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No butts about it, many Knoxvillians have an opinion on the city's smoking ban in bars.
In 2007 Knoxville instituted a smoking ban for bars and restaurants. In many major cities, similar legislation already exists.
However, Knoxville's "ban" (which is part of a statewide ban) is misleading. Smoking is still allowed in bars that are 21-and-up and in places that don't serve food (among other exceptions). If you've recently been to a bar that seemed like the bottom of an ashtray, that's why.
Not long ago my friend Chip spouted off about how frustrated he is with the smoking ban and how much of a joke it is. He explained that since the smoking ban went into effect in 2007, it hasn't really helped anything and has maybe made things worse. "Since smokers can't smoke in every venue it's like they make up for it by smoking extra in the places that allow it," he said.
Certain bars like Preservation Pub, Urban Bar and Union Jacks have a reputation of being smoky. Many neighborhood spots like Rookies, Roosters and Blue Chips allow smoking as well, but have decent ventilation. On the other hand, places like Sunspot, Downtown Grill and Latitude 35 are known for their pristine air quality, since smokers have to go outside.
Since the smoking ban, some places pride themselves on allowing smokers, such as Ray's ESG and Sassy Ann's.
In response to my friend's complaints, I've looked for others' input on the matter over the past few weeks and found varying opinions.
Amber Hayes, 38, is a Knoxville non-smoker who smoked socially until she was 26. She believes that smokers should go outside for cigarettes on all occasions. "I went outside as a smoker and I believe that this is a practice of common courtesy," she says. "I tend to frequent places which disallow smoking. I have a hard time tolerating that smell now that I no longer smoke."
On the other hand, Dustin Lawson, 30, is a non-smoker who has found the ban to be inconvenient. "I hang out at Urban (Bar) all the time," he says, "and it can get pretty smoky in there." Lawson explains that some of his friends smoke and although he's not fond of it, he doesn't mind the second-hand smoke. "Smoking and drinking are two things that just go really well together for a lot of people," he says. "When I go out with my smoking friends (to a non-smoking bar), we always have to get up and go outside every 15 minutes for them to smoke. At Urban the minority non-smokers can sit or go outside when we need to get fresh air."
Ben Warren, a 25-year-old UT graduate student, has an occasional cigarette when he's at a bar. He feels the smoking ban is fair and has "kept restaurants cleaner," but he has no problem with bars that allow smoking. "If the establishment allows smoking, then smokers are free to smoke wherever unless there are designated smoking areas," he adds. "If I am just out for food, I don't really want to be around smoke. It messes with my appetite."
Similarly, Haseeb Qureshi, 26, is a non-smoker who feels that bars should "designate certain areas where smoking is either prohibited or accepted." He also feels the current smoking laws are fair, though he's not fond of cigarette smoke and is less likely to go to places that allow smoking.
But not everyone feels the ban is fair.
A smoker in his mid-20s who identified himself as Joey explained that the ban has kept him from going to certain spots he used to enjoy, and that shouldn't be the case. "When you go to a bar you should be ready to accept cigarette smoke," Joey says. "It's what people do at bars."
"I can still smoke in my favorite places, like Preservation Pub," Joey adds. "I don't go to bars where I can't smoke unless it's a special occasion like a friend's birthday."
With cold weather already upon us, bar-goers have to brave the elements for a cigarette (or fresh air, depending on the venue) for the next several months.
"I personally don't mind the cold weather," Joey says, "I just don't like having to break conversation over and over or worry about leaving my drink at my table. It's an inconvenience to me and my friends. At the smoking bars I can just light up in mid-conversation and stay at my table. Non-smoking bars aren't worth it to me."
© 2011, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 8
max0032 writes:
Good article. It's impossible to get everyone's view point, but I think you did a great job of raising the majority of issues on both sides. At the end of the day, I'm all for each bar/restaurant to make their own decisions and then the consumer can decide from there.
oldhippie57 writes:
Just make that nasty drug illegal
ktn writes:
You don't want to be around smoke? Don't go to a bar. Drinking and smoking go hand in hand. Funny when the alcoholics think otherwise...
oldhippie57 writes:
Drinking and smoking does not go hand in hand. I quit smoking 16 years ago, and still have my scotch on the rocks at many venues around time, as well as at home.
oldhippie57 writes:
"venues around town"
samiam writes:
It's best for GOVERNMENT to tell us what we can do, when we can do it, and how often. As for myself, I smoke and I go outside to smoke in those establishments that don't allow smoking. When I finish smoking, I take my last draw and hold it until I get back inside, then let it go. Sue me....
oldhippie57 writes:
idiot
fratricide08 writes:
I really think the best way to do it was the old way of smoking and non-smoking sections with the option of establishment that didn't want smokers to disallow it on their own or substantially shrink their smoking sections/areas so that it meets with their ventilation abilities.
I would only add the requirement that restaurants and bars building new buildings meet some sort of standard for ventilation. Eventually, we would've had a majority of bars and restaurants where everyone could've been happy and no one was bothered by smoke or prohibitions. Obviously, those establishments with no intention of allowing smoking would've been exempted from the ventilation requirement. And yes, both ventilation systems and air purification systems in many cases have actually gotten good enough to where, in many cases, it IS impossible for anyone to notice other than via the imagination.
But I guess folks can't stand a win-win scenario when one group is outnumbered and stigmatized.
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