Posted on 06/19/2002 7:11:34 AM PDT by SheLion
Some Haverhill restaurant owners are complaining about a city ban on smoking.
NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill said that they claim the smoking ban is driving customers away and they say they're ready to fight to get it overturned.
Restaurant owners said that they've lived with these new regulations for three months with devastating consequences. They plan to speak out Tuesday night at a meeting at City Hall.
In Haverhill, the bar banter has moved outside. Three months ago, the city banned smoking in most restaurants. The ashtrays may be gone, but so are the customers.
"I would say we lost 30 to 40 percent of our business right off top since March 1, and it happened that day," restaurant owner Mike Difeo said.
It was a similar story at Benny's farther north on Route 125.
"It's a struggle. I've lost $49,000 as of today, and I can see I lost my main base of customers because of non-smoking. I am losing help. My people are not making money. I went from 58 employees to 44 employees," restaurant owner Ben Brienza said.
Workers and some customers may be heading across the border to New Hampshire.
"I think it's a ridiculous law. Little by little, we are lawing ourselves right out of freedom," one customer said.
"A lot of people we don't see anymore. It's sad," another customer said.
Before the regulations, nonsmoking customer could dine in a separate section of the restaurant.
So is Haverhill fixing something that wasn't broken? Not according to a member of the board of health.
"You can't drive over 65 on the highway -- that is a health issue because of accidents, and there are many different rules in that regard," board of health member Dr. Carl Rosenbloom said. "I think (the government) has an obligation to protect certain aspects of public health that an individual cannot protect themselves."
The board of health does not expect to make any decision at Tuesday night's meeting. It will take public comment for at least a week. Then, board members will either keep the regulations as is, go to a citywide ban in all establishments or chose something in between.
I don't know about everywhere else but here the Board of Health has nothing to do with it. It was ONE city council person who had a complaint from ONE of his constituants and ONE restaurant who wanted to go smoke free and all his customers went down the street and he was losing business.
That was One+one+one= smoking ban. That was what got us our smoking ban when everyone on council jumped on the wagon when it was PC to do so. Had nothing to do with the Board of Health. The City Council passed an ordinence. I imagine what is what happens in most towns.
Joe, a lot of restaurants did go the extra mile, and installed big smoke eaters. That wasn't enough. Those that could afford it, installed separate rooms for the smokers. Still, that wasn't enough.
The anti-smoking Boards of Health want smoking GONE! Period. My heart goes out to all the business's that forked out thousands of dollars to accomodate their smoking clientele, only to have the Board of Health come in and say "That's not good enough." And the Board of Health didn't bother reimbursing the business owner either.
Now the Board of Health is starting on bar/restaurants. It used to be if they sold liquor, they could allow smoking. Well, the Board of Health is digging into ways to pull smoking out of bars, as well. It's their way or no way, and it's the private sector business owner that is really suffering.
That is SO good. LOL!
It's good to see smokers finally standing up to be heard.
Hopefully, we can get our voices together and make a loud roar. I am so tired of the anti-smokers saying we all work for Big Tobacco. Private citizens DO have the right to speak out!
My kind of Mom! I think we are leaning towards buying a gun, too. Although I need to go to school so I don't shoot my own foot off. heh!
ahhhhh Cape Cod.
We used to go there twice a year. When they went smoke free in 1999, that was the last they saw us.
Pity. I really miss the Christmas Tree Shop and Colonial Candle, Mitchells Restaurant and the Sport Bar over by the Mall. But they can keep it. The anti-smokers want it all to themselves, so they can help support these business's , in my opinion.
Well I smoke non-filters so it really doesn't matter to me.
However, I would have to do something like that for my wife.
How about being a dedicated evangelical Christian?
Well if it was just me, I would probably do such. But once I get my wife, who also smokes, seated in the restaurant, it is not a good idea to come between her and a meal.
We did have an incident about a month ago where we agreed to meet for lunch at a new restaurant. Unfortunately she got there first and got a table without inquiring about smoking. When the waiter came to the table with menus I inquired about obtaining an ashtray, to which he informed me that they did not allow smoking in the restaurant. At which point I looked at my wife, who knew this was bad news and stated, "Well we should try to enjoy the meal as it will be the only one we will ever have here."
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