Where there's smoke, there might not be soon

The city is anxiously awaiting (or maybe dreading) May 7th, when Austin will be allowed to vote on the fate of cigarettes in public places. Some people are rejoicing. Some are really, really pissed off.

Some bar and restaurant owners fear losing clients if the ban on cigarettes passes. A group called Keep Austin Free has formed against the ban. They even have T-shirts that read "No smoking? It’s a bar, stupid."

The major opponents they are facing are the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. So far, they have not responded with T-shirts saying "Cigarettes kill people, stupid." But if those yellow wristband thingys are any indication, the shirts would probably sell like hotcakes.

Let the Austinist take this opportunity to say that some non-smokers support Keep Austin Free, some smokers wouldn’t mind if cigarettes were banned, not all bar and restaurant owners are a part of Keep Austin Free (in fact, some of them want the smoking ban to pass), and we’re happy as long as there’s not fingers in our food or drinks.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Rodosta in News on March 30, 2005 10:51 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

allowed

http://www.litefire.com/wwwboard/messages/31475.html dimlyfingeringwelcomed

trish

I plan on voting for the ban, but if the same damn thing that happened last time happens again, I will be severely upset. Why bother putting an issue to a vote if money-hungry business owners can just get the laws changed in their favor at the end of the day? Is the vote just a formality?

designor

new yorker here–the smoking ban is one of the best things to happen to new york lately...a lot of people initially threw a fit but after a few months nearly everyone appreciates it...it's the right way to go, I never come home smelling like cigarette smoke and even my friends who smoke appreciate the cleaner air indoors. when I travel elsewhere in the US I can't go out anymore because it is so smoky.

THIS IS A GREAT THING. i hope austin embraces it.

Willo O'Brien

Right now I can hardly think of moving anywhere else than SF because of how disgusting the bars are where this ban hasn't been enforced yet. You can't be around the smoke for 15 minutes w/o it seeping into your hair & clothes. EEWW! I'm all for the ban - If anything it'll make me look forward to SXSW even more!

RitterBetty

Hmmm, this all sounds so familiar... I just moved here from NYC and went through this whole deal there. Yeah, everyone was up in arms before the decision, business owners said business would go down and so on. Once the ban went into effect (no cigs- anywhere.) businesses took a hit- briefly. Everyone came back very quickly and all of the smokers that I know said that they actually preferred going out and not smelling like an old dirty ashtray- and it helped them cut down. When I got the feeling for a smoke while inside it was really a drag, but I wouldn't want to give up my seat and the next day I could breath easier. It works out in the end...besides, don't we have a lot of outdoor seating here?