Restaurants and Patrons React To Springfield’s Proposed Indoor Smoking Ban
The Mayor of Springfield wants you to butt out your smoking habits in public places like restaurants.
Today he and the organization “One Air Alliance” said they want the city smoke-free, and soon.
The mayor hopes to put the all-inclusive ban on council’s June 28th agenda.
“Missouri is the Show Me State. I think it’s time for Springfield to step forward and show all Missourians how we care for our health and well-being of all the people who live, work, and visit this community,” said Mayor Jim O’Neal as he and One Air Alliance delivered their plans to tighten the ban on those lighting up.
“People like to enjoy their meal, drink, and smoke, but it’s not going to hurt you to walk five steps outside,” said smoker Natasha Smith.
“I think it’s unfair that someone can go to a bar, an older man or older woman for 20 or 30 years, then they are told all of a sudden, no you can’t smoke inside anymore. If people don’t want to be around it, they shouldn’t go,” said smoker Aaron Elam.
Restaurants say while a smoking ban probably won’t affect long-term business, it will have an affect.
“At first it may upset a lot of people and lower sales just a little bit because a lot of people that do come in to watch sports do like to have a cigarette and a beer. So, if they can’t do both, they may stay at home more,” said Jennifer Root, a manager at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Restaurants that spent money after the original indoor ban, say they will lose even more money if smoking is banned all together.
“We’ve got 16 ventilation vents and 6 new fans we’ve installed in the past couple of weeks to make sure people have the choice of whether they want to be in that type of environment or not,” said Jared Dudley, another manager at Buffalo Wild Wings.
But as the choice smolders a little while longer, smokers and non-smokers alike say it comes down to respect.
“I think it’s alright if people want to smoke. It doesn’t bother me. I don’t smoke, but I don’t mind if other people smoke, as long as they don’t put it right in my face,” said non-smoker Edwina Tichenor.
If the smoking ban passes, restaurants will have between 60 and 90 days before the ban will go into effect.
We are told the smoking ban could be voted on as early as July 12th.
The original ban went into effect in 2003 but excluded restaurants under certain conditions including those that make more than 50 percent of their profits from liquor, restaurants with fewer than 50 seats, those with liquor sales of at least 200-thousand dollars a year, and those with a ventilation system.
From kspr.com, By KSPR News, June 11th, 2010