Smoking and Strip Clubs...

avatar for shadowcat
shadowcat
Atlanta suburb
I am a heavy smoker. Been doing it for over 50 years and do not have plans to quit. I understand that many of you do not smoke and appreciate the clubs that have banned it (mostly due to recent law changes). I can appreciate your concerns about the smell. I hate cigar smoking in clubs for the same reason. I do not believe in the health risks from 2nd hand smoke.

In Georgia smoking is prohibited in most public establishments. If a place derives more income from alcohol than food, it is permitted. In my city only 4 out of 50+ restaurants qualify. I don't know of any strip clubs in the state that have banned it.

In South Carolina (tobacco country)a similar law was enacted recently. How it affects strip clubs is in review. If they enforce the ban to strip clubs, my favorite club intends to continue allowing smoking and pay the monthly fine. Smaller clubs won't be able to afford this and will suffer.

In Ohio, per TUSCL_Brother, The clubs have gone to outside smoking areas. Who wants to go outside with temps below freezing?

The FED's recently increased the sin tax on cigarettes by 62 cents a pack (alcohol also increased). That means another $6.20 per carton but I have found that prices have actually increased by $8-10 per carton. The manufactures and retailers have also raised their prices and are blaming it all on the new FED tax. BS. By price comparison at several places, I have found Pall Mall is now the cheapest. Even below generics.

What is the greater health risk smoking or obesity?

Light em up! While you can!

26 comments

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avatar for jayc
jayc
16 years ago
New Jersey & New York City are no smoking also.
avatar for minnow
minnow
16 years ago
Of course CA is also non-smoking. Some Tampa clubs (Mons, 2001) have been non-smoking for a few years. Some OH clubs have enclosed seperate patio for smoking.
avatar for Book Guy
Book Guy
16 years ago
I go to strip clubs IN ORDER to smoke. I'm "in the closet" about the fact that I smoke a pipe, generally. Some people know. My family doesn't. I have a wonderful collection of briars and like to take them out and polish them up, but I don't use them around the house or at any gatherings with relatives.

So, I take them out with me to places like strip clubs. When Houston made it impossible to smoke within strip clubs, I essentially lost half the reason that I'd go to Treasures or Centerfolds. They'd better darn well have some smoking women who will smoke my pipe, because I can't smoke there any more. If not, I leave.
avatar for zorro
zorro
16 years ago
I hate smoky clubs. Be fine with me if all clubs banned smoking.
avatar for Dudester
Dudester
16 years ago
To non smokers, it really really is unfair going home with clothes that take three washes to get rid of the overwhelming stench. Shadowcat, and other smokers, imagine for a second that you had to exist in a closed area where someone was having some serious flatulence and body odor problems. That's what it's like to be in a smoker's area.

I have to hand it to St. James club (Houston). I was visiting my friend there last night. A dancer came onstage and the smoke pumps went into overdrive. For thirty seconds, you couldn't see anything. Thirty seconds later the air was crystal clear. Smoking is allowed in the club, but you don't go home with a stench, unless the stripper you're with smokes.
avatar for nj_pete
nj_pete
16 years ago
Yup, the smoke is a problem if I stop at a clube on my way home. Dont want any "clues: or thinsg to have to explain!
avatar for SuperDude
SuperDude
16 years ago
I am an occasional cigar smoker, but at home only, never in a resturant or only in SCs that claim they have cigars for sale. If asked, I move or put it out. The smell of smoke on my clothing is what tipped my ex-wife off to my stops on the way home. I have no problems with smokers in bars, clubs or public places that are set aside for that purpose. Some of my ATFs smoke, so what am I going to do? Michigan is in a battle on proposals banning smoking in bars, SCs and casinos. When Windsor, Ontario, Canada banned smoking in casinos, traffic dropped, dramatically, over there and a lot of the regular gamblers came through the tunnel to hit the Detroit casinos The Greektown Casino right accross the street from the Bouzuki Club.
SC patrons should accept the fact that smoking will take place in clubs and let it be.
avatar for arbeeguy
arbeeguy
16 years ago
Shadowcat asked which is harder on your health, smoking or obesity? Who gives a shit? They are BOTH hard on your health. All you smokers, you have my sympathy. I suspect every last one of you is ADDICTED to nicotine. It is a very powerful and damaging addiction. I know I am addicted to strip clubs. Glad I don't have to cope with the nicotine addiction to boot.
avatar for Ms.DurtyMilf
Ms.DurtyMilf
16 years ago
Dudester....i am a dancer and a smoker. if you had ever spent 30 minutes back stage in the dressing area, you would prefer the smell of smoke!
avatar for jaxman5150
jaxman5150
16 years ago
I got to love WV. Can still smoke, have full bars and full nude in any club. Maybe one day that will all change but right now its great. I am an occasional cigar smoker.
avatar for Clubber
Clubber
16 years ago
I am not a smoker, but it pisses me off that the government tells bars, restaurants, clubs, whatever, what they may and may not allow in their own establishment! I am NEVER forced to enter an establishment, yet they are forced to make their place as others wish it!

