JWBooth
Diamond Member
Yesterday, a new law went into effect in NC.
No smoking in restaurants.
There is a little place down the street from my house that I eat at often, and they have always allowed smoking.
I went there for a meal yesterday.
No ashtrays were on the table yesterday.
After my meal, I lit up a cigarette. My act of civil disobedience.
My waitress brought me more water while I was smoking and didn't say a word. 2 other waitresses saw me and didn't say a word. Probably half the patrons in the restaurant saw me and didn't say a word.
While I was sitting there (still smoking), I observed a couple come in. They looked around and saw me smoking They asked the waitress (same waitress I had) for a seat in the non-smoking section. She replied, "New law doesn't allow smoking in any restaurant, you can sit anywhere you want". She got a good tip.
It is only day one, so I probably can't keep this up for long, but I'm going to try.
I went to a different restaurant today. Ive been going there about 12 years. Theyve always allowed smoking. After my meal, I lit up a cigarette. Paige (my waitress) came over and told me I couldnt smoke. I handed her my glass and asked her for more water. I told her Id take care of it when she got back. She returned quickly and our conversation went like this:
Paige: You cant smoke, they passed a new law.
Me: I dont agree with the law, do you?
Paige: No, but you cant smoke.
Me: Do you know who Rosa Parks was?
Paige: Yes.
Me: Consider this my civil disobedience.
Paige: But
Me: If any other customers ask me to put out my cigarette, I will.
Paige: You .
Me: Just ask them, if they want me to, I will.
Paige looked around and then announced, Will somebody please ask this gentleman to put out his cigarette?
Of the almost dozen customers in earshot, none of them asked me. In fact, the comments were things like, doesnt bother me, no, let him smoke. One lady asked, Did she bring you an ashtray?, she wouldnt bring me one. I felt sort of bad for putting Paige in that position. She looked at me and said, Well, I cant just yank it from your hand. She walked off looking exasperated. I told the lady that asked about the ashtray that no, she hadnt brought me one. Then I re-iterated to the people that I would put out the cigarette if it bothered anybody. Nobody asked me to, and some told me to stand up for what I believed.
The waitress was talking to the manager and he looked at me. When she walked away from him, he gave me a thumbs up. I noticed a lady at the opposite end of the restaurant glaring at me. Im guessing because I was smoking. I took my last puff and winked at her. I put out the cigarette and handed Paige a $20 dollar bill for my $8 dollar dinner and told her the change was her tip for putting up with my antics.
As I put on my coat and hat to leave, the lady that had asked about the ashtray started clapping. Then others started clapping to. I tipped my hat to the folks and told them to have a great day as I walked out with an applause.
I dont know how long I can get away with this before I get arrested or punched in the nose. I wont smoke in a restaurant that was non-smoking before the law was passed, as that was the owners decision. But Im going to be difficult where smoking used to be allowed.
Good for you...twice