Smoking in Austin (Hutto: restaurants, legal, bars)

[readymade]

Hi, couldn't find anything about this in a thread search, so sorry if it's already been covered.

What is the smoking situation in Austin. I see that there's a smoking ban in effect, however restaurants & bars can get permits for smoking?

I'm coming from California where no one is allowed to smoke indoors, and I really like it. There are a few bars out here that allow smoking, and I just avoid them.

What's the situation REALLY like in Austin? Do most bars/restaurants/clubs allow smoking? Is it gross? Or are they really adequately separated?

Thanks!

P.S. Please don't flame me for being a smoking nazi. I just don't like it (plus I have lung issues) and prefer to avoid it at all costs.

[Trainwreck20]

Smoking in public buildings is prohibited, including restaurants and bars, with a limited number of exceptions (Trudy's is one of the ones that I know of). The exceptions, in general, have very good separationa and ventilation.

That said, there are a few places that intentionally ignore the rule. Mostly, these are bars and pool halls and such.

[austin-steve]

I'm coming from California where no one is allowed to smoke indoors, and I really like it.

That's how it is here in Austin. I like it too.

Trudy's (mentioned in the previous post) has a fully glass enclosed smoking bar with a separate ventalation system at the south Austin restaurant at Brodie/Lamar. We ate there a couple of months ago and I smelled no smoke at all in the main restaurant area, but could see the smokers in their glass enclosure, smoking.

I remember thinking to myself that the enclosure and its inhabitants somewhat represented a zoo-like exhibit. An anthropological exhibit of an extinct species - the Austin indoor smoker - on display in their former natural habitat, the Austin bar, where smokers once roamed freely.

Steve

[love roses]

They may be thinking the same about you. ...I'm not a smoker and I have a daughter with asthma, so no smoking in resturaunts is fine with me, but my husband does smoke and I find the smugness of smoking nazis to be a turn off. Note: I'm not saying that anyone here is a smoking nazi, but we have been approached by people who are almost as aggressive as Peta members are with people who wear fur. There are all sorts of things that can make People sick, but banning everything isn't necessary. But now that I'm off topic so badly, I'll stop But no need to worry. Pretty much nowhere allows people to smoke, except outside at a certain number of feet from the venue.

[TheHarvester]

There are other exceptions to Austin's smoking ordinance. For example, if your clothes accidentally catch on fire you are allowed to "smoke" until you're able to get outside the building. Private investigators and police detectives are allowed to smoke-out suspects whom they suspect of being in a particular building. These are just two examples. If the building itself is on fire then all smoking regulations are temporarily suspended until the fire is extinguished. And it's legal to read The Smoking Gun in any public building that has wireless Internet service.

[twange]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

There are other exceptions to Austin's smoking ordinance. For example, if your clothes accidentally catch on fire you are allowed to "smoke" until you're able to get outside the building. Private investigators and police detectives are allowed to smoke-out suspects whom they suspect of being in a particular building. These are just two examples. If the building itself is on fire then all smoking regulations are temporarily suspended until the fire is extinguished. And it's legal to read The Smoking Gun in any public building that has wireless Internet service.

What if you're a smokin' hot babe? Do you have to grow your armpit hair, yellow up your teeth, perm your hair or wear stirrup pants when going out to eat or drink?

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by readymade

Hi, couldn't find anything about this in a thread search, so sorry if it's already been covered.

What is the smoking situation in Austin. I see that there's a smoking ban in effect, however restaurants & bars can get permits for smoking?

I'm coming from California where no one is allowed to smoke indoors, and I really like it. There are a few bars out here that allow smoking, and I just avoid them.

What's the situation REALLY like in Austin? Do most bars/restaurants/clubs allow smoking? Is it gross? Or are they really adequately separated?

Thanks!

P.S. Please don't flame me for being a smoking nazi. I just don't like it (plus I have lung issues) and prefer to avoid it at all costs.

Since we moved here from CA, it was a big deal for us as well. Needless to say, I haven't thought about smoking issues in at least the last two years, and I don't remember the last time I had to deal with cigarette smoke. Oh wait, I was in Eastern Europe for a week in July, and everywhere I went there was smoke! It was nice to get back to Austin after that.

[love roses]

eeewww, twange...That was gross!!

[twange]

Originally Posted by love roses

eeewww, twange...That was gross!!

Yes...but we've all seen that type, have we not?

[jwb123]

I remember thinking to myself that the enclosure and its inhabitants somewhat represented a zoo-like exhibit. An anthropological exhibit of an extinct species - the Austin indoor smoker - on display in their former natural habitat, the Austin bar, where smokers once roamed freely.

Hilarious!!

I miss the Seattle anti-smoking laws which required smokers to be outside of a 25 ft radius from an entrance.

Can you smoke if you are outside at a restaurant? Like in an outdoor seating area? I was at a restaurant in Hutto the other week, eating outside and someone was definitely smoking. Perhaps, like most other things, it's different in Williamson County?