Smokers butted out

The City of Bloomington has instituted a smoking ban in most public facilities in an effort to help keep the community healthy and smoke-free. Some Monroe County businesses, as a result, fear their profits might be extinguished in smoke-free indoor air.\nAccording to city ordinance 03-06, passed by the common council March 27, 2003, the right to breathe smoke-free air in enforced public smoke-free environments has been granted to every Bloomington student, resident and guest beginning Jan. 1. As the fine print states, smokers are not allowed to ignite, puff or palm tobacco inhalers of any kind in any bar, business, place of employment, private club, enclosed public place or restaurant. \nIn addition, businesses must remove all ashtrays and post smoke-free environment signs at all entrances. The ordinance also encourages smokers to remain a "reasonable distance," presumably more than 30 feet, from entrances, exits and ventilation systems from the same establishments. Both the bar owner and bar patron can be fined more than $100 for the first several offenses, although stiffer penalties and fines will accompany repeat offenders. \nJoey Sowder, owner of the Cabin Restaurant and Lounge, 4015 South State Road 446, said he read about the Bloomington and Monroe County smoking bans in the newspaper. He said representatives from her tavern contacted the City Council to discuss a petition signed by more than 100 of his customers against the smoking ban, but their collective opinion was never received by the members of the city board. \n"There is supposed to be no smoking in here; I'm not happy about it," Sowder said. "I'd like what they (did) for the president. (The smoking ban) should have been on the ballot; we should have voted for it. Instead, three people made a rule and everybody has to live by it."\nGregg Rago, one of Nick's English Hut's general managers and a self-avowed "Bloomington kind of person," said the city has been historically conscious of human rights and freedoms. He said his employees have voluntarily participated in a smoke-free workplace since Sept. 1.\n"After a test or a hard day, it's human nature to go out and kick back -- have a cigar or cigarette socially, feel it's alright to have a drink and a smoke," Rago said. "Which is great, but we all need to cooperate with the city on this smoking ban. ... There are a lot of students from out of town who aren't really aware -- we have to inform them of the smoking ban in a friendly manner -- you can't smoke. It's not our rule; it's the city's rule. "\nNeither excise nor BPD will enforce the ordinance. Concerned citizens, vigilant within the smoke-free scene, are encouraged to report smoking ban violations by calling 349-3850, emailing smokefree@city.bloomington.in.gov or mailing a letter to Smoke--Free, P.O. Box 100, Bloomington, IN., 47402. State the location, the nature and the date of the violation. If reporting violators through email, type "compliance violation" in the subject heading. \nSowder said several customers have already declared their distaste for the smoking ban by refusing the Cabin's food, beverage, and lodging services. He said he believes the smoking ban will ultimately hurt business in the short run, which might ruin her business in the long run.\n"People just walk out," Sowder said. "They done showed up and find out they can't smoke. Our traffic is the lake business, and when you go to your regulars and tell them that you can't smoke, that ain't good because we don't have that many regulars in the wintertime. If you pay for a liquor license ... (the city council) shouldn't hurt your business. I'm sure there are people here who would like to smoke but can't."\nRago said Nick's management, along with other bar owners on Kirkwood Avenue, are also concerned with losing customer revenue since bar owners and tavern personnel are primarily responsible for policing the smoking ban in and out of their businesses.\n"The biggest issue is where people are going smoke outside our doors," Rago said. "The current city 30-foot smoking ban radius in front of our business's doors takes smokers out into the street in order to comply with city ordinances. We don't want to police our customers." \nAlly Griffith, a bartender and server at Scotty's Brewhouse, said her restaurant and bar has been smoke-free since it opened in 2001. \n"I'd say a lot of people come here because of the fact they consider us to be a family environment," Griffith said. \nSowder said he is going to allow patrons to smoke at the Cabin until they get penalized, despite the $100 fine levied by the city and threats of repealing liquor licenses for businesses acting as repeat smoking ban violators.\n"We have cabins out back (customers) can rent and smoke in," Sowder said. "I'm sorry for all those who can't smoke; we'd like you to. I think if you are paying taxes, and in your own place, you should be able to do what you please."\n-- Contact City & State Editor David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.