As far as a SC, the only problem I have with smoking is a dancer that does smoke and gets right in my face. I can handle that and do not need the government to "help" me!
avatar for casualguy
casualguy
16 years ago
I do believe second hand smoke is a health hazard. Especially if it's so smoky you can't hardly even see across a small office area or it looks real foggy. I developed a constant cough for a while because at one time the smokers were not allowed to smoke out in the shop but could in the office areas. Fortunately for me, they banned smoking (due to national health concerns and the lawsuits risks)in most offices across the nation about that time I believe (roughly 14 years ago perhaps). Before then smoking in the office was routine. I'm not a smoker and my cough went away. I don't stop dancers from lighting up in a strip club either. I hope they have good ventilation in the club. A ban on smoking wouldn't bother me as far as the smoke part went. What would concern me is the role of our government and the people believing that our governments need to protect us from everything. What's going to be next after smoking? A ban on alcohol, strip clubs? I don't want the government trying to protect me from every single little thing nor do I expect it. All the people in this nation that expect the government to do everything for them I am concerned that they are going to let our government dictate to everyone what we can and can't do.
avatar for casualguy
casualguy
16 years ago
If our government continued to dictate everything we could do I could see this progression of government rules. Maybe a bit accelerated. 2 years ban on smoking in all public places, 4 years ban on smoking even in homes except by permit for those addicted, 6 years restrictions on number of drinks allowed to serve to a single customer, 8 years reduction in number of drinks allowed per customer, 10 years alcohol declared a health hazard and requires permits for an individual to consume alcohol. You have to show your permit to have a drink. 12 years our government starts setting guideline for proper sex (they probably already do this but it's not too public), 14 years government sets further restrictions, you get the picture

Hopefully the people will rebel before things are allowed to get that extreme.
avatar for casualguy
casualguy
16 years ago
To sum up I won't fight smoking bans, however I draw the line there against our governments trying to dictate what we can and can't do. Governments seek power I believe and we need to let our governments know that they are there to serve us not the other way around.
avatar for Fibber
Fibber
16 years ago
one of the reasons i cannot do local strip clubs - instant recognition by the wife from the cigarette smell

Hence the few reviews i leave when i do get out of town
avatar for samsung1
samsung1
16 years ago
I know one club in Columbus, OH (Kahoot's) that now has a heated indoor smoker's patio. Ever since it was installed it seems like I can not leave the club any more without smelling like cigarettes.

Do cigarettes have an expiration date? I would buy as many as possible before more tax hikes. I own stock in Altria Group (because I used to smoke myself), and it is doing better than my other stocks in this recession
avatar for samsung1
samsung1
16 years ago
If a club wants to ban smoking than that should be up to the individual club owners. NOT the government. I also read something about how in liberal San Francisco, Pharmacy/Drug store owners are not allowed sell cigarettes. The pharmacy can sell anti-smoking stuff and anti-smoking medications like Chantix, but not the cigarettes themselves.
avatar for Clubber
Clubber
16 years ago
casualguy,

Sort of like, "We'll just ban cigarette advertising from magazine.", and from there it has progressed. They are already dictating what can be done in clubs, and even hold clubs responsible for the actions of customers (IE: getting drunk and driving).

There are some states, NOW, that have started to take notice of the 10th amendment. Amendment X states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Sort of limits most anything the federal government can do. It is so simple, yet the lemmings of the this country follow blindly!
avatar for LoneLurker
LoneLurker
16 years ago
An Austin club I visited had an outdoor smoking area. I'm not sure whether or not it's a city-wide requirement.

I don't smoke. I understand that it's highly addictive and it takes enormous willpower and discipline to stop.

