Smoking at Jaxx

[SkiBumMSP]

I just saw an article in the local Fredericksburg paper about how smoking is banned at restaurants in Virginia after Tuesday.

How does this effect Jaxx?  Does this mean there is no more smoking allowed at Jaxx?  

Personally, I'd love to be able to go to these shows there without having to deal with all the smoking, but I would imagine the smokers amongst us would think otherwise.

Also to add - quoting from the article:

Bowling alleys and other recreation-related businesses that sell food count as restaurants under the law, and if they want to continue to allow smoking, they must either cut out all food and beverage service or build a walled-off smoking area.

So, my guess is that Jaxx would also fall into this category, since it is an entertainment/recreation venue that serves food and drink.

[PAZO2FAN]

Well since Jaxx is already split in 2 sections, I would think that they would make the big room where the stage is smoking and the other bar where the kitchen is non smoking if they were under that rule. However I too would love to see all of Jaxx be non smoking. I don't like breathing in all the smoke and I've been burnt by a cigarette a couple of times when its pretty crowded and a person beside me isn't careful where they are holding their cigarette at. But since it is a bar I know it comes with the territory so I just deal with it.

[Dave]

I haven't heard on the issue from Jay yet, but I know he can't stop serving food, bars in Virginia have to sell a certain percentage of food to the amount of alcohol to keep their license. When I hear I will post something.

[Dave]

Ok, Jay told me tonight that the music hall will be non-smoking and smoking will be allowed in the lounge. He wants to try that for a bit but if it doesn't work then the whole building will be non-smoking.

[glamchick]

As a smoker and kind of a regular to Jaxx, I wonder how that will affect my fellow smokers...given that when you enter Jaxx to enjoy a show, and once you go outside, you can't get back in! If it gets to the point where the building is non-smoking, I want to know that if I have an urge to smoke and I have to go outside to do so, I want to be able to get back inside with no problem.

[Dave]

Don't quote me on it, but if he makes the whole place non-smoking I would assume there would be some allowance. But we'll have to see what happens I guess.

[Alex Conti]

I feel for the smokers but this is great news for me.  As far as getting back in I've never had a problem getting back in, as long as you aren't a jerk they won't be a jerk to you. 

[SkiBumMSP]

Ok, Jay told me tonight that the music hall will be non-smoking and smoking will be allowed in the lounge. He wants to try that for a bit but if it doesn't work then the whole building will be non-smoking.

Thanks for the info!  Being a non-smoker myself, I am actually quite ecstatic about it being non-smoking in the music hall section. 

But at the same time, I would hope some allowance will be made for those that do want to step out to enjoy a cig or two.

To bad that I have to go to a Christmas party tomorrow evening, otherwise, I'd come up there for the Z02 show.

I guess the next show will be the Epica one on 1/16th  (first weekend I have available that I am not at the ski hill)

[Imasmf]

Seems to me since people can't discriminate on race, sex or religion they had to find a new group to discriminate against - smokers. This isn't a slam on Jaxx, just on society as a whole. I do think non smokers should have options, but so should smokers. It's gotten way out of hand when the state can make personal decisions for business owners! If smokers and non smokers would just have a mutual respect for each other all this legislation wouldn't be necessary but I guess thats too much to ask.

As a smoker I know it will cut down on my bar/shows I attend. If you want to be up front for a show you can't just leave to go have a smoke. Sometimes we're talking 4-6 hours, thats a long time for a smoker. I mean christ, it's a bar, people that dont even smoke regular smoke when they drink. It just seems funny to me that a person can go out and get shitfaced but lord don't light up a cig while you're getting shitfaced. Strange world.

I realize this is state law and I know Jaxx can do nothing about it, I just think it's wrong.

[Freyjastear]

I do have to agree with ya on that.  I'm an ex-smoker and it would suck to have to wait for the show to stop in between bands to have a smoke, or to just have a casual smoke with a friend to stand outside (and it sucks especially when it's COLD!).  I would also HATE to lose my place where I stand to smoke between bands. :/  I mean shit, people have been smoking in public for THIS long right?  Why are people becoming sissys?  I certainly don't want to lose people coming to shows either!!!

I stand right next to Imasmf on this.

[Dave]

Honestly I agree, I'm an ex-smoker too (been 4 years now) and I think if you're going to a bar you should know what you're in for, sure there's non-smoker rights, but what about smoker's rights?

But,

This is now the way of the World, and I have to say I hate the smell of cigs and I did quit for my health, not to mention thank God I did quit before the price hikes, I wouldn't be able to afford to smoke now LOL (was a 2 1/2 pack a day smoker).

[Imasmf]

but what about smoker's rights?

We have none

[Rodney Davidson]

I have been curious as to how Jaxx was going to handle the non smoking legislation, too.  I'm currently trying to quit as part of a New Year's resolution (it just cost too damn much these days), but I have always felt that such legislation is unconstitutional.  How can you tell a bar owner that he or she cannot light up a legal and federally taxed product on his/her own property?  I say the bar owners should be the decision makers, not state or federal congresses, nor the town hall attendees that operate under the delusion that if they can avoid second (or third hand) smoke, they will live forever.  The free market will always balance the issue: there are currently plenty of restaurants/bars that are "family establishments" and non smoking, because there is a lot of money to made for the Red Robin/Chuck E Cheese corporate heads for thinking up such novel marketing ploys. "Give me liberty, or give me death!" - VA first governor and patriot, Patrick Henry
p.s. - that goes for mandatory seat belt/helmet laws, too!  See you all on Jan. 31!
R Davidson
Baby Jayne

[Djinn]

Your alcohol sales are going to drop on rock nights if people aren't allowed to smoke, outside, or on a balcony of some sort.  Your main concern about going outside is you don't want people drinking in their cars if they're allowed to leave right?  So you need to have some exit that is contained that allows people to smoke. 

When you go to an establishment you expect to be treated like an adult and now its like a middle school mixer and isnt as fun for me.  Even in DC you are allowed to smoke on patios of Lima. 

[Dave]

Do you have a suggestion as to where this contained exit might be?