Council considers
broader ban on
smoking

If the bill becomes
law, it would apply to
restaurants and bars

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

For the third time in four years, a bill to ban smoking in restaurants and bars is before the City Council.

Councilman John Henry Felix said he modeled the language in the bill after a California law that went into effect at the start of this year.

Reports from California are that the new bill "has not caused any economic hardship," Felix said.

"People merely go outside to smoke."

Critics, however, say enforcement has been lax. Los Angeles issued only three citations to bars through the first six months of the ban, according to a recent report.

Felix said the main purpose of the proposed ban is to ensure the health of workers. A smoking ban "can prevent deaths and illnesses."

A workplace smoking ban was approved unanimously by the Council in May 1997. But that measure excluded restaurants and bars because of disagreements in the Council.

Some Council members were for a restaurant prohibition but refused to extend the ban to bars.

Others said prohibiting smoking in restaurants but not bars gave an unfair economic advantage to eateries.

A restaurant-only ban was approved 5-4 in June 1995, only to be vetoed by Mayor Jeremy Harris, who cited government intrusion and economic concerns raised by restaurateurs.

Harris spokeswoman Carol Costa said the mayor wants to discuss the issue with Felix before commenting. He also wants to see how restaurants have done with a voluntary sign program designating smoking and nonsmoking policies.

The Hawaii Restaurant Association has led opposition to a smoking ban.

"If we make this place any harder for tourists to enjoy themselves, I think we'd really be stabbing ourselves," said Kathleen Masunaga, president of the Hawaii Restaurant Association.

Health officials, physicians and medical groups have supported a smoking ban in restaurants and bars.

"It appears the Council feels the time is right to increase protections for all employees in the restaurant and bar industries, and all employees need protection," said Julian Lipsher, coordinator for the Health Department's tobacco prevention and education project.