When I am traveling and I do not have a client or vendor to have a meal with I tend to gravitate towards bar and grill type places where I can sit at the bar and read the paper or feed my ESPN jones.

I was in So California (OC) a coupla weeks ago, i was watching a bowl game and my cell phone rang I answered and started a conversation with the caller.

About thirty seconds into the call the bartender taps my shoulder and asks me to take the call outside. I shrug and step out onto sidewalk in front of the place and finish my call.

i went back in and asked the bartender ( who had put my beer on Ice while I was out) "was I being too loud"?
She explained that they have a rule that they ask that cell phone calls over 30 seconds be taken outside. I asked if this was the rule everywhere and she explained that they are a small neighborhood bar and grill and the "regulars" like it this way and so they try to enforce it as best they can.
She was in no way rude or snotty and I probably could've been a jerk to her but hey its their bar and they can do as they please.

I hadnt thought much about it until the other night I was at My local bar watching the Sugar Bowl and I realized that the guy next to me was reading the entire menu to his wifw so she could decide what he should bring home.
Another guy was fight ing with his wife/gf
there were two or three guys on their nextel walkie talkie talking about finishing the house on lot 32 etc. and the endless chirping of their phones.

I thought to my self "boy I wish these guys would take it outside"

Any way just wanted to see if this is a trend or just a once in a blue moon thing. I have to say I wouldnt mind if they did it at my local watering horn.

Thoughts , comments?

What an excellent policy. Sadly, putting common courtesy into policy is becoming a necessary trend.

Over the last month I was visiting three upscale country clubs in Southern California for social events, and all had very restrictive cell phone policies. Public restaurant or private club, if the proprietor wants to limit usage, be my guest (just make sure the policy is evident, to ensure guests aren't embarrassed).

Wonder if these clubs had issues with BlackBerrys?

As long as the Blackberry is set to silent/vibrate, there is no audible offense to the majority of club members. Diverting your complete attention to your Crackberry associates, rather than your present company is, of course, a personal choice.

I was once told it was discourtious to use my cell phone on a NYC bus.

I have walked out of 3 high end eating establishments because they do not have a 30 sec. cell phone policy. For some reason which I do not understand, the cell phone voice must be at least 10 db louder than the surrounding conversation.

Most of my recent eating out has been in better restaurants in Wash DC, London, Paris, and Italy. Only in London have I been abused by frequent loud cell phone use.

The local Subway franchisee has signs at the counter informing patrons that staff cannot take orders from customers until they hang up.

There are so many ways to be rude. It's interesting how strong a reaction cell phones provoke.

Bama's right, there are many ways to be rude . . . but the most likely to encourage continuing and escalating animosity is having a long involved conversation on a cellphone, or an airphone, or worst - one of those lousy Nextel walkie talkies.

That and smokers crowding the front door of a building blowing smoke on anyone entering or leaving will almost always prompt me to speak up. I have time and again asked someone in the next booth or barstool to either hang up, or take it outside. Most make a comment that I am a rude b**ard to be interrupting them or asking them to step back, but they do it.

Seems that the parents never taught them common courtesy, table manners, civics, health, or geography, so strangers have to do it.

A DC bar, the Eagle, has several signs in the bar that state all cellphone use is BANNED inside the bar. You have to go outside to make or receive calls. I agree with this policy and I own two cellphones. Most people using cellphones in bars and restaurants are making or receiving calls that could easily wait until they return home. The only legitimate use when drinking or dining should be for emergency calls (e.g., doctors on call).

I certainly hope it's a trend. Good to know that some local bars still preserve the atmosphere by limiting long cell phone calls. ^

I concur, cellphone use should be controlled in public areas, I think the nextel things are great in the proper place certainly not in a bar or restaurant

I now started to see signs outside buildings in NYC, telling people do not smoke right in front of the door. I really like that trend.

And most upscale restaurants ban cell. They actually ask you to turn it off when you enter.
In Asia, most people covered their mouths & mouth piece when they talk on cell phone, to keep it quiet and polite.

adamak: Apart from nights out with the guys when the urge to call longlost friends becomes overwhelming. When I'm in Europe I get these drunken calls regularly...

If smokers didn't litter....

The 30-second rule is an excellent rule.

OTOH, any place that has a rule that says "you have to turn the phone completely off" will prevent me from patronizing that establishment.

A rule like that might make me a regular customer!