The Gay Blades can mince over to their local bar/restaurant and suck on their fags all day long; however, that does not do much for the law abiding citizen/customer who prefers a smoke free environment.

just so i understand , the guys who smoked 3 packs a day and now have lung problems tell
us we can't have ciggie in sports bar. ok got it

To be honest I think the thread became generalised and more about all restaurants and bars, their owners and their right to allow smoking or not and of course the right of the customer to pick and choose whether they frequent those bars or not and it's quite fair if the subject title is changed permanently, it's not fair if the Elephant is given a bad rep when the issue is more widespread. As I said earlier, smoking is a a VERY emotive subject and both sides tend to fight their corner, I choose to give places that allow smoking a miss as do a lot of other people it would seem and to be perfectly honest I think it's a commercial decision on behalf of the bar owner. It's not a case of being namby pamby or limp wristed, if you don't smoke, smoking is in the main offensive, it doesn't make us bad people because we choose not to drink or eat in that environment. Strangely the one thing I do miss is a Cuban, there's nothing nicer than a glass of brandy and a R&J, trouble is if I smoke one that'd be me back on the fags.

I think the subject title I've chosen is a fair one and I shall ask UM if they'll amend it accordingly, if they can't I think it's only fair we don't continue posting on this thread as it's singling out one bar, unfairly, unless of course anyone else objects?

Laan Yaa Mo wrote: ↑

October 10, 2018, 9:54 am

The Gay Blades can mince over to their local bar/restaurant and suck on their fags all day long; however, that does not do much for the law abiding citizen/customer who prefers a smoke free environment.

I am not sure which of the following is more frustrating.

1 - There are no-smoking laws in Thailand with clearly stated penalties.

2 - The Royal Thai Police

vincemunday wrote: ↑

October 10, 2018, 10:25 am

To be honest I think the thread became generalised and more about all restaurants and bars, their owners and their right to allow smoking or not and of course the right of the customer to pick and choose whether they frequent those bars or not and it's quite fair if the subject title is changed permanently, it's not fair if the Elephant is given a bad rep when the issue is more widespread. As I said earlier, smoking is a a VERY emotive subject and both sides tend to fight their corner, I choose to give places that allow smoking a miss as do a lot of other people it would seem and to be perfectly honest I think it's a commercial decision on behalf of the bar owner. It's not a case of being namby pamby or limp wristed, if you don't smoke, smoking is in the main offensive, it doesn't make us bad people because we choose not to drink or eat in that environment. Strangely the one thing I do miss is a Cuban, there's nothing nicer than a glass of brandy and a R&J, trouble is if I smoke one that'd be me back on the fags.

I think the subject title I've chosen is a fair one and I shall ask UM if they'll amend it accordingly, if they can't I think it's only fair we don't continue posting on this thread as it's singling out one bar, unfairly, unless of course anyone else objects?

Good work vince. I hope the thread title change is done. If not, maybe the mods can close this thread and start a new one titled as you suggest? All's fair and as you say it is an emotive subject (the VERY depends on the individual) and it would be good to have a blameless, factual, where-to-go guide for those with health issues (like the OP who made a meal of this subject and this bar) and others who generally find it an irritant.

When it comes to stogies, I was a 60-day Marlboro man up until some time in my 30's when I had an epiphany. When I started getting seriously into cigars about 10 years ago (that's maybe after a ~15 year totally smokeless gap), I was told it was the slippery slope but it hasn't been the case. I enjoy a cigar or two with some beers on a weekend night and maybe a robusto once a week after dinner. The nature of my work also prevents me lighting up a cigar as I can't take a 1 hour break (and a snifter of cognac) for smoko. To enjoy a cigar, one needs still air and time and anywhere with a fan makes that a bit of a no-hoper.

I think I'll (fully) retire next year and open Udon's first cigar bar staffed with eye-candy who know how to get your nub burning evenly. George at the TAP had an excellent selection of cigars recently but some bugger came in and bought the bloody lot! I wonder if he's flogged 'em on eBay yet?

Really?

tamada wrote: ↑

October 10, 2018, 9:47 am

So, in summing up, is this thread yet another stitch up of a regular Udon farang bar owners business or a legitimate gripe about smoking in other bars and restaurants?

Since the suggested list of places for smokers to avoid still hasn't been put up by any of the usual bellyachers, the title of the thread stands as an incorrect and improper reference to the actual complaint of the (no-longer responsive) OP. So I've taken the one-off opportunity of changing the title just for this post.

The Elephant Bar is OPEN AIR with FANS and a great social venue with very good food. If a waft of ciggy smoke gets on your tits, you'll have a gay old time when I drop by an light up a stogie. As a special favor though, I'll wait until the food you ordered has been placed on the table before firing up.

I guess the upside of a specific 'clean air dining venue' thread (that STILL hasn't been created BTW), will be the broad notification of the very few places where all the namby pamby, limp-wristed, perpetually gurning, legends in their own lunchtime farangs hang out, swap notes on who's saying what on which forum, how much they drop on a tab, just how simply bloody wonderful they are and how most clever bar owners would be a fool not to want them as a regular paying customer.

