision, but after time and pressure from people around them, they will give in and re-attend these places of buisness. In the meantime, more and more professionally Charlestonians will take advantage of the non-smoking ruling and become increasingly active in their dining on the town.
Jon Strickland, MS, LATC, MSPT, Charleston
Once again big brother has overstepped their bounds. It should be up to the restaurant owner and no one else. I for one never smoke when I eat but do smoke. Since the smoking ban I have refused to eat in any establishment that I can't smoke in. I will continue to do so and encourage others to do the same. It is the most unfair and predjudice law found. Next they will be telling us what we can do in our own homes.
Waltt Vest, Charleston
In the long run everybody benefits from non-smoking restaurants, health wise. As a smoker I don't think anybody should be smoking where children and others are breathing and eating. I live in a state where there is no smoking in any public building and no businesses noticed any decrease. The only thing the ban will effect is the toxic environments we had been subjected to.
Matt Thomas, Riverside CA
What about ours rights as a smoker.dont we have any rights.
David Gray, South Charleston
The rights of the people are at risk as the power of the elected officials to represent our thoughts and our wishes are pawned off to anyone that wants it. Only elected officials have the power to pass these type of laws and the Supreme Court should review their decision.
Angie, Middleport
I think that more people will go out and eat. They are many more non smokers eating out than smokers.
Steve Burgess, Charleston, Wv
I will not eat where i can't smoke. Everything could have been taken care of with a few fans to pull smoke away from non smokers area. But that is life. I figure the good ole Kanawha Co Health board will jump on the people who are overweight next and cut them off like a drunk in a bar. Smokers remember election day is comming soon we can get rid of those who raised tax and cut out smoking in public places and remember the co commission controls the health dept!!!!!!!
Larry, Cabin Creek
My husband has been a smoker for years and he never smokes in a restaurant. It's just common courtisy.
Kathy, Seattle
I, personally, think that the smoking ban is a good thing. As a mother of a young child that has a heart condition, I was told not to expose my son to cigerette smoke. By banning smoking in restuarants and other public places, it opens up my choices of where my family can go to eat. I feel that people should be able to hold off on smoking for an hour or so while inside a restuarant, or they can go outside or to their car if they cannot wait
Amanda S., Charleston
I don't believe that they should have the power to enact law. This should be left up to are elected officials. I am not a smoker, but that's my choice if we have rules stating pro choice than how can we ban them.
Nick Facci, New Martinsville
It's absolutely great that they did this! Both my wife & myself are allergic to cigerate smoke & we will now be able to breath freely when we eat out!
, Ripley, WV
Ithink they will lose alot of their business because their is no smoking any way.and they should put nosmokers in no smoking and people who want to smoke should be able to smoke?
Karen, w.v.
I am a smoker, I don't go to restaurants to smoke, I go to eat. I don't think this ruling will have any adverse effect on area restaurants.
Jason, Nitro
No pepole smoke out side at hospitales and stores. I think fore pepole like with helth problems it will be easer to breeth in restorants. I once went to apple bees set in a none smoking section and smoke made it's way to were i was setting, well i never went back. If some one once to get cancer from smokeing let do it at there home and out side! I have a rite to eat out with out beeing asalted by a lit cancer stick stinking up a place and spoiling my apatite!
Mason Harshbarger, Huntington
ANSWER TODAY'S QUESTION OF THE DAY
|
|
|
|
READ COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Would support legislation that would make it child abuse for a pregnant woman to use drugs?
Does a police presence on flights make you feel safer?
Do you think the amber alert system is an effective tool?
Would you vote for the city user fee?
Will you go hunting during gun buck season?
Will you give to your favorite charity this holiday season?
Do you think Jack Whittaker has a bad rap in West Virginia?
Do you think Gov. Joe Manchin would make a good Vice President?
Do you think U.S. troops should stay in Iraq?
Do you think sexual abuse in West Virginia schools has gotten out of hand?
Do you think any Republican candidate can defeat Senator Robert Byrd?
Should charges be filed against any students caught burning couches after the WVU Virginia Tech game this weekend?
Do you think Senator Robert Byrd will win his re-election bid in 2006?
MORE QUESTIONS IN THE QOD ARCHIVE
|
