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Monday, June 14, 2010

Looking For A New Hangout

I met with friends last night for a few drinks after work. We went straight to the deck because of the nice weather.

Besides our table, there was only one other table occupied about 4 tables away. We asked our server if there was a designated smoking area. I mean, after all, we WERE outside. She was very nice about it but said she was sorry but we would have to go out to the parking lot.

I understand that it is not fair to a non-smoker to be forced to try and eat while someone next to them is puffing away. The non-smoker also has the right to eat outside if they choose. What tickled me was, as they ate, they were constantly swatting flies away. Given a choice, I would have taken the smoke over the flies. At least inside, there were no flies or smoke.

Now I am sure that I am not the only one who enjoys a cigarette with a nice cold beer on a hot, sunny day. When one of us decided to go to the parking lot, we had to ask the others to watch our food and or drinks to make sure that the server would not take them away. Yes, we could smoke and drink but not at the same time because you can't take your drink with you. Had I gone out by myself, instead of with friends, I may have even come back in to my table only to find someone else had come in and sat down.

I am NOT naming the place where we went because I am not bashing it. The food and service was excellent!

This is my question. Is there any place in Salisbury that DOES have an outside area where you can smoke while having a few drinks and not have to leave the table and friends? I agree with the no smoking inside laws. But outside where the breeze will dissipate the smoke and not fill up the entire area?

I guess the next time we get together, it will be at my home where smokers won't have to go to their cars. I guess we will have to skip the wonderful food and service like we had last night because I can't afford to cook for a lot and at my house, the service is help yourself!

I see a BYOB get together coming up real soon and am sorry that the place we went to last night will lose our money even if it was only about $190.00 or more between the 8 of us.

This was only the 2nd time I have been there and honestly did not know that you were not allowed to smoke on the deck. The deck was closed the last time I was there because it was winter.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

last time i was to bew river, and chef freds they allowed smoking on thier decks.

the anti smoking laws are way i do not go out anymore

Anonymous said...

You can not expose any employee in the state of Maryland to the toxins in second hand smoke. It's state law. I think you are on the right track,if you have to have a cigarette that bad with your beer, stay home.

Anonymous said...

I believe that the smoking ban law only applies to indoor restaurants and bars. It does not apply to outdoor seating, but it is up to the establishment if they want to provide an outdoor area for smoking.

http://baltimore.about.com/od/onlyinbaltimore/i/SmokingBan.htm

Anonymous said...

You make the choice to smoke, but you won't make it for me. Stay at home and grill out if you want to be outside and smoke. I'd rather put up with flies than smoke any day. Maybe if you didn't have to buy cigs you could afford to cook for some people at your house.

Anonymous said...

8:48 It used to be that if someone took a job in a bar they knew there would be smoke involved. if you dont want to be around it dont take that job.

i have no problems not smoking in restraunts, and 99.9% of the other places they dont want you to.

as a non smoker you have the choice not to go someplace that allows smoking. as a smoker that choice has been taken from you. your only option is to stay home.

you dont think it matters? ask any bar how thier business ahs been affected since the ban.

Anonymous said...

I will tell you what. You smoke your cigarette and I will spray the fly spray at your table. See how enjoyable that is.

Anonymous said...

It never ceases to amaze me that there are still people out there that smoke, however, if you do, stop trying to justify it by criticizing establishments for not allowing it. Can you get any dumber?? If you want to kill yourself, do it at home. OR, open up your own outside only bar for smokers somewhere far away from people who care about their health and the health of others.

Mike D. said...

The way I see it, stay home if you want to drink and smoke together!!

Anonymous said...

Brew River...we go there often, and both myself & my husband smoke. We enjoy dinner & drinks with friends at the booths out on the deck and they have ash trays right on the tables for you.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 8:48!

Anonymous said...

you folks really outa thank people for smoking.
do you relize how much smokers pay in taxes?
yeah, everyone quits and your taxes skyrocket.
next time you see a smoker thank them

Anonymous said...

9:48, nice try but it's a moot point. Do you realize how much we have to pay into healthcare because of smokers??!! They are a tax burden, not so much a contribution.

Anonymous said...

It is not illegal in Maryland to smoke outside. If you were told that there was a non smoking policy outside, it is the establishments rules, not a state law.

Anonymous said...

10:00 smokers are much less of a draw. its been proven. they die younger, therefore you dont have costs that accrue as you get older.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-04-08-fda-tobacco-costs_N.htm

i have shown my research, wheres yours?

btw, in 20+ years of working and smoking i have taken 25 sick days (if you include my hernia operation) can you say the same?

Anonymous said...

9:01... did he ever say he couldn't afford to have people over and cook out? Your comment was so childish. Maybe you need to light up and relieve some of that stress thats making you so angry!

Anonymous said...

We traded smoking population for a fat population, nothing has been gained, both have serious health issues.

Anonymous said...

