Comments on: TJ is Rolling http://www.outskirts.com/2009/11/10/tj-is-rolling/ ...small town life Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:28:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John B http://www.outskirts.com/2009/11/10/tj-is-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-3579 John B Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:29:31 +0000 http://www.outskirts.com/?p=1411#comment-3579 I disagree. While I'm not a fan of laws that inhibit personal freedom (although I'm also not a fan of cigarette smoke), I think that the new law could have a POSITIVE effect on business, especially in drinking establishments. I lived in Massachusetts when they passed a similar law, and everyone was worried that this would be the death of the local pub. But the reverse occurred: suddenly the pubs were filling up with people who had never come because of the smoke and dingy atmosphere. It also limited the time the barflys spent inside, turning over the seats and freshening up the scene. It's true that C-ville's restaurants may not be exactly analogous to the 25+ tap pubs of the Bay State, but the effect might be the same. Rapture might find that a whole new set of people suddenly want to come. I disagree. While I’m not a fan of laws that inhibit personal freedom (although I’m also not a fan of cigarette smoke), I think that the new law could have a POSITIVE effect on business, especially in drinking establishments. I lived in Massachusetts when they passed a similar law, and everyone was worried that this would be the death of the local pub. But the reverse occurred: suddenly the pubs were filling up with people who had never come because of the smoke and dingy atmosphere. It also limited the time the barflys spent inside, turning over the seats and freshening up the scene.

It’s true that C-ville’s restaurants may not be exactly analogous to the 25+ tap pubs of the Bay State, but the effect might be the same. Rapture might find that a whole new set of people suddenly want to come.

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