SMOKING RANT

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, NEVADA PASSED THEIR NO-SMOKING LAWS, THANKS, IN PART, TO THE MANY CALIFORNIA TRANSPLANTS WHO LOVE TO LEGISLATE EVERYTHING.  SMOKING AND GAMBLING GO TOGETHER LIKE FISH AND CHIPS, PEAS AND CARROTS, POLITICIANS AND SEX …….

SO THE BIG AND POWERFUL CASINOS MANAGED TO GET THE LAW PASSED THAT THERE IS NO – SMOKING ANYWHERE THERE IS CHILDREN OR FOOD.  THIS LEFT THE BIG CASINO FLOORS SMOKING.  SURE THERE IS NO-SMOKING IN THE REST OF THE PUBLIC AREAS AND RESTAURANTS.

THIS LEFT THE $7 BURGER JOINTS AND TAVERNS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND SLOT MACHINES.  A TUFF CHOICE TO BE SURE, WHEN THEIR BUSINESS MODELS ARE BUILT ON THE PROFITS OF THE 15 BAR TOP, SLOT MACHINES, AND THE FOOD COMING OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE NO-SMOKING LAWS WAS LEFT UP TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND IT WAS THE SMOKER WHO WAS ARRESTED AND FINED, NOT THE ESTABLISHMENT. 

OF COURSE AN INDIAN RESERVATION IS A SOVERIGN NATION AND IGNORED THE NO-SMOKING RULES. ISN’T THAT AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE?

I WAS AT PT’S, A 24-HOUR, $7 BURGER JOINT WITH SLOTS, IN VEGAS, WHERE THEY HAVE ABOUT 30 LOCATIONS.  AFTER BREAKFAST I ORDERED A BEER AND ASKED FOR AN ASHTRAY?  THE BARTENDER SAID SORRY WE CAN’T PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ASHTRAY, BUT IMMEDIATELY SET UP A HALF A GLASS OF WATER FOR ME TO DROP MY CIGARETTE BUTTS IN.

IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE, MARY AND I HAD DROPPED THE HONDA OFF FOR SERVICE AT THE HONDA DEALER ON SAHARA AVE AND WALKED DOWN A FEW BLOCKS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD TAVERN. AS WE WERE SMOKING AND DRINKING THE BARTENDER CAME UP AND OFFERED US LUNCH.  WE BOTH HAD BLUE PLATE SPECIALS AND WERE ASKED TO DONATE A FEW DOLLARS.  SO, I GUESS THEY REALLY WEREN’T SELLING FOOD?

THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS A CAN OF WORMS.  LOT’S PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS AS RESTARUANTS AND BARS CLOSED, SLOT ROUTES WENT BROKE. THE SMOKING POLICE (HEALTH DEPT.) COULDN’T ENFORCE, AND THERE WAS A STIPULATION IN THE ORIGINAL NO-SMOKING LAW THAT IT COULDN’T BE CHANGED FOR FIVE YEARS.

TODAY, AFTER FIVE YEARS, THERE IS A SMOKING LAW PASSED BY THE LEGISLATORS LAYING ON THE GOVERNORS DESK TO ALLOW SMOKING IN ADULT TAVERNS WITH FOOD.

IT’S A SMOKING LAW !!! GOD I LOVE NEVADA !!!