I do enjoy clubs that do not allow smoking; my favorite club does and I most always reek when I leave, particularly if I've made a night-time visit.

I too fear more and more government intrusion into our lives. However, in this case I think it makes sense. I think the science on second-hand smoke is pretty clear. Though patrons can choose whether or not to enter the club, consider the exposure that employees get who work there day after day. Even if I choose to patronize the business as a non-smoker, my exposure is minimal compared to that of an employee.

I suppose you could make the argument that the employees have a choice as to whether to work there or not. But, if this were an industrial setting and there was a known, harmful, air contaminant present that could fairly simply be eliminated, would you think the management of the industry would be allowed to ignore it because the employees chose to work there?

The problem could likely be addressed with once-through air handling systems or filters for recirculated air (maybe St. James in Houston has such a system?), but I suspect there would be a significant capital and/or ongoing costs associated with it.

Note that I'm not boycotting my favorite club because of this. ;)
avatar for SuperDude
SuperDude
16 years ago
LoneLurker has hit on something. I had a problem living in high rise with fellow tenants on both sides who were heavy smokers. The smoke came through the vents. I found a web site for air purification systems, but couldn't afford even the small one for my apartment. There must be air purification systems that would work in most clubs, but I'm sure, as LoneLurker points out, the club would face a heavy capital outlay to install it. And as all businessmen ask, will there be an increase in traffic and revenue sufficient to offset the expense and grow profit.
avatar for Clubber
Clubber
16 years ago
LL & SD,

So then in your opinions, who and where decides what can be controlled by the federal government? You might get into an "argument of the beard"!
avatar for shadowcat
shadowcat
16 years ago
When I posted this topic, I never would have guessed at the number of reply's. Forgetting the politics of it, I know a lot of dancers that chew gum between smoking, so they don't smell like cigarettes. So many in fact that I now carry a pack of gum for them. Question. How do you get the sticky stuff off your dick before going home?
avatar for DandyDan
DandyDan
16 years ago
I am a nonsmoker and have never seen the appeal of smoking. It smells and it looks bad. I am personally glad that they have no-smoking laws in place. The people who resent government's intrusion on their lives in regards to smoking forget about the citizen's rights to breath clean air. I also thought a lot of the legislation involved lobbyists representing restaurant and bar workers, who have to work around it all the time. One of my coworkers works parttime as a bartender and says that is the best thing they ever did.

As for how it works out for strip clubs, at least here in the Midwest, the thing I can't stand is at most of the ones I go to, you have them all smoking at the front door, so you got to walk through a bunch of them to get in. The one club at least has a private place in the back for dancers to smoke. I think there is also one bad side effect of all the smoking they do, which is when you want a lapdance from a certain dancer, she's outside and you have to wait, or else get one from someone else.
avatar for jeffers
jeffers
16 years ago
I quit smoking in 1985 and for the longest time second hand smoke didn't bother me. But now there's few things more nauseating than the smoke from someone's cigarette going directly into my nostrils. And it seems that a significantly higher percentage of dancers and strip club patrons smoke than among the public at large.

That said, I'm with those who don't like the government banning smoking in public places. I'm all for completely rolling back the Nanny State!
avatar for LoneLurker
LoneLurker
16 years ago
Clubber,

You ask a really broad, open-ended question. I'll restrict my answer to the topic at hand. I think that activities engaged in by individuals or entities that clearly and negatively impact the health of others are reasonably regulated by the government.

jeffers,
I respectfully disagree with your application of the label "Nanny State" to this issue. When I talk about "Nanny State" laws and regulations, I'm thinking of things like mandatory seatbelt laws and anti recreational drug use laws that attempt to "protect us from ourselves" by outlawing behaviors that don't affect others. I think this is a case where the government is protecting the health of non smokers from the negative effects smoking by others in close proximity. Again, I think that is an appropriate role of government.

Thanks for the discussion, guys.
avatar for desotophil
desotophil
16 years ago
I don't smoke but it's your choice if you do. However, smoking is kinda like driving drunk, it's not a great idea for the person that does it, but it directly impacts the public without giving them a choice. I don't mind being in a place where people are smoking and I sure don't mind if a honey I'm attracted to wants to smoke. The problem I have is like a lot of peoples comments, it's a tell tale issue when I get home and smell like smoke. Getting harder and harder to explain since so many places now have banned smoking.
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