Following the lead of the City and County of Honolulu, Maui County may impose a ban on smoking in restaurants. Maui County Council
considers ban on
smoking in restaurants
Star-Bulletin staff and news services
Acting County Council Chairman Dane Kane has introduced a bill that would add restaurants to the list of no-smoking public places. Maui County already prohibits smoking in elevators, theaters, hospitals and a number of public places.
"It's a trend, and I think it's a good trend. It's a health trend," Kane said.
Kane said public demand and longtime efforts by the state Department of Health to ban smoking in restaurants prompted his proposal, which will be discussed by the council's Human Services and Economic Development Committee at 9 a.m., July 18 in the council chamber.
A survey found restaurant owners in Maui County 2-1 in favor of a smoking ban, Kane said.
A smoking ban went into effect on Oahu on July 1, prohibiting smoking in restaurants and the bar areas of most restaurants. The law allows for some exceptions for outdoor smoking areas if the smoking area is walled off from the dinning area and in bar areas in a different room from the restaurant with a separate ventilation system.
Kane said he hopes the Maui law would have fewer loopholes and exceptions than Honolulu's.
"We're going to move forward where it's just 'no smoking,'" he said.
Bars and nightclubs would not be affected, but Kane said bars within a restaurant's premises would be included.
Councilman Robert Carroll said the council has received many requests for a smoking ban. The council must think not only of restaurant customers but also the people who work there, he said.
But Dan Dull, co-owner of Lahaina Coolers Restaurant & Bar, worried that a smoking ban would hurt business. He said he hasn't had any complaints about secondhand smoke from employees.
"The owner has the right to refuse business," he said. "I think the owner should have the right to refuse smokers or accept smokers."
County of Maui
