If You Are Tired Of The News Reports Ignore This Thread. :)

[mushrat]

I think I'm going to run for town council after this, atleast people are finding out who I am.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7197738

[delSol_si]

"we won't have millions of workers exposed to prolonged second hand smoke,[b] something not of their choosing[/b]"


i call bullshit. i could have sworn we still have AT WILL employment, meaning a worker never HAS to work at a place that has smoking.

[Chreees]

People are so ignorant.... I say fight 'til the end, Mush. Behind you 100%. If I could I'd be out there supporting you.

[Twisted]

Well, at least people are learning about it. Good luck, mushrat. Hoping to hear some good news out of this

[The Caterpillar]

Second hand smoke in a hookah bar is what got me to start smoking in the first place. [b]It rules. [/b]

Shotgunning beautiful tasting shisha with fly hunnies is, I'm certain, the reason why shisha was invented.

Keep fighting the good fight, Mush.

[mattarios2]

keep-it-up

[Charley]

[quote name='delSol_si' date='03 January 2010 - 04:03 AM' timestamp='1262512985' post='443069']
"we won't have millions of workers exposed to prolonged second hand smoke,[b] something not of their choosing[/b]"


[/quote]


ah so many arguments in that statement.

ok if your going to work in a hookah bar its because you want to be around hookah.

im sure if hookah bar employees didnt want to be around it they would find other jobs

im sure most hookah bar employees think unemployment is a worse health risk then second hand smoke

being exposed to hookah smoke would be an improvement over 90% of the jobs I have had.
in factories i have worked for I have used chemicals that had statements on the safety list that say things like "this product WILL cause cancer" not may cause but will cause. in the coarse of the last few years I have been exposed to lead dust, smoke from burning metal black smoke from burning plastics industrial alcohol that is used for cleaning (in an unventilated room to the point that my nose and thorough bleed.) metal dust fiberglass and many many more lethal substances but yet all these are acceptable risk laid forth by OSHA but yet hookah smoke is not? I have had to sign waivers to use some substances that were REQUIRED for the performance of my job I had a choice I could expose myself to these toxins or find another job.
I chose to keep my job.
the point is no employee in this country is forced to be around smoke if they dont want to be they always have the option of quitting the choice for them is to decide what is worse for there health smoke or unemployment.

[theanswriz42]

While I'm typically a proponent of smoking bans in bars and restaurants, I will say there should certainly be exceptions for places like cigar bars and hookah bars where theres a reasonable expectation the people going there are going to smoke, and the employees understand and accept the risks. I think if a business makes a certain percentage of their income from the sale of tobacco products, the ban should otherwise not apply as it's obviously a significant detriment to the business staying open and clearly an attempt to close such places by the bureaucracy.

[Arcane]

if i were to work in a hookah bar, i wouldn't want to be exposed to second hand smoke...i'd prefer first hand

[sine]

[quote name='Charley' date='03 January 2010 - 10:46 AM' timestamp='1262533576' post='443081']
[quote name='delSol_si' date='03 January 2010 - 04:03 AM' timestamp='1262512985' post='443069']
"we won't have millions of workers exposed to prolonged second hand smoke,[b] something not of their choosing[/b]"


[/quote]


ah so many arguments in that statement.

ok if your going to work in a hookah bar its because you want to be around hookah.

im sure if hookah bar employees didnt want to be around it they would find other jobs

im sure most hookah bar employees think unemployment is a worse health risk then second hand smoke

being exposed to hookah smoke would be an improvement over 90% of the jobs I have had.
in factories i have worked for I have used chemicals that had statements on the safety list that say things like "this product WILL cause cancer" not may cause but will cause. in the coarse of the last few years I have been exposed to lead dust, smoke from burning metal black smoke from burning plastics industrial alcohol that is used for cleaning (in an unventilated room to the point that my nose and thorough bleed.) metal dust fiberglass and many many more lethal substances but yet all these are acceptable risk laid forth by OSHA but yet hookah smoke is not? I have had to sign waivers to use some substances that were REQUIRED for the performance of my job I had a choice I could expose myself to these toxins or find another job.
I chose to keep my job.
the point is no employee in this country is forced to be around smoke if they dont want to be they always have the option of quitting the choice for them is to decide what is worse for there health smoke or unemployment.
[/quote]


