The smoking ban is bad for you.
I am aware there are tons of more important things happening in the world, our country, Washington state, Seattle and our lives. This is just one small thing trying to pose as being "good for you". Banning smoking in places it would have ill effects on families and such, I'm all for. But bars? Come on, really? There are tons of non-smoking bar opinions. As a smoker, I'm already forced to stand out in the cold in most settings. And fine, if I choose to continue smoking, that's just how it is.
But as a bartender, they can already fine me ( and send me to jail or take my license away) for stupid things customers do i.e. fake IDs, bringing in outside drinks, driving, hurting others. This is just one more thing I can't control (especially 25 feet from a friggin' doorway) that they will fine me or the bar for.
It works in California. Because A. It's WARM in California. And, B. California does not have a 25 feet from a door smoking ban, in fact they build these nice little outdoor areas with tarps and heat lamps, and it's like being indoors.
Smoking is BAD for you, I get it. But this is over the top. Most reasonable people do not walk into a strip club and get all up in arms about nudity. You go in knowing what to expect. So many people will vote on this smoking ban in bars that DON'T hang out in bars. As, your bartender, please help make my life easier and don't vote for this stupid ban. It's flawed. At least force them to re-write it to not include the super stupid 25 feet rule.
And just know even in the places, like California, that have smoking bans I've lit up and been given an ashtray... they don't really enforce everywhere, cause it's a friggin' bar, you know with booze.
(Originally written by my friend, Rhiannon. I wholeheartedly agree and thought I'd pass it along).
Check out the Stranger thoughts at thestranger.com or http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/245037_no901.html