Comments on: Get your butt out around St. Louis, and keep the butts out http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/ St. Louis Women's Web Magazine Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:39:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: MotherOfBun http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3508 MotherOfBun Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:01:06 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3508 I get migraines from the cigarette smoke. And there weren't alot of places I could really go to hangout before. (It sucks staying home because of the cigarette smoke.) So I was really happy to hear of the non-smoking places. Hubby and I go out MORE now that there are nonsmoking choices. And we stay out later. Which means we'll have an extra drink here or there. (Which also means more money spent at whichever establishement we're at.) Another fun place is a bar called Amsterdam (in the city.) Fun neighborhood bar that's smoke-free. I don't mind if a few places stick with letting patrons smoke. I just don't go to those places. Thanks for the list of smoke-free establishments. I get migraines from the cigarette smoke. And there weren’t alot of places I could really go to hangout before. (It sucks staying home because of the cigarette smoke.) So I was really happy to hear of the non-smoking places. Hubby and I go out MORE now that there are nonsmoking choices. And we stay out later. Which means we’ll have an extra drink here or there. (Which also means more money spent at whichever establishement we’re at.)

Another fun place is a bar called Amsterdam (in the city.) Fun neighborhood bar that’s smoke-free. I don’t mind if a few places stick with letting patrons smoke. I just don’t go to those places. Thanks for the list of smoke-free establishments.

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]]> By: Annie http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3308 Annie Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:42:42 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3308 I'm not a smoker. In fact, I may be the only person who has graduated high schoo that I know that has never even taken a drag off a cigarette. I hate cigarettes and their smoke. I despise when a smoker feels his or her right to smoke is more important than my right to fresh air. I understand the argument of not wanting the government to tell private businesses what to do. However, I also see this as a public health issue that shouldn't be ignored. Major cities around the country have already passed smoking bans (that allow outdoor smoking, but forbid indoor smoking or smoking within x feet of a doorway). I can't tell you how many of my friends who live in different areas of the country are FLOORED that you can smoke inside here. If a person wants to smoke, that's his or her issue. Just please don't do it near people who are actively not smoking. I like to sing to calm my nerves sometimes, but I don't assume everyone around me wants to hear it! I’m not a smoker. In fact, I may be the only person who has graduated high schoo that I know that has never even taken a drag off a cigarette. I hate cigarettes and their smoke. I despise when a smoker feels his or her right to smoke is more important than my right to fresh air. I understand the argument of not wanting the government to tell private businesses what to do. However, I also see this as a public health issue that shouldn’t be ignored. Major cities around the country have already passed smoking bans (that allow outdoor smoking, but forbid indoor smoking or smoking within x feet of a doorway). I can’t tell you how many of my friends who live in different areas of the country are FLOORED that you can smoke inside here.

If a person wants to smoke, that’s his or her issue. Just please don’t do it near people who are actively not smoking. I like to sing to calm my nerves sometimes, but I don’t assume everyone around me wants to hear it!

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]]> By: Lisbeth Tanz http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3307 Lisbeth Tanz Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:37:05 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3307 As a former pregnant person (okay, it WAS 25 years ago) and an ongoing asthma sufferer, I'm all for a 100% smoking ban. Honestly, I love going out and coming home smelling clean and fresh, not like I've just rolled in an ashtray. Plus, after partying in a smoke-filled bar, I spend the next couple of days continuing to smell smoke and coughing the noxious stuff out of my poor lungs. I continue to seek establishments that have voluntarily elected to be non-smoking, simply because I feel better afterwards. That doesn't mean I won't go to the others (at least, not yet), but I'm headed that way. I elected not to smoke for a variety of reasons and enjoy being in places that don't put my health at risk. While less government, not more, would be nice, I'd still like to see St. Louis be on the forefront of this issue, not simply following suit. Great article, Melody! Mazel tov on your pregnancy! As a former pregnant person (okay, it WAS 25 years ago) and an ongoing asthma sufferer, I’m all for a 100% smoking ban. Honestly, I love going out and coming home smelling clean and fresh, not like I’ve just rolled in an ashtray. Plus, after partying in a smoke-filled bar, I spend the next couple of days continuing to smell smoke and coughing the noxious stuff out of my poor lungs. I continue to seek establishments that have voluntarily elected to be non-smoking, simply because I feel better afterwards. That doesn’t mean I won’t go to the others (at least, not yet), but I’m headed that way. I elected not to smoke for a variety of reasons and enjoy being in places that don’t put my health at risk. While less government, not more, would be nice, I’d still like to see St. Louis be on the forefront of this issue, not simply following suit.

