By Tim Boyum
RALEIGH—Lawmakers could soon vote on a plan to ban smoking in bars
and restaurants. A House committee took up the issue Thursday and will
vote next week. Those in support of a smoking ban say it's impossible
to avoid the obvious.
"The
debate is over," bill sponsor Rep. Hugh Holliman (D-House Majority
Leader) said. "Second-hand smoke is harmful to your health. I think our
citizens deserve a healthy environment and that's why we're pursuing
this bill."
Rob
Thompson from the North Carolina Public Interest Group said, "If you
look at the numbers, working an eight-hour shift in a smoking bar is
the equivalent of smoking 16 cigarettes a day."
The
latest proposal bans smoking in any public place that includes work
places, restaurants and bars. Only private clubs-like country clubs,
some hotel rooms, and tobacco factories would be exempt.
While you might think bars and restaurants would be against this ban that's not necessarily the case.
"Then
all businesses would be operating under one standard," Susanne Strep
from the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association said. "We
recognize that the concerns that are out there with second-hand smoke,
and we feel if it's across the board and all businesses have to operate
under that same regulation then we will no longer oppose."
Property rights groups and tobacco companies do oppose the idea.
"So
what is that telling our smokers in this state?" Michael Shannon from
Lorillard Tobacco Company said. "Thank you for your money and
contributions but please don't spend too much time in public. Go home
and smoke."
Kathy
Hartcopf from N.C. Freedom Works added, "Our membership respectively
requests instead of simply voting yes on this bill in its current state
that you send this as a study bill and look at all your options."
Lawmakers
are looking at several options, but Rep. Holliman firmly believes he
has the support for a statewide ban. Other proposals would only ban
smoking in state government buildings. Another bill would allow local
governments to make the decision. The House committee will vote on a
statewide ban on Tuesday.
