With the recent passing and enforcement of the smoking ban in Athens, thousands of smokers are being kicked to the curb. More than twenty bars are in the Uptown area, and these smokers are crowding the sidewalks of Court Street.
I understand the anger and aggravation of these smokers, because now they have to interrupt their conversations with smokers and non-smokers alike and take it outside. Every night you can see several smokers outside bars and restaurants enjoying their nicotine with others, and there is nothing wrong with that because that is their choice. However, their decision to smoke outside because of the enforcement of the smoking ban is having a negative impact on the cleanliness of the sidewalks.
Thousands of cigarette butts and empty cartons are littering the sidewalks, which is now taking away from the scenery of Court Street. Now I know Uptown is obviously not one of the cleanest strips in the country; but hey, think globally, act locally, right?
This is not an attack on the smokers; this is an attack on the smoking ban and the lack of thought about the aftermath of this ban. Businesses Uptown were fans of the ban, because they were scared of losing customers. Well now they should be scared they will lose customers because of the unattractive appearance of their sidewalks.
To solve this problem, I propose that more cigarette-only trash cans are available for the smokers and signs are posted to make sure these cans are noticed and used. And if people still neglect to dispose their cigarette butts for whatever reasons, the city should carry out a more thorough cleaning of sidewalks and the street. This might cost more, but it will have a positive impact on Court Street and how visitors and incoming students view the town.-Caitlin Miller is a junior organizational communication major.
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