LMFAO!!!
I'm an occasional cigar smoker. I don't go out for a Scotch so I can be exiled to the sidewalk as my drink gets warm. I never smoke in enclosed places. Open air bars that welcome smokers are a wonderful thing, and the PC douche bags can all go have themselves a good cry somewhere. Don't like my cigar smoke in an open air bar? As they say in New York: Go f--- yourself.

Hi please use this thread to voice your opinion on smoking or indeed not smoking in bars and restaurants in Udon. Personally I choose not to smoke in bars that do allow it but respect the rights of those managers and punters who think it's okay.

As a reformed smoker (2 years now) I can honestly say that I never smoked in establishments where people were eating, height of bad manners. In a bar where everyone is on the piss go for it, most people dont care. Enclosed bars that have food NoNo open front bars,dont care anymore.

Smoking in bars is okay by me cause I never go to one, but smoking in a restaurant, definite no no .I wonder why people would want to eat in a bar ?

Old Grumpy wrote: ↑

October 10, 2018, 8:13 pm

Smoking in bars is okay by me cause I never go to one, but smoking in a restaurant, definite no no .I wonder why people would want to eat in a bar ?

Sometimes the food is quite good. We are not all evangelists.

I never go to bars so it does not bother me if someone lights up or not. but it is difficult to fathom why anyone would want to have such a nasty habit as smoking. What is the point?

Smoking or vaping of any kind should be banned in restaurants

I have never smoked but most of the people that I know in Udon do. If it is an open plan I don't give a ----. I value friendship over the smoking issue and I don't like to dictate to people what they should do.

I am a ex smoker now vape.but i have never smoked in a restaurant ever.but in a bar yes i have,

Afew years ago , when the Russians were plentyful down in Patts , ,i was surprised when the first restaurant i walked into most people were smoking ,looking round i then noticed it was Russian owned , seems they didn't give a toss , it was shortly after the ban was brought in , at the time all the bars were adhering to the ban , but then they brought in extra seat's to place on the outer edges of the bars for people to smoke , i'm ex smoker 2&1/2 years now one of those lucky ones were unless it's blown directly into my face ,it doesn't bother me ,so my advice is instead of spitting the dummy out about certain bars on here , YOU HAVE FEET , JUST WALK ON BY

Hoopoe "YOU HAVE FEET , JUST WALK ON BY" simple sound advice. and congratulations on quitting, just coming up to 21 months for me

Yep couldn't agree more, it's everyone's right to sit or not sit anywhere they like for any reason. Smoking's a toughie, the smoke is very hard to contain and to be honest it smells horrible, I stopped about 15 years ago but I still fancy a cigarette every now and again, it's a tough thing to give up and I admire anyone that quits, it takes huge amounts of determination. At the end of the day it has to be a commercial decision by the bar/restaurant owners, they have to decide where they will be better placed financially, as I've said on the other thread, the busiest bars I've been to in Udon don't allow smoking but they don't cater for farang either.

It's really down to sifting out the bars that serve food where alcohol sales are the primary revenue stream rather than actual restaurants that serve primarily food. The latter will be pretty much guaranteed to be compliant with the law and likely to have a dedicated smoking area. The bar with a good kitchen is the tough nut to crack as you may go one day and there's maybe only 1 or 2 smokers, the wind blows the right way and it is all hunky dory. Then you go back a couple of weeks later and it coincides with a regulars birthday or even a sports fixture and the place is heaving with guys on gaspers. Just add it to the knowledge base and go back when you know it's less likely to be ghastly. Just don't expect owners to ask half a dozen guys to stub out their smokes while you enjoy your steak & kidney pie.

And DEFINITELY don't post negative opinions about the size of owners brain, genitals or wife either.

I am an ex- ciggie smoker and a semi-regular cigar guy but I can't stand cigarette smoke in my face regardless if I am eating or even having a cigar. There's some smokers who need the burning fag in their hand and waving about scattering ashes as they talk. Then there's others that seem to be unable to properly stub it out in the ashtray. Then you get that delightful, burning filter aroma. I have been known to quietly drop an ice cube in the ashtray of serial offenders.

On the other extreme, you have the more emotive non-smoking diner who finds the smell of stale cigarettes on other patrons clothes as just a bridge too far. IMHO, there's no hope for them and they best stay at home and do food panda or similar.

As Bamber Gascoigne used to say, "Here's your starter for 10..."

Udon TAP: No smoking inside but plenty, comfy places to smoke out front and in the beer garden bit.
Chris's Place: No smoking inside, table for up to 4, 5 or 6 (depending on the fat guys) out front for the smokers.
Le Gallery: Not allowed inside but decent, quiet (ok... sometimes rowdy) smokers playtime area out front.
T-Bar: Not inside, small table outside for those that do.
Elephant: Smoking allowed. Shouldn't be too hard to get a table away from any smoke and they have fans too.
Brick House: I imagine that smoking is allowed out front but not inside? Not a regular there so maybe someone who is (and smokes) can correct me since it is an open-plan, non-aircon place.

Here's me being socially conscious last night in Rangoon...
I was the only bugger in the bar for all happy hour and other customers only started showing up well after I had finished the stogie (and was well bladdered).

in reply to tamada post the Brick House does allow smoking inside and out but due to the different area layout you can usually find a table far enough away from smokers so it dosent affect you I had a friend in there with me last month who I have known to go tell people to put there cigs out and he had no complaints as we were divided enough to be uneffected