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Home Health Welness Smoking Bans Since 1998
Smoking Bans Since 1998 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jill Kammer   
Smoking in restaurants, bars, and casinos is something which has long been a fixture in the food and entertainment industry. Often non-smokers avoided places which allowed smoking for both work and recreation. However in 1998 California became one of the first to pass a bill which outlawed smoking in casinos, bars, clubs and restaurants. In the last ten years, other states such as Arizona, Florida, New York and recently Oregon have followed California's example. In 2001 Oregon law makers argued both sides of the law, however it was passed by a reasonable margin. The main reasons the bill passed was attributed to the need for a healthy work environment and a smoke free zone for consumers who did not smoke.
by SaraMendez


Smoking in restaurants, bars, and casinos is something which has long been a fixture in the food and entertainment industry. Often non-smokers avoided places which allowed smoking for both work and recreation. However in 1998 California became one of the first to pass a bill which outlawed smoking in casinos, bars, clubs and restaurants. In the last ten years, other states such as Arizona, Florida, New York and recently Oregon have followed California's example. In 2001 Oregon law makers argued both sides of the law, however it was passed by a reasonable margin. The main reasons the bill passed was attributed to the need for a healthy work environment and a smoke free zone for consumers who did not smoke.

Through out the 80's and early 90's bills were passed all over the country outlawing workplace smoking. However these bills did not include bars, restaurants, bowling alleys or casinos. Lobbyists argued for these workers and brought forward statistics showing the effects of second hand smoke. They did not feel it was fair to offer a smoke free environment for some workers and not others. Many of the workers liked their jobs and wanted to keep them but ultimately did not want to be around smoke but they suffered through. In the end they had to deal with many second hand smoke issues.

Dining out is all about the experience. When people describe a positive dining experience, rarely do they describe it having a heavy cloud of smoke. In the past restaurant and bar owners offered both a non and smoking section. However after examining the filtration systems in restaurants, health officials reported increased chances of second hand smoke health problems. This was due largely to ventilation. Smoke can not be properly filtered out with ventilation. The only way to insure a healthy environment is to have smoking only outside. This has an appeal to non-smokers because not only can they dine and actually smell their dinners but they can also not worry about developing other health risks. For restaurant workers, they are able to also rest easy and know their work environment is not causing them cancer.

Some opponents to the bill felt it was taking away the right for an adult to choose what they do to their own bodies. However what they failed to see what by smoking in public places the smoker is taking away the right for a non-smoker to be healthy. In Oregon a compromise was made, smoking would be allowed outdoors. While this does not agree with everyone on each side of the issue, it is a fair compromise for bars and restaurants which have outdoor seating available.

Smoking can cause serious health problems but smoking is not like alcohol where it only physically effects the consumer. Smoking can effect those all around it. If exposed to second hand smoke, children and non-smokers can become at risk for those same health problems. Some may feel those who work in bars or bingo halls the non-smoker should know the risks associated with second hand smoke. However, previous bills guaranteed a smoke free environment for all, not everyone but those who work in bars or bowling alleys.

Health and fair working conditions are something Oregon law makers truly believe in. Oregon is taking strong steps toward those who are noncompliant with the new bill. There are fines and other consequences for those found to be in violation of the new law. No one should have to make the choice between having health problems and not simply so they can get a job or eat out.

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