Public smoking may be snuffed (Georgia)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | Published on: 02/09/04 | By CLINT WILLIAMS

[beaureguard]

With nearly half the state Senate signing on as sponsors, a bill being introduced today in the General Assembly seems to put the Peach State on the path to join California, Florida and others in enacting a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants and other public places.

Anti-smoking bills have failed in Georgia since the first attempt in 1995.

But with 25 of the Senate's 56 members as co-sponsors — and with many communities having enacted or contemplating smoking bans — state Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) likes the odds.

"The momentum is going in our direction," said Thomas, a family practice physician.

In the Atlanta area, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties and the cities of Grayson and Loganville have enacted ordinances to limit smoking in public.

While not embracing additional regulations, restaurant industry representatives said a statewide ban would create uniformity and be a practical alternative to local ordinances such as those currently being considered by Douglasville and Snellville.

"These county-by-county, city-by-city smoking bans create terrible inequities," said Ron Wolf, executive director of the Georgia Restaurant Council.

Waffle House recently built three restaurants in Albany, spending more than $1 million, said state Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville), who is a vice president of the short-order chain. "Then Albany goes smoke-free and everybody leaves the city to go smoke at the two Huddle Houses outside the city limits."

Smoking in restaurants is banned statewide in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, New York and Utah, said Josh Alpert of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights.

A public smoking ban, proponents say, protects public health.

"There is no such thing as a nonsmoking section in a restaurant," Cathy Wendhold-McDade told City Council members in Douglasville, where residents in November approved a nonbinding referendum for a public smoking ban. "You have a smoking section and you have a second-hand smoking section."

Some opponents say a public smoking ban is a case of government overstepping its bounds.

"These anti-smoking proposals represent the fine line where government concern for public health becomes government intrusion into private business and governmental oppression of individual liberties," said Michael Benoit, owner of the Vortex Bar & Grill in Atlanta.

If the smoking ban were approved by the Senate, it would have to make its way through the House, where its prospects are unclear.

Still, public sentiment tends to favor public smoking bans, Balfour said.

Florida's smoking ban was approved by 71 percent of voters. And 81 percent of voters on Douglasville's referendum were in favor of a ban

[mylife]

"These county-by-county, city-by-city smoking bans create terrible inequities," said Ron Wolf, executive director of the Georgia Restaurant Council.

Waffle House recently built three restaurants in Albany, spending more than $1 million, said state Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville), who is a vice president of the short-order chain. "Then Albany goes smoke-free and everybody leaves the city to go smoke at the two Huddle Houses outside the city limits."

Well there you have it. A waffle house without ciggies is tantamount to a wafflehouse without coffee or a newspaper!

[Vigilantcitizen]

"There is no such thing as a nonsmoking section in a restaurant," Cathy Wendhold-McDade told City Council members in Douglasville, where residents in November approved a nonbinding referendum for a public smoking ban. "You have a smoking section and you have a second-hand smoking section."

With a name like Wendhold-Mcdade...I can tell she ain't from Douglasville originally, but part of the invasion of transplants who have moved here, bringing their nanny state mindset with them.

This Douglasville native stopped eating out along time ago, but this is going to doom the Waffle House, which deserves better.

[claptrap]

There are no words for the lunacy of the smoking nazis!
If you dont smoke you probably think this is just fine
but these people will continue once they have sucess in this arena, next is your food intake and the consistency thereof, sexual practices when where and who with, then how you worship whatever it is you dane to worship, then it will be how long you will live depending on how useful you are. Its time for a rebelion its time to remove these people from power!

[Vigilantcitizen]

It's here in Georgia now.

Puff.

[leadpenny]

Follow the money!

I believe tobacco would already be illegal were it not for the "Golden Goose" nature of it.

[Glenn]

but this is going to doom the Waffle House, which deserves better.

It's a two-fer. Cutting back on smoking and reducing your intake of yummy but heart killing scattered, smothered and covered hash browns.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

I don't understand what's going on in Georgia with these nannisitc anti-public smoking laws. The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for not allowing the free market to dictate whether businesses allow or outlaw smoking in their own establishments. Let people decide through their own wallet whether to patronize restaurants that allow/ban smoking.

[SheLion]

Ok! Then how about stopping the Tobacco Settlement Money into the state then? Sounds fair to ME!

GEORGIA SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY

[metesky]

The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for not allowing the free market to dictate whether businesses allow or outlaw smoking in their own establishments.

The disturbing trend I've noticed is that many of these campaigns are led by people who identify themselves as Republicans.

I just thank the good Lord that members of both parties care enough about my health to pass these laws and make sure I'll never darken the door of another restaurant or bar.

[SheLion]

I just thank the good Lord that members of both parties care enough about my health to pass these laws and make sure I'll never darken the door of another restaurant or bar.

How true. GMTA, metesky!!!

The state lawmakers are choking the economy!

[beaureguard]

I don't smoke. However, I don't think it is the government's business to be telling people what to do, or whom a business owner can market to. If I don't want to be around smoke, I'll just go somewhere else. If it is a place I really want to go to, and there are a lot of smokers, then I go, and don't complain.

[4CJ]

I don't smoke. However, I don't think it is the government's business to be telling people what to do, or whom a business owner can market to. If I don't want to be around smoke, I'll just go somewhere else. If it is a place I really want to go to, and there are a lot of smokers, then I go, and don't complain.

Bump. I'll contact my senator to see what his postion is on this - I doubt he supports he. Usually he is against a "nanny" state.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

The other crazy law before the legislature this session is that "Collin's law" to lower the speed limit for trucks to 55 in Georgia. Like that won't cause more accidents and slower travel times from the mere fact that cars will be going a heck of a lot faster than trucks on the 2-lane portions of I-75 and 85 through the rural portions of state where the speed limit is 70.

[Arkie2]

You're wrong. The next step will be to lower car speed limits to 60. Welcome to Georgia!

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

You're wrong. The next step will be to lower car speed limits to 60. Welcome to Georgia!

I sure as heck hope not. One of the things I love about this state is that the speed limit is somewhat reasonably set here. It still should be a lot higher inside the perimeter and in the near suburbs traffic permitting. The other is that the first points ticket is for 15 miles per hour plus over the speed limit.

Seems like they trust you here more than they do in other states to drive the speed that the road was designed for. This lower truck speed limit is bad news. I hope you're wrong.

[The Mayor]

This is slowly working it's way around the country.

It's killing buffalo businesses and they (the politicans) don't care..

[commish]

This Douglasville native stopped eating out along time ago, but this is going to doom the Waffle House, which deserves better.

NEVER. AWFUL WAFFLE will always be there!!!! As long as there are drunks there willbe Waffle House.

2 Eggs Over easy, Steak medium, Scattered smothered covered and diced please.

[Arkie2]

I was sort of kidding. I drive in Georgia frequently and can attest that the speed limit is just an indicator of how slow you can go if you don't want to get rear ended! Driving through Atlanta is like Nascar except you occasionally turn right!

[4CJ]

We're ate up with well-intentioned maroons in our state chambers. Personally, I think 90% of legislation is so that the legislators can have some excuse for their putrid existance.