Committee OKs broad
Big Island smoking ban
HILO >> A Hawaii County Council committee has approved a wide-ranging ban on smoking in public places, including bars.
The measure passed the Human Services and Economic Development Committee in an 8-1 vote yesterday, with only council Chairman Jimmy Arakaki voting against it.
Arakaki said he was bothered by how a business owner would not be able to smoke in his own office.
Clifford Chang of Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii said the reason is that employees have to meet with the boss in his office, and air conditioning in that office is probably not separate from the rest of the building.
Most of the 25 residents who testified yesterday supported the bill, which strengthens the county's existing limited smoking ban.
But councilwoman Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd said bar owners previously spoke against the measure, fearing loss of customers.
"I agonized over that issue," she said. "It came down to looking at this as a workplace safety issue."
Julian Lipsher of the state Department of Health said heart attacks in Helena, Mont., were cut in half when a smoking ban went into effect, then rose to previous levels when a judge overturned the ban.
Chang said revenues for bars have generally gone up after a smoking ban.
"I know the fear is real, but the fact is smokers adapt," Chang said.
The new smoking ban, the broadest in the state, must still be approved by the full County Council. A date for a vote has not been set.
