Sioux City Journal

Nonsmokers should show their support for smoking ban

Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

SIOUX CITY -- We are all wondering where all the non-smokers are at. I have a well-established DJ business in the area and have karaoke at a number of bars on the weekdays. It was hard enough to get people to come out and have a good time when we had smoking in the bars but now that the ban is in affect, it is worse.

One of the most common excuses I have heard in the past from non-smokers was that it was too smokey. OK, now that the ban is in effect, where are you? You have no excuse now. It seems that too many people just want to complain about something and when it is fixed, they find something else to complain about. I think the ban is terrible and takes away yet another freedom of the people to choose what they want. It seems that if you don't like the smoke, you don't go. Well, if smoke is unhealthy, when is fast food going to be banned and when is candy and pop coming off the shelves? Stop complaining and start having fun.

Too many people are stuck in the past and expect the younger people to like what they like and to do what they do. We make all these rules because of what a small group of people think is right but never take into consideration how it will affect the economy.

Nonsmokers need to get off their rears and stop making excuses and show your support of the smoking ban, or I think they should repeal it for bars that offer entertainment. I dare them to support their new smoking ban since the freedom of bar owners and smokers has been taken away to try to make a healthier state.

See you all soon. -- Brian Larson

Story Comments

Free Man wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:06 PM:

" All the non smokers are at home getting their materials together to bring back prohabition. "

Kim wrote on Jul 20, 2008 9:42 AM:

" Sigh.....Brian, get over it. Smoking bans have been around for a long time. Iowa is catching up with the majority of states (36) that have bans, as well as countries such as Argentine, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, The UK, France, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Iceland, The Netherlands, Nowway, Sweday, Switzerland....I could go on.
Obviously the bans are not putting places out of business or the entire world would not be passing them.
And to TWO CENTS: Enjoy smoking in NE while you can...read the news, in 2009 your smoking ban goes into effect.
As a nonsmoker I have been enjoying going to bars I haven't been to before. The chicken at Mike's is as good as I heard, Rhonda's does have great music and fun. "

Sarah wrote on Jul 19, 2008 10:51 AM:

" I work as a waitress in a local truck stop. we have had several truck drivers and travelers stop in just to say good-bye they will not be back they will wait to eat, fuel up, ect. when they get to SD or NE.

This smoking ban is affecting the business "

Chris wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:07 PM:

" Hmmmm....let me count. The first week of the smoking ban we met friends at the bar twice and went to The Patio after SITP for the band. We would not have gone at all had there been smoking allowed. I guess as a non-smoker who rarely went to the bar because of smoke, I am not doing a very good job of supporting the ban. "

Smoke Screen wrote on Jul 17, 2008 6:42 PM:

" Duh: What restaurants are you going to? I go to a restaurant every night (however, I must admit they have been in South Dakota because of the smoking ban), and the portions are still huge.
Must be the Non-Smoking restaurants in Sioux City trying to make up the lost revenue, which makes sense to me, but you continue to believe it is just the economy if you want to. "