[quote name='theanswriz42' date='03 January 2010 - 12:53 PM' timestamp='1262541216' post='443085']
While I'm typically a proponent of smoking bans in bars and restaurants, I will say there should certainly be exceptions for places like cigar bars and hookah bars where theres a reasonable expectation the people going there are going to smoke, and the employees understand and accept the risks. I think if a business makes a certain percentage of their income from the sale of tobacco products, the ban should otherwise not apply as it's obviously a significant detriment to the business staying open and clearly an attempt to close such places by the bureaucracy.
[/quote]


These. +100000. That's how I've always felt. I'm fine with no smoking in family dining establishments, but if a restaurant is opened with a smoking theme, and you have to be 18 or 21 to even get in, then why can't they be allowed to have smoking? The employees and customers both know its a restaurant that exists as a smoking lounge, like a cigar shop, so if you don't like that, why would you ever go / apply for the job?

[delSol_si]

[quote name='Charley' date='03 January 2010 - 09:46 AM' timestamp='1262533576' post='443081']
[quote name='delSol_si' date='03 January 2010 - 04:03 AM' timestamp='1262512985' post='443069']
"we won't have millions of workers exposed to prolonged second hand smoke,[b] something not of their choosing[/b]"


[/quote]


ah so many arguments in that statement.

ok if your going to work in a hookah bar its because you want to be around hookah.

im sure if hookah bar employees didnt want to be around it they would find other jobs

im sure most hookah bar employees think unemployment is a worse health risk then second hand smoke

being exposed to hookah smoke would be an improvement over 90% of the jobs I have had.
in factories i have worked for I have used chemicals that had statements on the safety list that say things like "this product WILL cause cancer" not may cause but will cause. in the coarse of the last few years I have been exposed to lead dust, smoke from burning metal black smoke from burning plastics industrial alcohol that is used for cleaning (in an unventilated room to the point that my nose and thorough bleed.) metal dust fiberglass and many many more lethal substances but yet all these are acceptable risk laid forth by OSHA but yet hookah smoke is not? I have had to sign waivers to use some substances that were REQUIRED for the performance of my job I had a choice I could expose myself to these toxins or find another job.
I chose to keep my job.
the point is no employee in this country is forced to be around smoke if they dont want to be they always have the option of quitting the choice for them is to decide what is worse for there health smoke or unemployment.
[/quote]
pretty much, thats why i said the lady who I quoted has little to no brain. If you don't want to be around smoke, find another job. No one says you HAVE to work there. I worked at a high class restaurant last year, worked there for two years. I enjoyed working there. I was around second hand smoke on a daily basis. I was probably the only employee there who didn't smoke. I HATE ciggs and cigg smoke. But, I decided it was worth it to stay there. It was MY choice. oh, and for those of you who don't know who i am quoting, watch the video in the link mushrat provided.

[delSol_si]

[quote name='theanswriz42' date='03 January 2010 - 11:53 AM' timestamp='1262541216' post='443085']
While I'm typically a proponent of smoking bans in bars and restaurants, I will say there should certainly be exceptions for places like cigar bars and hookah bars where theres a reasonable expectation the people going there are going to smoke, and the employees understand and accept the risks. [b]I think if a business makes a certain percentage of their income from the sale of tobacco products, the ban should otherwise not apply as it's obviously a significant detriment to the business staying open and clearly an attempt to close such places by the bureaucracy.[/b]
[/quote]

I agree with you completely. I hate cigg smoking with passion. I loathe it. I was soooo happy when I found out IL had passed the smoking ban. I was able to go to the local pool bar, shoot some pool, listen to some tunes, and drink a beer without having to be around all that nasty smoke. However, as you have stated, its silly to expect any establishment made around smoking to follow a law like that.

I think mushrat's problem is that he makes a significant amount of his revenue off alcohol (the article states ≈25%) but I would think a name like "hookah bliss" would suffice to allow him an exemption. Not to mention he has been in business before this law was even started. oh, and I have heard the figures off alcohol sales at the restaurant/bar i worked at. there is a TON of money to be made there, so cutting that out would severely hurt mush. Put it this way, when we ran out of beer, they would have me go pick up beer at the local grocery store so they could sell it at the bar (totally illegal, but not my problem). I would pick it up at like less than $1 per bottle, and then they would sell it at $3 per bottle ( I think, may have been $3.50), thats at least a 300% markup. When they got the beer from the distributor, their cost was even less than that, meaning their profit was even higher. Not to mention mixed drinks. The alcohol they put into those probably only costs like a dollar or two and those go for upwards of 6-8 bucks.