You non-smokers who want to keep rehashing all the "talking points" need to wake up.
My sister-in-law died of LUNG CANCER at that age of 43 just last year. She has never smoked a cigarette in her life. She did not grow up in a smoker family. She did not have friends who smoked. She never held a job in a known "toxic" environment and she hardly ever ate at restaurants because she was a picky eater and preferred to cook for the family herself.
So where did she get the lung cancer from?
You that keep talking about rising health care costs because of smokers? You need to wake up too.
I smoke and I usually go to the doctor once or twice a year. I do not have health insurance, therefore I pay CASH at the time of the visit. This costs YOU or anyone else nothing! So get off your high horses and realize true reality!
The SPIN on the smoking issue is nothing but that, a SPIN!
And yes, smokers DO pay a lot of money in taxes, way more than non-smokers and if all the smokers quit, this country would REALLY be in tough shape, now wouldn't it!?
YOUR taxes would HAVE to go up, woulnd't they?
So back off!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree, stay at home and puff away, kill yourself and not others. We find plenty of ways to do it ourselves.

Anonymous said...

1113-It is not just about lung cancer.....WE CANNOT STAND THE SMELL. We don't take a dump on your table, don't blow smoke up our booties.

Anonymous said...

Go to Redman's it's a no whining zone !

Anonymous said...

why not leave it up to the business owner?
if they want to allow smoking let them, then non smokers are free to stay away.
people will talk with thier money.

any regulation of a business that will drive people way is never a good thing.

personally i dont think places should be able to searve alchol, you may drink and drive. not only is that illegal, but you may kill someone.

yeah lets get alchohol banned from restarants and bars next! make the roads safer. if you want to drink stay home

lmclain said...

Poor drug addicts ...and make no mistake, people YOU SMOKERS are drug addicts....spin THAT. I go to the athletic fields in this area where there are prominent signs asking spectators not to smoke in the stands. Guess what? there is ALWAYS a selfish drug addict that cannot do without a fix smoking there and to hell with the sign AND the desire of the great majority NOT to breathe that crap. Its a nasty habit, indefensible by any reasoning, and deserves no sympathy. Get off the drugs. Or stay at home and make your house, clothes, and furniture continue to smell so fresh and clean....lol

Anonymous said...

This poster is not asking about smoking INSIDE. If I want to smoke OUTSIDE, then I should be able to!
You don't like it, then MOVE!
I don't blow smoke in anyone's face and I don't know of any smoker who would do such a thing.
I'm sick and tired of non-smokers and their high and mighty, better than thou attitudes!
Let's see, what things YOU might be doing that annoy others:
Do you talk on your cell phone while driving for instance? If so, you probably wouldn't admit it but if you do, you're outright TRYING to kill someone!
Which is worse? Smoking outside or driving while talking/texting?
I'd rather be beside someone smoking!
I'm sick of how smokers have been discriminated against and have just had to take it! Give it a rest!
Go after the people who are TRULY hurting others!

Anonymous said...

10:36 maybe you should read the whole article before you bash somebody else."I guess we will have to skip the wonderful food and service like we had last night because i cant afford to cook for alot and at my house, the service is help your self."

Anonymous said...

You can go to Chef Fred's Chesapeake Steakhouse and smoke outside on their patio. They even have ash trys for your use. You can even drink and eat the best crabs on town too.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like this decision was the discretion of the owner of the restuarant. Take it up with him. Until then, qwityerbitchin. I wouldn't want folks stinking up my place, either, even if it was outside.

Anonymous said...

If you stay home, cook for your friends and STOP smoking look at all the money you will save. I cannot believe the price folks are paying for cigarettes these days. That would be enough to make me quit. $45.00 or more is UP IN SMOKE> SAD

lmclain said...

11:48...You are not only a smoker, you are crazy too...your argument about cell phone use is worthless; they are not related in any way, except in a crazy way... and smokers don't usually "blow smoke in peoples faces" (cause for an ass-whipping), but having that noxious, nasty smelling smoke drifting around you is NOT pleasant for non-smokers, but again, smokers don't really care about that---- they think because they are "outside", the smoke somehow "magically disappears" and cannot be smelled. Again, CRAZY. For YOU to have a drug habit that inflicts harm on others and then say if "you don't like it, then move!" is also CRAZY. High and mighty? Hardly. Right, proper, and polite? Check. Take a breath mint and see a counselor.

Anonymous said...

The Lagoon that is off of rt 50. They have outside seating and if you smoke you just have to not be under the roof of the bar. YOu can sit at the high tables not under the roof and eat and drink.
Next I have seen smokers throw the butts in the pond there and out windows. Stop doing that. It is littering. Someone threw one out window and it landed inmy car and set the back seat on fire. Thanks
I don't smoke and no one rides in my car and smokes

Alex said...

As an ex-smoker I have absolutely no problem with smokers. I did not like the ban on smoking insided. It sucks that you can't smoke in bars anymore.
People in Europe smoke everywhere and they do not consider it a major problem. Instead of fighting smoking or marijuana we should be fighting obesety.
Another problem with smoking in this country is the non-stop litigation with tobacco companies.

