It’s coming
One week from today a lot of restaurant/bars in Atlanta will stop being “family-friendly” and become 18+. That’s right, the smoking ban starts on July 1 and places like the Vortex Bar and Grill are going to stop serving to minors so that their adult patrons can smoke. As they put it:
We are saddened that the State government is forcing us to limit the choices we offer our clientele, but since The Vortex was established as a social gathering place for adults, we will continue to offer the option of smoking to our patrons.
Therefore, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2005 you must be 21 years old to enter The Vortex.
For some reason, I’m reminded of the Simpson’s where all the single people start banning families from restaurants.
Did you see the AJC’s story about it today?
They interviewed The Vortex’s Michael Benoit and, strangely, characterized his thoughts about the ban this way:
“While Benoit welcomes the new law, not everyone is happy about it.”
What part of “We are saddened that the State government is forcing us to limit the choices we offer our clientele” — a phrase printed on countless flyers strewn throughout the restaurant, did the AJC’s reporter not understand?
Uhm, does it make sense to anyone that to protect people from smoking they’re only allowing 21 year olds to enter, despite the fact that you only have to be 18 to smoke?
Finally a law I agree with 100%.
I’m not a smoker and have a self diagnosed allergy to cigar/cigarette smoke.
I’m not THAT big a fan of the Vortex becuz of the smoke anyway. So now I’ll have to make my tatertots at home or better yet … visit my kid at school during his lunch break…
The prospect of kid-free dining at plenty of places where kids shouldn’t be anyway is actually appealing to me.
I don’t think kids should be in bars — what kind of parent wants their child in a bar — unless they are over 18? — Parents that are sitting their drinking with their buddies and not paying attention to their children, that’s who — otherwise, they would take them to a FAMILY or non-smoking, non-hard drinking establishment.
Nikki – That prospect is appealing to me also, but I think it should probably be better left up to the individual restaurant instead of legislated down.
irleyes – But Vortex was a family restaurant that also had a bar attached to it… now, bye bye family…
And that would be a bad thing because…? ;)
On a philosophical level, I understand the problems with the smoking ban. But personally? Hell, I’m happy about it. I hate breathing cigarette smoke.
Ummm… Jen, I just realized that the law says that the place can allow smoking and let 18 year olds in. It’s just the Vortex that is going with the 21 lower age limit. I guess they figure if they’re cutting off minors they may as well just allow only drinkers in. Probably a higher profit margin that way.
I’ll tell you what kind of parent takes their kids to a bar, a good egg. I’ve taken my kids to Vortex…anything to get my lips around another Vortex burger. Mmmmm. Wouldn’t take the kids during the evening…lunch only.
I think they should ban smoking in all public places. Screw smokers, they’re dirty and they stink.