|
|
|
|
Share/Bookmark this Topic:
|
| Message |
Author |
by linkup
on Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:10 am |
|
http://www.examiner.com/printa-787688~Alexandria_moves_toward_restaurant_smoking_ban.html
Alexandria moves toward restaurant smoking ban
(Brig Cabe/Examiner)
Smoking within 10 feet, indoors or outdoors, of commercial food consumption areas may be banned. Many restaurant owners oppose the ban, fearing that diners may leave for other areas that will allow them to smoke. Maria Hegstad, The Examiner
2007-06-19 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked
Alexandria -
The Alexandria City Council provisionally passed a restaurant smoking ban that has been hotly debated in recent months.
The council has to approve the prohibition again before July 2008 for it to take effect. During the coming year, the city will lobby the legislature in Richmond to pass a smoking ban in its next session.
A measure to do so failed in this year’s session.
Several representatives of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce protested the method of applying the ban.
They said an additional regulation shouldn’t be added to the city’s already cumbersome permitting process, which would be used to implement the ban approved Saturday by the council.
“We do not need to add to an already flawed system,” said Rick Dorman, chairman of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
Other opponents suggested the ban could bring a lawsuit against the city, arguing that taxpayer money would be better spent outside the courtroom.
“The gorilla in the room is Philip Morris and Company has us scared about a lawsuit,” said Councilman Tim Lovain, shortly before joining the unanimous vote for the ban. “I think we should take them on.”
Lovain said Monday he had no confirmation that the cigarette maker would sue the city over the ban.
He said he was merely reacting to rumors, noting the company is a major presence in Virginia with deep pockets to hire attorneys.
Lovain also suggested that other Northern Virginia jurisdictions would follow Alexandria’s lead and also ban smoking.
Pub owner Pat Troy, an ardent opponent of the ban, questioned the statement.
Troy fears he will lose business to Arlington and Fairfax restaurants.
“I’ve got a lot of customers that like to smoke at my bar,” Troy said. “Smokers are going to go somewhere to smoke – or they’ll stay home.”
If the council gives final approval to the ban next year, restaurant owners will have a year to make their businesses smoke-free.
mhegstad@dcexaminer.com
Examiner |
|
|
linkup
Smoking Lobby Sponsor
Joined: Oct 01, 2005
Posts: 1201
Location: Anywhere but here
|
| |
Back to top |
|
|
| |
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
|
