FeedsSmoking ban gets boost
The fight between smokers, non-smokers and their supporters is set to begin.
By a 12-4 vote, a committee in the Michigan State House approved a bill that would essentially ban smoking in all workplaces including restaurants, bars and casinos in the state. The bill is expected to go to the entire House for consideration within the next several weeks.
If politicians in Lansing are successful in passing a law prohibiting smoking in public establishments, Plymouth business owner John O’Callaghan has a proposition for them.
“They can go ahead and pay me for my (smoke purification system) and they can use it as an anchor,” said the owner of Sean O’Callaghan’s Irish Public House.
O’Callaghan, who also owns restaurants in Livingston and Oakland counties said he has invested more than $2,500 in an air purification system to eliminate the sight and smell of smoke from his bar and restaurant and does not appreciate any effort from the state to tell him how to run his restaurants. He said that smoking is only allowed at the bar area in his establishments.
“It’s another example of government intrusion. The decision to allow smokers should be left to the will of the business owner,” O’Callaghan said.
The Michigan State Restaurant Owners Association along with the Michigan License Beverage Association has announced plans to run a counter campaign to push back on the proposed mandated ban.
According to their figures, thousands of restaurants across the state have made the decision to completely ban or limit smoking to one area without a state law.
Proponents of the bill, including the Michigan Chapter of the American Cancer Society, said the voluntary restrictions do not do enough to protect employees and patrons from second-hand smoke.
The issue is particularly important to western Wayne County communities just as many rely on their bars, restaurants and other public establishments as a reliable form of commerce and to spur activity for merchants and other businesses, said Fran Toney, the executive director of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce.
Toney said she remembers the meetings within the community when Wayne County considered a similar ban.
“There was a lot of activity and concern and not just from the restaurant owners,” said Toney. “Our industrialists in Plymouth Township were particularly concerned because of the number of employees. This could hurt our area,” she said.
Andrea Skupski of Plymouth said smoking should be allowed in bars but not necessarily in family-type restaurants.
“People like to smoke in a bar and its one of the few places around as it is where you can smoke freely,” she said.
John Kohler, the manager of Plaza Lanes in Plymouth Township said their establishment already monitors smoking on the lanes and doesn’t expect the bill, if passed, to have a major impact on his business.
“If every business in the state is required to do it then we’re all even. It probably wouldn’t mean anything to business,” he said.
