Subject: Smoking

• Drag King: Bill Hannegan can't stop huffing and puffing about smoking bans in St. Louis

  January 21, 2009

• Fired Up: RFT readers are sharply divided on whether St. Louis bars should be smokeless

  February 4, 2009

• Smoke Signals

  February 1, 2007

• Bowling's Back, Baby!

  September 14, 2007

• Smoke and Mirrors in Hermann, Missouri

  October 3, 2007

• Side Dish

  October 18, 2000

• Town & Country Waffling on Smoking Ban

  Photo by Jennifer Silverberg; Sheriff illustration by Kenn MinterAlderman John Hoffmann wants to put out the butts in Town & CountryLast week's "Butt Heads" feature story did not include stats or insights from munis with less than 15,000 people. Town & Country, with 11,000 inhabitants, thus did not make the cut. But apparently its elected officials are also in a lather over whether or not to push for a regional smoking ban.  Alderman John Hoffmann (featured in a colorful RFT cover s

  June 2, 2009

• St. Louis Non-Smoking Bars/Clubs/Venues: What Are They?

  I've received some really positive feedback so far on my new year's resolutions piece (thanks to those of you who emailed -- I'm catching up on all of that stuff this week), but one letter I received seemed appropriate for a blog entry. A man wrote in and asked me for recommendations on venues and bars that were non-smoking, because he and his wife prefer hanging out at those places. I started thinking about places they could go, but figured that blog readers could also help out with this. Off t

  January 5, 2009

• Mayor Slay Weighs In On Smoking Bans

  My post last week on Mayor Francis Slay's 2009 legislative agenda and its failure to address smoking in city bars and restaurants generated quite a few comments. Most readers of this blog -- it would seem -- disagree with my proposal that the mayor work with St. Louis County and/or state officials to ban on a regional or state-wide level smoking in taverns and eateries. So what does the mayor think? A few days after I posted my thoughts, Slay blogged his opinion on smoking bans. You can read his

  January 6, 2009

• Mayor Slay: "Not Willing to Wait Forever" for County to Approve Smoking Ban

  mayorslay.comThe honorable Francis Slay may be a "butthead" for never getting back to Riverfront Times regarding our survey of local politicians and their views on smoking, but the St. Louis mayor is willing to share his thoughts via his blog. On Sunday the mayor once more blogged about a proposed city-wide smoking ban. Like his previous posts, the mayor is still in favor of a city-wide ban if St. Louis County also establishes a similar prohibition. But it seems Slay is growing somewhat frustrat

  June 2, 2009

• St. Louis Smoking Activist May Soon Find Himself in Statewide Fight

  In case you haven't seen it yet, my RFT colleague Keegan Hamilton has a great story in this week's paper about Bill Hannegan, a smokers' rights activist and founder of the blog Keep St. Louis Free. (As in, keep St. Louis free for smokers.) I won't ruin Keegan's story, but Hannegan has quite a distinguished pedigree. And as I've assumed from some of the comments he's made when I've posted articles on cigarette bans, Hannegan also has a vested interest 

  January 22, 2009

• No Smoking Ban for St. Louis? How Depressing.

  Forget heart disease and lung cancer, which won't kill you for another 30 years or so, researchers from the University of Miami School of Medicine found that exposure to second-hand smoke may double the likelihood of depression:This study confirmed exposure to smoke by measuring cotinine -- a chemical that occurs in blood after breathing in smoke. There were cotinine levels for more than 3,000 non-smoking adults in a federal health study. An additional 92,000 non-smokers only reported if they li

  March 5, 2009

• St. Louis Smokers and Non-Smokers to Face off March 17

  Wikimedia CommonsGet your butts to the debate.Attention all flip-floppers, wafflers and vacillators who still can't make up their minds about whether St. Louis needs a smoking ban (probably the same folks who were "undecided" days before the election), there is a "Smoking Showdown" scheduled on March 17. The event, which will be held at the Regional Arts Commission in the Delmar Loop, will feature a back-and-forth debate between Bob Levy of the CATO Institute (anti ban) and Martin Pion

  March 12, 2009

• Speaking of Smoking Bans, St. Louis Alderwoman May Propose One of Her Own

  Earlier today I wrote how Town & Country officials want to ban smoking in their municipality and all of St. Louis County. stlcin.missouri.orgLyda KrewsonNow comes word through City Hall scribe Jake Wagman that Central West End Alderwoman Lyda Krewson (Ward 28) plans to introduce a bill next week calling for a smoking ban in St. Louis City bars and restaurants. The bill would certainly face stiff opposition from many restaurant owners and -- most importantly -- Mayor Francis Slay. Earlier thi

  April 13, 2009

• Washington University Will Go Entirely Smoke Free Next Year

  All of Washington University's St. Louis campuses will become entirely smoke- and tobacco-free by July of 2010. Current policy prohibits smoking inside any university building. The new ban will prohibit smoking anywhere on university property -- including outdoor areas. "We know it will be difficult for some in the university community, but we believe that this is the right and best policy for the health of all who live, work and study at Washington University," said Chancellor Mark Wrighton in

  April 14, 2009

• Readers get fired up about smoking bans and Hanifan

  January 7, 2009

• Resolution No. '09

  A list of New Year's resolutions for the bands, venues and fans of the local music scene.

