Smoking precedent still set in Bloomington

Remember the days of smoking and nonsmoking sections in restaurants? Those days are six years past since the beginning of smoke-free air policies.

Bloomington was the first city to pass a comprehensive smoking ban in Indiana. The city council passed the smoke-free ordinance in 2004.

In 2005, with the addition of a county-wide ban, all bars and restaurants were prohibited from allowing smoking.

“Bloomington is a progressive city, and people wanted to be healthy,” Health Projects Coordinator for Bloomington Nancy Woolery said.

Since its implementation, the Monroe County Prevention and Cessation Coalition has enforced the law and provided services for smokers wanting to quit, such as the 1-800-QUIT-NOW helpline.

Jon Macy, Monroe County Prevention and Cessation Coalition coordinator, said the group conducted compliance checks in local businesses and measured air quality around the city.

“Compliance has always been very high,” Macy said. “We found that the quality of the air improved dramatically.”

Woolery said in the first discussions about the new policy, the main concern of the smoke-free ordinance was the effect on businesses. The ordinance said public buildings and workplaces became smoke-free on Sept. 1, 2004, and restaurants and bars would follow on March 1, 2005.

“There was a lot of negativity at first from business owners, mostly bars. People had a lot of issues with the grandfather clause. They thought everyone should have started off on the same foot,” Woolery said. “Overall, it was very well supported by the
community.”

Previous to the ordinance, businesses such as Scotty’s Brewhouse had already established themselves as smoke-free, providing an alternative to smoke-filled restaurants, Scotty’s Brewhouse general manager Matt Wattley said.

“A lot of my regulars came to get away from the cigarette smoke, found something else they liked and ended up being regulars for years,” Wattley said.

Although several cities and counties followed Bloomington’s example, the ordinances started a debate between whether the health of the public trumps the individual’s privilege to smoke.

Michael Van Neiuwenhze said he wouldn’t go to places which allowed smoking.
However, Johnathon Morrow and his wife Casey said they believe the business owner should be allowed to decide whether or not they allow smoking in their
establishment.

Bloomington’s ordinance is comprehensive, meaning smoking is banned in all public buildings, and smokers must smoke at least 30 feet away from all entrances, windows and vents to public buildings. On the other hand, the rest of Monroe County only requires all public establishments, except bars, to ban smoking.

“I know a lot of people who go to Ellettsville just to smoke in the bars,” Casey Morrow said. “People are big enough to make their own decisions to smoke or not.”

This past February, the Indiana House of Representatives passed a fourth version of a state-wide smoking ban in public places. In past attempts, a bill exempting casinos and bars was blocked by the Indiana Senate.

While the fourth attempt on the state-wide ban has not been implemented, Bloomington’s ordinance has been in place for six years.

“Most people don’t smoke, and it has even become a social stigma if someone does smoke,” Woolery said. “People want to be healthy, and there are a lot of different groups which focus on health and wellness here.”