Smoking ban in bars, restaurants
Published on April 4, 2008 9:51 AM
Co-owner of a tavern in Dundalk, Del. Joseph J. "Sonny" Minnick said he has lost his business since the state banned smoking in restaurants and bars. The smoking would be allowed on enclosed patios, decks, in tents or other outdoor structures of restaurants and bars, and it would only apply to Baltimore County. Minnick doesn't have an enclosed deck, tent or patio, but he said “I'd like to have one to make smoking customers more comfortable.”
“I just thought it was a little ridiculous – overkill”, Minnick said, for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“It is a real inconvenience for their customers to go outside and stand on the sidewalk,” said Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr., a sponsor of the Senate bill and Baltimore County Democrat. “Most people didn't believe that the regulations would include a tent like structure or an awning where you could put down the sides.”
“We worked so hard for so many years to pass a wonderful Clean Indoor Air Act for the state. Anything that would dismantle anything built into that bill would be horrible.” said Michaeline Fedder of the heart association.
Minnick has made a small canopy over one entrance door that he would like to enclose for the benefit of smoking clients. “It has hurt my business,” Minnick said of the smoking ban. After the ban took effect he recalled one couple in particular that stopped frequenting his bar. “They've come back,” he added, but patrons and bar owners are still asked why people must go outside to smoke. “It happens all the time here. Nurses put in bills for nurses, doctors put in bills for doctors, lawyers put in bills for lawyers. Why can’t business owners put in bills for business?” he said.
Stone and Minnick said they’d like to amend their bills to say that no drink or food could be served in the enclosures set up outside restaurants and bars.
Eric Gally, a lobbyist for the Cancer Society and Heart Association said: “The legislation that passed was designed to maintain a level playing field for everybody.” Gally stated that local health officer can grant waivers for establishments.