Great article, Melody! Mazel tov on your pregnancy!

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]]> By: Kit Kellison http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3306 Kit Kellison Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:30:10 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3306 Thanks Mel, for this balanced entry. Because the fear of a loss of business is creating a huge resistance from bar owners to resist a smoking ban, let me assure all of them that business at Off Broadway has more than doubled since we became a non-smoking venue. I'm not going to tell anyone that our being non-smoking is solely responsible for this uptick, but it certainly hasn't hurt us. Although I sincerely miss some of the old gang whom we see less of since we went non-smoking, I hope they understand the need to protect the health of ourselves, our employees and people who have made the choice not to smoke, or have even quit a solid habit (not to mention our friends who are carrying around delicate new little lives). Although I sincerely respect each person's prerogative to ingest anything they see fit, (provided a fetus isn't in the equation), it's impossible, sometimes, not to ingest second-hand smoke. Since going smoke-free, even smokers have expressed gratitude in not being forced to be immersed in a sea of indoor pollution. I can't count how many band-members, including some who smoke, who have thanked us for being smoke-free. Stinging eyes and stinky clothes aside, when it's hard to breathe, it can be hard to sing. From a business perspective, it would be stupid for us to even want a ban on smoking here; in a city where 78% of the public does not smoke, we benefit from being one of the few non-smoking choices. The non-smoking share of the market is a much bigger piece of the pie. Aside from that, as a people capable of self-determination, I believe the choice to remain a smoking establishment should rest on the shoulders each individual owner. This is one case where the market really will, eventually, determine what is right for the public at large. Thanks again for your considered commentary and best of luck to you and the sprouting minor Meiners! Sincerely, Kit Kellison President Kellison Pohlman LLC dba Off Broadway Thanks Mel, for this balanced entry.

Because the fear of a loss of business is creating a huge resistance from bar owners to resist a smoking ban, let me assure all of them that business at Off Broadway has more than doubled since we became a non-smoking venue. I’m not going to tell anyone that our being non-smoking is solely responsible for this uptick, but it certainly hasn’t hurt us.

Although I sincerely miss some of the old gang whom we see less of since we went non-smoking, I hope they understand the need to protect the health of ourselves, our employees and people who have made the choice not to smoke, or have even quit a solid habit (not to mention our friends who are carrying around delicate new little lives). Although I sincerely respect each person’s prerogative to ingest anything they see fit, (provided a fetus isn’t in the equation), it’s impossible, sometimes, not to ingest second-hand smoke. Since going smoke-free, even smokers have expressed gratitude in not being forced to be immersed in a sea of indoor pollution. I can’t count how many band-members, including some who smoke, who have thanked us for being smoke-free. Stinging eyes and stinky clothes aside, when it’s hard to breathe, it can be hard to sing.

From a business perspective, it would be stupid for us to even want a ban on smoking here; in a city where 78% of the public does not smoke, we benefit from being one of the few non-smoking choices. The non-smoking share of the market is a much bigger piece of the pie. Aside from that, as a people capable of self-determination, I believe the choice to remain a smoking establishment should rest on the shoulders each individual owner. This is one case where the market really will, eventually, determine what is right for the public at large.

Thanks again for your considered commentary and best of luck to you and the sprouting minor Meiners!

