A PLACE FOR GROWN-UPS

There are three places I fondly remember as indoor smoking environments: The Caffè Mediterraneum in Berkeley near all the bookstores, and the Caffè Trieste in North Beach. As well as a dive bar around the corner from my apartment. That last deserves mention especially because of the three old coots who ran the place, all three being cigarette smokers, and owners.
But when the laws passed, they could not smoke in their own bar.

The problem was that they were employees of the corporation that they owned, and thus had to be protected from themselves.

No other owners. And no other employees.
A piano. Cigarettes. Cocktails.
Middle-aged men. Music.


Yes, I agree, it sounds frightful? doesn't it. What if a pregnant woman wandered in and was harmed by badly sung showtunes?
It does not bear thinking about!


So, after several fines for breaking the law and endangering themselves, they decided that every half hour everyone would troop outside to enjoy the fresh air and a smoke, after which we'd all go back inside, and revisit our drinks.
They kept that up for a year and a half before deciding "oh screw this nonsense, we're retiring".
Which no doubt overjoyed the city gubmint, because after all tobacco and demon rum are killers for the kiddies. And we're opposed to that.
Depravity, vices, and corporate capitalism.
Bad examples for the kiddies.

Of course nowadays children never see people using drugs and sleeping on the streets either, and we no longer expose them to junk food and high sugar treats. We ensure that they don't hear about divorce, spousal abuse, fun medication, or street fights between psychopaths until they are adults.
All they get is yoga, tofu, essential oils, natural fibres.

The heroes of the past had no flaws.

Still, I remember browsing bookstores and then hurrying to a coffee shop or drinking establishment to devour my newest acquisition, with a beverage and a smoke. There were other people there doing the same. No children around, no tofu snacks, and nobody talking about yoga. No cellphones.
No wheat grass, OR gluten intolerance.

A golden age, with many evocative odours everywhere.
Books, Balkan blends, coffee.
Incense.

TOBACCO INDEX


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