  December 31, 2008

• Stocking Stuffing: Ian jots down his 2008 Christmas wish list for the local food scene

  December 24, 2008

• The Daily RFT mourns Mickey Carroll, looks into a report of police brutality and catches up with Catherine Hanaway

  May 20, 2009

• Smokers' Olympics

  Stuff Unreal likes! Plus: We smoke and run and picture Abe Lincoln on a Segway.

  April 9, 2008

• Regional Smoking Ban Gathering Steam

  flickr.com/photos/carolinespicsRegional legislators are taking note a proposed bill in St. Louis City calling for a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The bill, proposed by Central West End alderwoman Lyda Krewson, would not go into effect unless St. Louis County passed a similar ban. Yesterday, St. Louis County Councilwoman Barbara Frasier told KWMU (90.7 FM) that such a bill would force the hand of county legislators -- which voted 4-3 against a county-wide smoking ban a few years back."O

  April 15, 2009

• Puff Piece

  Thank You for Smoking's satire falls short of incendiary

  March 29, 2006

• Bridge to Nowhere

  There were lofty plans for Eats Bridge -- but now it's just a hoosier food court

  July 28, 2004

• Have Anti-Smoking Rules and Regulations Gone Too Far?

  Week of April 23, 2003

  April 23, 2003

• BBQ

  Bandana's

  April 2, 2003

• Indoor Fireworks

  A Teamster tries to smoke out lawbreakers at Schnucks

  July 10, 2002

• Barbecue

  April 17, 2002

• Best Acupuncturist

  September 27, 2000

• Still Dressel's After All These Beers: For three decades and counting, this Central West End stalwart is good for what ales you

  April 29, 2009

• FoodWire: Cicero's Dining Room Goes Non-Smoking

  Delmar Loop institution Cicero's (6691 Delmar Boulevard; Web site) has banned smoking in its dining room before 10 p.m., according to a sign on its front door. Smoking is still allowed in the bar and at concerts.Speaking of smoking bans: The Post-Dispatch has coverage of last night's public hearing on Clayton's proposed smoking ban. (Guess who made the first comment on the article.)

  April 29, 2009

• Enforcement Could Burn City Smoking Ban

  flickr.com/photos/wallygThe ban prompts the questions: Will The Smokers abide? And who will make them?Alderwoman Lyda Krewson's bill banning smoking inside almost all public spaces in the city gets its first reading this morning in front of the Board of Aldermen. The ordinance would only go into effect if/when the St. Louis County Council also enacts a smoking ban. Krewson's bill (available for perusal here) would ban smoking from a laundry list of places, including restaurants, bars, offices, s

  May 1, 2009

• Readers compare St. Louis to Austin and contemplate the Internet's darker sides

  May 13, 2009

• FoodWire: Clayton Smoking Ban Nears Approval

  User "Opa," Wikimedia CommonsThis is usually Daily RFT's beat, but now that it looks definite, I'll post the news here: The Post-Dispatch reports that Clayton is all but certain to pass a ban on smoking in restaurants and most other public places, effective July of 2010. In a nice touch, the only Clayton alderperson to vote against the measure did so because it wasn't strict enough.Predictably, the comment thread is highly entertaining. I have to single out RFT favorite Bill Hannegan for special

  May 27, 2009

• With Clayton Smoking Ban All But Guaranteed, Where is U. City, Creve Coeur and Overland?

  Last night the Clayton board of aldermen gave initial approval to a smoking ban for businesses and restaurants that would go into effect in July 2010. The bill needs one more reading before becoming law, though it looks to be virtual done deal at this point. Just one alderman voted against the ban yesterday and that's because he believes it is too weak. (He'd like to see smoking prohibited in public parks and green spaces, as well.) When the ban becomes law, Clayton will become only the second o

  May 27, 2009

• Butt Heads: At the State Capitol, a Different Set of Smoking Rules Applies

  May 27, 2009

• Butt Heads: Want to know where our public officials stand on smoking bans? OK, we'll ask 'em!

  May 27, 2009

• Readers on inmates' last meals, idiot Americans and smoking bans

  May 27, 2009

• Readers are mad for (and about) St. Louis' most famous Hungarian

  June 10, 2009

• Gone Are the Days When Bars & Restaurants Simply Stopped Allowing Smoking...

