Virginia is the Latest State to Ban Bar-Smoking
Published on January 4, 2010 10:11 AM
As more and more Virginian venues prohibited smoking regardless of the lack of corresponding legislation, local authorities finally decided to ban public smoking across the state, home to the ancient tobacco consumers, which began chewing tobacco leaves many centuries ago, whereas cigarette rolling began nearly 400 years ago, in Jamestown settlement.
Therefore, beginning with the 1st of December 2009, Virginia has become the 25th state throughout the United States to prohibit smoking in all enclosed public areas, including eateries. However, under the legislation, it is allowed for restaurant owners to launch physically separated areas with special ventilation systems, where smoking would be permitted unless the smoke doesn’t reach non-smoking sections.
During the last two centuries tobacco plants were Virginia’s major crops and source of economic prosperity. Even the rotunda of the Capitol building in Richmond is decorated with frescoes showing elephantine tobacco leaves. Moreover, not far away from the State’s main building, there stands the largest manufacturing plant of Philip Morris USA, which provides smokers nationwide with landmark Marlboros.
This year has witnesses the introduction of citywide smoking bans in establishments where meals and beverages are served. Among cities with such laws were even Richmond and North Carolina’s Raleigh and Winston-Salem, nation’s tobacco-production capitals, where leading US tobacconists manufacture their products.
In addition, fellow tobacco state North Carolina will implement its own anti-smoking legislation on January 2, 2010. As well as Virginian law, the N.C. legislation permits lighting up in outside patios, cigar bars, private clubs and tobacco shops. But, in contrast to Virginia, North Carolina smokers would not be allowed to puff in restaurants, no matter if they provide separately ventilated sections.
Patrick Doss, head of Virginian Association of Restaurateurs admitted that only a number of local venues have the opportunity to build additional sections and install ventilation systems there, but for many small bars smoking will be banned without any exemptions.
Some venues, such as Jamestown blues and Jazz Sanctuary in Virginia Beach became smoke-free on their own will, well ahead of the ban implementation. However, for such business owners like Rashid Ramzi, the legislation is a threat to his hookah lounge, very popular place in Norfolk. He complained he has to spend thousands on designating a special section for hookah smokers – a traditional Arab pipe very popular among younger adults, and particularly among immigrants.
However, even upon designating that section, he is not sure it would permit him to run his business for a long time, as officials keep tightening the rules.
Mr. Doss said that it is not good for the industry as a whole to permit separated smoking sections, since it creates a competitive disadvantage for small venues. He added that it would be better to ban public smoking altogether.
Scientists found out that a total ban on smoking would put all venues in the same situation, and restaurant would have an advantage because of isolate smoking sections that would bring in many visitors willing to light up.
