Quick question: Smoking in public buildings? (Dallas, Plano: live, restaurants, codes)

[PatrickM]

Howdy gang. I was just wondering if restaurants in Texas (Dallas specifically) allow smoking. Thanks, Patrick

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by PatrickM

Howdy gang. I was just wondering if restaurants in Texas (Dallas specifically) allow smoking. Thanks, Patrick

No. There is no smoking allowed in public restaurants or bars in the Dallas City Limits. Plano also has a ban on smoking as do many others in the area. Contrary to what some believe it has NOT hurt their business.

[socketz]

I think Frisco is pretty smoke free as well.

The few places I've been in Mckinney still seem to allow smoking indoors, so it may be lagging the other areas.

In 5 years, I doubt any place that serves food in the US will allow smoking indoors. CA banned it entirely years ago and everyone cried about how it would kill their business.....never came close to happening. In fact, places like sports bars and seedy coastal spots ended up pulling in a whole new crowd of patrons (family types). The smokers still get to hang outside and smoke, which is better for everyone.

Seems odd that anyone would even contest a law like this....

[caligurltotx]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

No. There is no smoking allowed in public restaurants or bars in the Dallas City Limits. Plano also has a ban on smoking as do many others in the area. Contrary to what some believe it has NOT hurt their business.

momof2dfw can we address this again? I went to watch the game Sunday at Sharky's on Preston and I had to leave due to the smoking all over the place. I went to Chili's in Valley Ranch to watch the 4th quarter. Now my question is would that not be city limits (sharky's) and if not what is? Second, how do I know in advance if there is going to be smoking in a place before I frequent it short of calling everyone in advance. Does it depend on the city? I did go to a place over on MLK and Atlanta and thank God there was no smoking allowed. So I know it was in city limits.

Also I went to Razzoo's here in Irving and again walked into a smoking environment. But I was told it was going to end on Oct 6th due to ventillation not meeting some codes and the owner said it was too expensive to fix so he was going to have to end smoking! Thank God!
Wonder how long it wasn't up to par?

Coming from a smoke free state this has been the hardest thing to adjust to. I cannot believe the number of people that smoke vs the number that don't. And I agree that CA and it's bars and restaurants have done great business even with smoking bans for over twenty yrs. After a while everyone adjust to the new rules.

[kacvb1974]

Actually I believe you can smoke at many bars, poolhalls, and tobacco stores in the city of Dallas. When it comes to places that serve food, I think the smoking rule is that a certain percentage of an establishment's revenue must be earned from alcohol sales. There is talk of going completely smoke-free, but to the best of my knowledge that hasn't happened yet.

cbs11tv.com - Coalition Looks To Expand Dallas Smoking Ban

Smoke Free Texas

[Lakewooder]

You can smoke in bars and most dance clubs but not restaurants. But you can also smoke in bars where they serve food - I think it is supposed to be a smaller ratio but I doubt that is enforced too much. I know one place where they hand out little styrofoam cups with water (they call it a Laura Miller ashtray).

[krisco750]

Originally Posted by socketz

In 5 years, I doubt any place that serves food in the US will allow smoking indoors. CA banned it entirely years ago and everyone cried about how it would kill their business.....never came close to happening. In fact, places like sports bars and seedy coastal spots ended up pulling in a whole new crowd of patrons (family types).

I won't claim to be an expert on this - I'm speaking out of personal observations. When the state passed a smoking ban in New Jersey, just about any bar that did not have a patio, deck or some kind of outdoor area either went out of business or saw a sharp decline in patrons. This was mostly because in NJ it's illegal to be outside of the bar (even on the bar's property) with an open container (not sure if that's the law in TX also?). The only way you can be outside with a drink is if the bar has a patio / deck area that is attached to the bar (or something along those lines). If a cop happens to drive by and sees someone smoking outside the bar and they happen to have a beer in their hand, the person will get a ticket and the bar will probably get fined.

The smokers still get to hang outside and smoke, which is better for everyone.

Hah... if it's so fun to "hang outside" why don't you go out there since you're the one who is bothered by the smoke? Then you'd get some fresh air and the smokers can do what they were doing before - it's "better for everyone" right? :P

Seems odd that anyone would even contest a law like this....

On the other side of the coin... it seems odd to me that someone is so ready to allow government to step in and decide what businesses can and can't do.

I'm a fan of letting the market decide. No one was forcing restaurants and bars to allow smoking in their establishments. If the demand for a non-smoking environment started creating a market, I bet you would have seen more places spring up that didn't allow it.

I'll admit I'm a smoker, so I'm sure my position will be viewed as bias. It's not so much about the smoking as it is about losing freedoms. Right now it's trendy to treat smokers as second-class citizens.

How would you feel if you were told you couldn't eat fast food any more because it's bad for your health? Did you know that the chemicals in perfume are toxic as well (see this web site)? Once smoking is tackled, will that be the next trendy cause to legislate?

I noticed someone in this thread mentioning that they had to go to another bar because there was smoke in the one they went to watch the game at. I don't mean to come off as harsh, but is that such a huge deal? You were able to go to another bar and watch your game in a smoke-free environment. Is it inconvenient for you? Sure. Is it reason to legislate that no one shall ever be able to smoke in a bar in the city in case you want to go there? That seems a bit selfish. And you know what? You mentioned that you ended up finding a place that was smoke-free anyway. Now you know in the future where to go. If it's a huge deal for you, make sure they know that the reason you go there to spend your money and not other places is because they don't allow smoking.

At some point you need to draw the line and realize that we can't legislate everything to be convenient for everyone. It is not the job of government to determine these things. Like I mentioned before - no one is forcing businesses to allow smoking in their establishments. If the demand was there and places that did not allow smoking were drawing away their customers, you can be damn sure that others would follow suit.

I know my opinions are not popular ones, but I feel it needs to be said. Society (not just in Texas) is way to quick to legislate freedoms away.

[krisco750]

Whoops... just realized that the post I'm quoting dates back to 2007.

Hey, it's late... and i'm tired. :P

[tycobb2522]

Originally Posted by krisco750

How would you feel if you were told you couldn't eat fast food any more because it's bad for your health?

When I eat my Big Mac, it doesn't endanger the health of those sitting around me in McDonald's.

To be fair however, as much as I detest smoking, I too agree that the market should dictate whether smoking is allowed or not. It pains me to say it, but I too feel that a business owner should get to make thew decision, and if nonsmokers don't like it, they can show their feelings by not goint to the establishment.

From a purely selfish point of view though, I am happy for the smoking bans.

[Canine*Castle]

Caligurltotx, I believe that's right what you're being told about smoking still being allowed within Dallas City limits except for restaurants. My daughter mentioned that to me a while back.

I don't know what it is about the south, but there are so many more smokers here than in California as I remember CA. I would hope CA has even less now than when I lived there because people are more aware of the dangers of smoking.