A trend sweeping the nation is snuffing out public smoking to protect citizens' health.
Columbus' no-smoking ordinance, which has been enforced since Jan. 31, has brought about a second look at Athens' policy.
Dr. James Gaskell, Athens City-County health commissioner, originally proposed a ban to Athens City Council on April 21, 2003.
The issue fell from consideration as others took precedence, said Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd ward.
Athens' proposed ban -as far as it was developed -was outlined to prohibit smoking in all public places except bars, she said.
The conflict of constitutional rights between smokers and non-smokers was a main argument resulting from the proposed ban.
Gaskell said he still thinks the issue is important, and after parts of Columbus' ordinance are reconsidered in the May primary, he might reintroduce his proposal to council.
Seven states, many cities and several countries have outlawed smoking in public places, and Gaskell said Athens should also.
Bain said she would like to see an ordinance in place by January 2006. The original ordinance would just need to be updated.
Columbus' ordinance, the Smokefree Indoor Air Act, prohibits smoking in public places. The act requires businesses to have no-smoking signage, a no-smoking policy for workers and prevent smoking too close to the building or ventilation system.
Liane Egle, Columbus Department of Health director of communications, said the act was passed by Columbus City Council on June 28, 2004, and approved by voters in November.
The bill's main focus is on workers' health, Egle said.
Varsity Club, a Columbus restaurant and bar, has lost business as a result of the ban, especially during happy hours -when about half of the patrons used to smoke -said manager Laurie Watkins. She said she sees no benefits to the act.
In general
people that drink and smoke stay longer spend more money Watkins said. (But) our loss is not anything in comparison to those bars who don't have food. The Department of Health is in charge of enforcing the act, and since January has had 580 anonymous complaints of violations filed, Egle said. Investigations are made if needed.
Cited violations are filed as criminal complaints, which can carry a $150 fine. Three establishments have been filed against so far, Egle said.
While we may have some challenges with a handful of businesses
the majority are supportive and have had no trouble adapting
Egle said.
Michael Korbee, manager of Skipper's Bar & Grill, 22 W. Union St., estimated more than one-third of Skipper's customers smoke. He said a smoking ban in Athens would cause many local establishments to lose business to house parties.
Though bars and restaurants might lose business at first, long-term results rarely are negative, Gaskell said.
A February 2004 article in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report said there was no decline in total restaurant or bar revenues in El Paso, Texas, after a similar ban took effect in January 2002.
These findings are consistent with the results of studies in other municipalities that determined smoke-free indoor air ordinances had no effect on restaurant revenues
according to the article.
Gaskell said at some point self-policing occurs.
Until that point, in a way
it sort of falls in to the hands of the bar owner
because the bar owner has to post the signs and the bar owner is the person who gets fined
he said.
17