  ...in light of all the hullabaloo surrounding potential smoking bans, going smoke-free is now apparently an act worthy of a press release. To wit: The Fox & Hounds, at the Cheshire Lodge, is now prohibiting smoking, per a statement sent to RFT today."This isn't about the rules or financial impact, it's about a quality of life for my family, staff, hotel and bar guests as well as anyone who chooses to use or be in this lodge," says owner Dan Apted, in the release. "I have gone through effects

  June 15, 2009

• The Verdict on Kansas City's Smoking Ban: Put Out Your Butts, People

  Wikimedia CommonsKansas City is free to enforce its indoor smoking ban, per an order issued yesterday by the Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District. According to a story today in the Kansas City Star, "Enforcement of the Kansas City smoking ordinance plays an important part in protecting the health of our citizens and improving the quality of life in our city," said Assistant City Attorney Lowell Gard.KC back in April 2008 adopted a smoking ban for bars and restaurants. JC's Sports Bar chall

  June 24, 2009

• Calls for Smoking Bans Push Forward in Kirkwood, Wildwood; Hearing Tomorrow in St. Louis

  deviantart.comNot one of the seventh-grade Wildwood students proposing a smoking ban.The St. Louis Board of Elections yesterday certified that a petition drive for a smoking ban in Kirkwood had enough signatures to require action.If the Kirkwood City Council does not deal with the issue by September 5, the matter would go to a public vote. A similar smoking ban vote in Kirkwood failed in 2006 when 54 percent of the 14,300 voters rejected it. Also yesterday in Wildwood, the City Council held a he

  July 8, 2009

• Clayton Passes Smoking Ban

  Yesterday we mentioned that the Clayton Board of Aldermen was set to vote last night on an ordinance prohibiting smoking in the city's restaurants and bars. And today we're back to report that the measure passed. By next July all bars and restaurants in the city (and 80 percent of hotel rooms) must be smoke free indoors. Smoking on outdoor patios will be permitted. Clayton joins Ballwin and Arnold as the only St. Louis area municipalities in Missouri to pass a smoking ban. Other cities consideri

  July 15, 2009

• Here's Betting Kirkwood Voters Will Approve a Smoking Ban in November

  flickr.com/photos/lolololoriAdorable downtown KirkwoodAfter a citizen's group forced the Kirkwood City Council to consider an initiative to ban smoking in city bars and restaurant, the measure will now go before voters. Earlier this month Kirkwood residents opposed to public smoking collected enough signatures to bring the ban before the city council. At last night's council meeting, the board declined to pass the initiative, meaning city residents will now vote on the ban in November. In 2006,

  July 17, 2009

• St. Louis County Residents Could Vote on Smoking Ban In November

  flickr.com/photos/carolinespicsBut first the County Council must pass a proposal that would allow residents a voice in the matter. The council could vote on the proposed referendum as early as tonight, allowing the issue to go before voters in November. Council member Barbara Fraser tells the Post-Dispatch this morning: "I think a ban would be great for the county, and the timing is good. For some time now, I have been hearing from many municipalities, and particularly from my constituents, that

  July 21, 2009

• Cigar and Pipe Association Denounces Proposed Smoking Ban in St. Louis County

   Ever hear of the IPCPR? No? Well, they're not quite the NRA, but they do lobby hard for what they believe is a fundamental right for all Americans: the right to smoke in public. Today the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association sent out a release alerting media that it will fight a bill that would have residents of St. Louis County vote on an indoor smoking ban for bars, restaurants and other businesses. "We want to go on record as being against this proposed ban and a

  July 24, 2009

• Smoking Ban Opponents Launch Advertising Campaign -- On Christian Radio?

  keepstlouisfree.blogspot.com​Keep St. Louis Free, a group opposed to local smoking-ban efforts, launched this week an advertising campaign to try to block such a ban from going up for public vote in St. Louis County. Bill Hannegan -- spokesman and founder of Keep St. Louis Free -- mentioned the advertisement in a comment to a blog post I wrote last Friday.Hannegan mentioned that the ad may eventually run on KMOX (1120 AM). For now, though, the ad (available for your listening pleasure here) is

  July 28, 2009

• St. Louis is no fun — and that's a good thing! Plus: Obama's pants, an allegedly felonious Purina fat cat and more.

  July 29, 2009

• Smoking-Ban Bill Smolders in County Council

  flickr.com/photos/epzibah​A bill that would allow residents of St. Louis County to vote on an indoor smoking ban, was again debated at a County Council meeting last night but did not move any closer to a vote. Action was delayed after council members and the public did not receive copies of the proposed legislation until after last night's meeting already began. Clouding the issue even more is that the bill now contains two separate provisions. One would exempt from the ban casinos and bars th

  July 29, 2009

• St. Louis County Council Gives Preliminary Approval to a Weakened Smoking Ban

  The St. Louis County Council voted 4-3 last night to move forward on a bill that would ask residents to vote on a smoking ban on the Nov. 3 ballot.The bill exempts casinos from the ban as well as taverns that generate more than 75 percent of their revenue from alcohol sales. Those exemptions would be rescinded, though, if the state or St. Louis City passes a tougher smoking ban that prohibits tobacco use in those facilities.

  August 5, 2009

• Latest Hole In County Smoking Ban: Bar Owners Would Follow Honor System

  "We qualify for exemption from the ban -- Scout's honor." ​The bill that could go before voters banning smoking in some St. Louis County establishments would rely on the word of bar owners to determine whether or not their tavern should be excluded from the ban. As the bill currently reads, casinos and bars that generate 75 percent or more of their sales from alcohol would be excluded from the ban. But the county does not plan to check the sales receipts from bars and taverns to make sure they

  August 19, 2009