The Forest Getting Ready for Smoking Ban
I was wondering back in March how The Forest was going to deal with the new smoking ban, now from their Facebook page we learn what the recent work is about.
Next week we demolish the patio, & completely redo it for the new smoking laws. The new patio will be our Non-Smoking section, and the bar will still be Smoking!!!
I must misunderstand the smoking “ban” then?
The patio is going to be an entirely self-contained room, if it follows the footprint of the old perma-tent. I’m guessing if there’s no sharing of air, it’s okay?
I’m so glad our government decided to step in and keep those pesky business owners from making their own decisions…
Smoking is permitted in seperately ventilated areas that are also walled off from non-smoking areas; so yes, Jennifer is correct, there is no sharing of air between the Forests two spaces, and to get to the restrooms, one need not pass through the smoking section.
So the nonsmokers pushed out to the patio. Looks like I will continue to give my business to O’Toole’s. Thankfully we have them in the neighborhood.
Screw the Forest. Stay stinky and ignorant.
How about just don’t go there? I may not take my children there while it’s smoky-only, but their breakfast is outstanding and they’re a very friendly bunch. Once the patio reopens, I’ll take my kids again.
stay free Forest, dont let the govt. twits push you around, glad i wont see Rich there :)
I don’t smoke, but I’ll make it a point to stop in for breakfast sometime and spend a few Libertarian dollars there!
I understand concern about government interference, but a smoking ban makes sense. It is a fact that secondhand smoke can lead to lung cancer and other health problems. This law protects not only the customers, but the employees. Our family will continue to support O’Tooles, Maldinis and Cielito Lindo.
Gauging by the tone of their Facebook entry, the Forest apparently doesn’t value nonsmoking customers. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, because gauging by the taste of their food, any nonsmoking customer (i.e., with taste buds still intact) would never come back anyway.
I have perfectly dandy, functional, nonsmoking taste buds and had a delectable philly cheese steak from them yesterday.
Liberty…enjoy your lung cancer with a side of delicious hash browns :-)
Rich…one question…do you think car exhaust has any carcinogens?
Wait, who is sucking on car exhaust pipes? Grossssss.
Its how you blow up a car isnt it?
Freedom of choice means go if you want, don’t if you want. And oh, all the employees smoke, so much for that “protect the employees” BS
Freedom of choice also means that smokers can choose to quit.
The onus should be on smokers: they are indulging a habit that is detrimental to their health and and the health of those around them.
BTW, I’m a former smoker, so spare me any silly comments.
I’m also a former smoker. I abhor the smell of smoke. I do love businesses that are non-smoking. I’ve lived in places with complete smoking bans to include bars. But I also am ok with businesses that are completely smoking or have a dedicated section.
If I can’t deal with it, I don’t go.
Why is it necessary to pass laws rather than let the market work itself out.
O’Toole’s I’m sure had a bump in business.
Do we have to pass laws because of studies on second hand smoke? If so, we better pass complete restrictive laws on cars, factories, pesticides, power plants, coal mines, food additives, and many other items in our society. But we haven’t yet….. probably because that would be inconvenient for everyone. Better to just attack the evil smokers and where they reside rather than have a comprehensive argument.
Wow, all employees are smokers, not too surprising. I hope the Forest offers good medical insurance.
We all drive cars or ride buses and we breathe the exhaust filled with carcinogens everyday, the ban is nothing but political sophism
We have some fairly restrictive laws on cars, factories, pesticides etc. Maybe you haven’t noticed?
Unleaded gasoline, emissions standards, no more DDT and other pesticides of yore, and so on and so forth….
Letting the market ‘work itself out’ invariably results in the preservation of corporate rights over that of citizens. Not exactly a “we the people” form of government.
LOL
Political views and addictions aside, smoking where and while people are dining has historically been considered to be extremely rude. Hence the custom of gentlemen retiring for brandy and cigars. It still is considered to be rude and/or inconsiderate behavior, and for good reason.
It is indicative of the level of basic good manners (and lack thereof) that simple politeness must be enacted into law. Our society appears to have become militantly rude over the years.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Impolite or not, the fact is it’s not the government’s business to regulate people’s manners. I don’t like passive aggressive holiday greetings, but you don’t see me lobbying for a law against them.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
The degree of scope in your examples:
leaded to unleaded gasoline
emissions standards
removing some pesticides and not others
is analogous to having separately defined and ventilated smoking and non smoking sections.
And is not similar to having an all out ban on smoking or removing the smokers from the planet.
If we are truly concerned with health issues from air pollution we would be spending a lot more time talking about factories and cars and not smoking. Have you seen the size of a cigarette as opposed to a factory smokestack (like in Hopewell). Even if every Richmonder was smoking it does not come close. And if we throw in the cars…..
Go after the real issues.
If it is an issue with rudeness than I’m sorry. Our culture has in the past few decades defined rudeness as anything I don’t participate in or condone. Our tolerance level for behavior, humor, art etc has progressively grown more intolerant.
I think we as a society have more to offer in variety than a stepford wife gap wearing, pottery barn catalog (you know you got one too) uniformity and that required tolerance.
The market works if you vote with your feet. Don’t like Wal-Mart, do like local, go to Blanchard’s – go to the Farmer’s market. Don’t like pesticides – buy organic. Don’t like child labor – Don’t buy the products. Don’t like credit card companies and their onerus fees – don’t use them. You’d be amazed with what happens.
Completely –
we the people
we the educated consumers.
I will warn you though – it may not be as convenient as going after the smokers.
Stephanie,
1) That section back in days of yore could have been called the smoking section.
2) The smoking section is what a lot of people on here are saying they want removed.
Quick question for everyone:
For those who won’t go to the Forest because of the smoking…. would you go to the Forest even if it didn’t have smoking?
It is the Forest.
Or would you prefer a nice wine bar/cafe there in the neighborhood?
Interesting:
A statewide survey of 3,725 restaurant patrons conducted by teenage members of Y Street, a volunteer high school action group sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, suggests otherwise in their findings:
• Eighty-two percent of respondents, including a majority of smokers, think that smoking should not be allowed at all in Virginia restaurants.
• Five out of six survey participants said they would visit restaurants more frequently if those restaurants were completely smoke-free. via
put mufflers on cigatettes
i’ve been to the forrest, the weird thing, if i remember correctly, is you had to go outside to get to the bathroom, which was out back, like an outhouse type thing, is it still that way?