Mush, do you allow people to smoke ciggs in you building?

[Stuie]

My only point, is this. Anyone that doesn't know smoking is good for you is unheard of. We all know it's bad. I have the freedom to work where people don't smoke, and where I eat and where I hang out. If i don't like where I can work, I can find a new job. Don't like that restraraunt I go somewhere else. Bar too smokey, find another.

Why are we talking away free will from the people. You are to stupid the government will decide for you.

[thehelios]

I'm very happy that a news station, contrary to a small local paper, picked up on your story. Hopefully this gets the ball rolling on amending the current smoking law there.

I'm all for smoking bans in restaurants and stuff but a smoking ban on an establishment based off of smoking? The lack of logic there bewilders me to the utmost extent. Again, hopefully your appearance on the news can get an up and coming potential congress person to help you out.

[indian_villager]

Keep it up mush. Will asking your employees to sign a waiver that states they know that second hand smoke can be harmful suffice for legal issues? And Good Luck man!

[Codename067]

This bullshit will never end.

Either way, keep at it Mush, and good luck in the future. We're all with you on this one man.

[Jacob Shock]

these laws are a joke.

[RingsMaster]

keep it up mush, eventually you will win lol, the more you get exposed to other people through the media the better i think your chances are gonna be of winning against "the man"(lol)

[Hippo_Master]

I think you should still serve alcohol, but have the customers "donate" instead of "pay"

All of this is a bunch of bull shit, and I'm actually extremely grateful there is someone around like you that will fight the bastards teeth and nail to the bitter end.

[Amn_sinclair]

way to stick it to the man mush... i like the donating idea

[Charley]

all the worlds a stage....

don't mean to thread jack but i think i just found a loophole in your states smoking ban.


I found this video on youtube and it inspired me to check your states smoking ban laws.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6zAxmfyNs


while checking I came across this article about a hookah bar that had the same idea sort of.


http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=11766527

would this work?

I dont know about you but I would love to watch an episode of "Blissful smoke" lol.

[Zinite]

[quote name='Charley' date='05 January 2010 - 09:32 AM' timestamp='1262709157' post='443335']
all the worlds a stage....

don't mean to thread jack but i think i just found a loophole in your states smoking ban.


I found this video on youtube and it inspired me to check your states smoking ban laws.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6zAxmfyNs"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=XD6zAxmfyNs[/url]


while checking I came across this article about a hookah bar that had the same idea sort of.


[url="http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=11766527"]http://www.wect.com/....asp?S=11766527[/url]

would this work?

I dont know about you but I would love to watch an episode of "Blissful smoke" lol.
[/quote]

Do it!

[Click]

Are cigar bars and country clubs exempt even if they serve alcohol?  I assume so since the people who wrote the legislation would be the type of people to visit such places.

What about screwing with the prices so the alcohol falls under 25%. Say if a group comes in you can ask them if they want a beer with the hookah and just make the "hookah" cost more.  If they don't want a beer bring the price of the hookah back to normal.  

[Rani]

Mush, we've been throwing ideas around for a while and most haven't been workable for you, but I had yet another one....... Because this article says you might drop the service of alcohol. I'm not a fan of hookah bars in general. But I sat down and thought about what kind of place I would be willing to go to and realized that if it were a exotic coffee/hookah bar I'd definitely be there. Goodness knows Starbucks and Coffee Bean are making money hand over fist. Would it satisfy the legal loonies if you dropped the alcohol and replaced it with the best coffee bar in NC? If it does I think you'd keep profitability up since we Americans are addicted to the stuff especially - when it's served in fancy places.

'Rani

[Arcane]

i thought the NC law stated that establishments that served "purchased" food/beverages couldn't have smoking inside....

so, why not offer "free drinks" and rent the mugs/glasses they come in?

i'm guessing it's really all how you want to tweak the rules or interpret them to fit your needs...

i would like to see you go the webcam reality show route though...i'll even pay for the webcam...