Anonymous said...

i agree with 11:48. I am so sick of people getting on "smokers" What about all you cell phone junkies who can't do anything with out your cell phones. Cell phones don't hurt anyone you say. How many people have you seen talking on a cell phone standing next to a gas pump--even though we all know they can cause the pump to "blow up". But hey, better that than to have to stand next to a smoker. And oh yeah, what about all you freaking drinkers who sit at your smoke free table and dine and have "just a few drinks" before climbing in the car to "drive home". Again, not a problem right. So yeah, I'll stay home and eat and smoke where I don't have to worry about a drunk a$$ texting cell phone junkie driving home bitching on the cell phone. Not a problem. If they really wanted to stop smokers they would stop producing cigarettes all together and they wouldn't have to worry about second-hand smoke. Oh wait, then they wouldn't make all that money off of us (extra tax money, extra ins. money, etc..) would they?

Anonymous said...

I just went to a "new" pizza place (behind SoBo's). They have a small outdoor area. I do not smoke, but used to smoke and I think these no-smoking laws are another attempt to take away some "rights". I think it's kind of interesting that when smoking was allowed in designated areas indoors, the nonsmokers had to walk through the smoking area to get to their area.
Anyway - even tho I no longer smoke, it was nice to see a smoke-friendly place where people can eat, have a drink (soda or beer or whatever) and have a cigarette while waiting or right after and not have to worry about losing your table!! Hope this helps.

Anonymous said...

1:14 - Are you just TRYING to look like an idiot or what?
I guess if we're all outside and someone farts, you'd stand there and bitch about the smell instead of moving too wouldn't you?!
Give it a rest. The smoker won THIS one!
And yes, there is a direct correlation between cell phone use and smoking based upon a previous comment!
Cell phones in cars kill people, period! No guessing, no "studies" that change every time you turn around, just plain fact. And yes, bet you're one who is on their phone every time you get behind the wheel putting not only YOUR life in danger but everyone with you and around you as well!

Anonymous said...

As the writer of the letter to Joe, I'd like to apolozise for bringing up or starting an old battle between smokers and non-smokers. That was not my intent. All I was asking was if anyone knew of a place that allowed it outside. Maybe I gave too many details as to why I was asking. My fault. Thanks to the posters who mentioned the places that do!

Anonymous said...

Show your documentation 4:44. In fact, name TWO PEOPLE who have died in this area as a result of a cell phone in a car. As an insurance investigator, I have seen a few (note: A FEW) accidents caused by someone texting. NEVER while talking on the phone. Also what I have seen is the astronomical amount of money we pay to smokers with iron lungs, emhysema, et al. Quit trying to convince people that smoking doesn't cost a lot of money AND kill a lot of people. Because you are wrong.

Anonymous said...

I have smoked for 14 years. I do not smoke near children of others out of respect for the parents beliefs. I pay extra for health insurance because I am a smoker, even though I have not been to a doctor in well over 10 years, with the exception of two visits to doctors for insect bites that caused allergic reactions. I have no medical concerns, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no breathing complications or disease. I am not on any medication except the occasional aspirin.

the real money hogs are the ones at the doctors office for the sniffles, because they are feeling a little blue and need another script for those happy pills, they stepped off a step wrong and are certain, (even though they can walk) their ankle is broken so they must have an xray, so on and so on.

My grandfather smoked from 13 til he died at 94, my grandmother never smoked but lived with him for 60 years and died at 92. My non smoker brother has been diagnosed and treated for cancer twice.

There are many more toxins in this world that are more hazardous to your health than someone else smoking 4 tables away on an open deck...suck it up or turn your head while us smokers do!

Ron Brawl said...

Why didn't the smoking issue get solved by the free market? Imagine what enterprising businessmen and women could have made by starting "smoking only" and "non-smoking" bar and restaurant chains? There should be balance. Smokers should be able to go somewhere, be it private dinner clubs or bars, to smoke and have an enjoyable experience.

Chimera said...

There are places where even outside smoking is banned,most hospitals have done so...

Anonymous said...

i know market street inn lets you smoke outside on their deck.

Anonymous said...

Yeah the new Lagoon Deck Bar does not make you go in the parking lot to smoke, but you can't do it under the roof where other people are eating. They do in fact have tall tables outside on the deck for the smokers.

Anonymous said...

I am a smoker and fully approve of the smoking ban.When the law was enacted I decided not to go out with the same regularity. With the money I saved I've renovated my garage, bought a big screen,a refigerator,home theatre system,tables & chairs, and many cooking utensils.When the game is on my friends come to the man cave with their beer and their smokes (if they care to).The problem is my refrigerator stays too full of beer and the liquor cabinet will have to be replaced with a larger one. I feel kind of sorry for the places where I used to spend money,and wish them well.