Sincerely,
Kit Kellison
President Kellison Pohlman LLC
dba Off Broadway

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]]> By: Holly http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3305 Holly Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:18:19 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3305 This is a tough one. I am an ex-smoker, but I hope a tolerant one. I don't like cigarette smoke. Even when I was a smoker I hated being drenched in it. I guess I'm okay with smoking bans inside - it's certainly my preference. Where I do think it gets a little ridiculous is when it starts being a problem outside too. I think smoking bans that include whole campuses take it a little too far - even at a hospital. I can't imagine the stress of a terminally ill child or parent. If he/she wants go outside and have a smoke to calm the nerves, I say fine. Confine the smokers to a certain area away from entrances and exits, sure. People on oxygen tanks shouldn' t have to navigate plumes of smoke. But for cripes sake, give people a break. They're smokers, not serial killers. This is a tough one. I am an ex-smoker, but I hope a tolerant one. I don’t like cigarette smoke. Even when I was a smoker I hated being drenched in it. I guess I’m okay with smoking bans inside – it’s certainly my preference. Where I do think it gets a little ridiculous is when it starts being a problem outside too. I think smoking bans that include whole campuses take it a little too far – even at a hospital. I can’t imagine the stress of a terminally ill child or parent. If he/she wants go outside and have a smoke to calm the nerves, I say fine. Confine the smokers to a certain area away from entrances and exits, sure. People on oxygen tanks shouldn’ t have to navigate plumes of smoke. But for cripes sake, give people a break. They’re smokers, not serial killers.

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]]> By: Rex Dixon http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3302 Rex Dixon Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:49:39 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3302 Why compromise? Now that I have not smoked since January of 2009, and I have quit before, I would rather just not be annoyed by it. I'm so glad that here in NYC - smoking outside is the only place you can smoke. Bars are FUN again! Restaurants are FUN again! There are no worries about going out, as if it's at a venue inside - it's NON-SMOKING and no one questions it! St. Louis needs to quit being last when it comes to this smoking stuff. Why compromise? Now that I have not smoked since January of 2009, and I have quit before, I would rather just not be annoyed by it. I’m so glad that here in NYC – smoking outside is the only place you can smoke. Bars are FUN again! Restaurants are FUN again! There are no worries about going out, as if it’s at a venue inside – it’s NON-SMOKING and no one questions it! St. Louis needs to quit being last when it comes to this smoking stuff.

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]]> By: Abby http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/2009/10/13/get-your-butt-out-around-st-louis-and-keep-the-butts-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3301 Abby Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:38:20 +0000 http://girlsguidetothegalaxy.com/?p=2601#comment-3301 Just like you, Melody, I used to be an avid smoker. For 10 years (that's right from about age 14-24) I enjoyed a Marlboro light following a Jager bomb and Budweiser. The mere thought kind of makes me vomiit a little in my mouth, but that was life in my early 20's :) And just like you, being in a smoky joint makes me ill. I think that we ex-smokers are the worst complainers about smoky establishments! . It's so much nicer to come home and not have to strip down at the front door or have that nasty smoky bar smell waft up in the shower mist the next day. When I have out-of-town friends visit, they are astounded that Missourians are still allowed to smoke in bars and restaurants...it's almost as if we're a freak show state. Although I do believe in less government control of business/commerce, I am 100% for a smoking ban in Missouri. It's just gross and, I think we can all agree, unhealthy for all humans and unborn fetuses. Just like you, Melody, I used to be an avid smoker. For 10 years (that’s right from about age 14-24) I enjoyed a Marlboro light following a Jager bomb and Budweiser. The mere thought kind of makes me vomiit a little in my mouth, but that was life in my early 20′s :)

And just like you, being in a smoky joint makes me ill. I think that we ex-smokers are the worst complainers about smoky establishments! . It’s so much nicer to come home and not have to strip down at the front door or have that nasty smoky bar smell waft up in the shower mist the next day. When I have out-of-town friends visit, they are astounded that Missourians are still allowed to smoke in bars and restaurants…it’s almost as if we’re a freak show state.

Although I do believe in less government control of business/commerce, I am 100% for a smoking ban in Missouri. It’s just gross and, I think we can all agree, unhealthy for all humans and unborn fetuses.

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