Smoking in bowling alleys

[NewToBowling]

I'm drove from Colorado to North Carolina (in NC as I post this). While in St Louis we visited a local bowling place. Call me naive but I was shocked to see that they allowed smoking indoors (CO abolished indoor smoking over 10 years ago). It was a very unpleasant experience as I had my 3 year old with us. Barely played one game and left. There were a few other children around. People weren't smoking directly by the lanes but rather in the lounge/bar in the back. But there were ash trays setup everywhere.

Don't want to get into a rant as I was a smoker over 10 years ago but let's just say it wasn't very pleasant. I hate to be the "get off my lawn guy" but with what we know now about second hand smoke I don't think they should allow smoking in any indoors establishment.

[classygranny]

I'm in total agreement with you.

In 2004 when a friend of mine wanted me to get back into bowling, I told her I would only do it if she found a non-smoking league, as Arizona still allowed indoor smoking at that time. We drove about 10 miles farther to an alley with a non-smoking league just because of that. Now, Arizona does not allow indoor smoking and it is so nice to be able to bowl anywhere.

In fact, I'm kind of dreading our bowling trip to Nevada because of being around all the smoke in the casinos and everywhere. BUT, the fun and all will over compensate for that little inconvenience a few days. I wouldn't want to be around it a lot though.

I try and not rant either, as I am an x-smoker as well. But when you haven't been around it for 33 years it's more like being a life-long non-smoker.

[epiepenburg]

I remember bowling every Sunday as a youth bowler and coming home smelling like smoke, always was annoying.

Here in WI we have a statewide smoking ban as well for inside of businesses. It's really made going bowling a lot more enjoyable, except for having to wait for teammates when they are out smoking between games and and I am ready to get the next game started.

[John Anderson]

NewToBowling, I completely agree. Being around smokers is bad enough when you have to walk through an outdoor smoking area, let alone be contained inside a building with the horrible smell of cigarettes. I think the ban on indoor smoking is one of the best improvements that has been made in somewhat modern law.

Instead of smoking, alleys would rather people be buying drinks and food, which I really don't care how much people have to eat and drink so long as they don't become a hazard to themselves and others because of how drunk they are.

[dnhoffman]

So as a saint Louisan... That's illegal in both St. Louis city and county and that business should be fined. I wouldn't patronize anywhere at allowed smoking either.

[NewToBowling]

I should have been more clear. Place was in St Charles MO

[John Anderson]

I should have been more clear. Place was in St Charles MO

Thanks for clarifying. Regardless, smoking in bowling alleys is a definite no. I would not go to one that allows smoking.

[J Anderson]

40 years ago when it was still legal in CT and you were as likely to bowl against a team with at least one smoker as not, it didn't bother me even though I was a non-smoker myself. As smoking became less popular, at least amongst bowlers in my league, it became more and more irritating to bowl against a team with a smoker. Banning smoking inside the alleys made the smokers even more annoying as they would disappear for ten minutes between games.

[mc_runner]

I smoked for years and truthfully don't mind the smell of smoke at all. With that said, as a (now) non-smoker, if there is any place where kids might be... there should be no smoking anywhere nearby allowed. I started bowling (for fun) in college about the same time smoking indoors became illegal in CT, about 12ish years ago so I don't really have any experience in a league setting when smoking was allowed. All I can say now is that it's really annoying when people leave between frames/games to smoke since it delays everything. I have nothing at all against e-cigs.

[got_a_300]

I agree with everyone no place should allow smoking inside the
building. I too am an ex-smoker for the last 7 1/2 years and I do
enjoy bowling in the smoke free atmosphere now days. The owner
of our center does allow anyone that wants to smoke the e-cigs on
the inside to do so which I do not mind at all.