Business is Booming in Smoke-Free Bars Despite
Dire Predictions
More than a year after California implemented the
bars provision of its Smoke-Free Workplace Law, none of the tobacco
industry's dire predictions of economic doom have come true. In
fact, bar and restaurant revenues are up, and tourism in California
is booming.
Recent figures from the State Board of Equalization
show that bar revenues are up nearly 6 percent. Tourism in California
boomed to record highs in 1998, generating an estimated $64.8
billion. And polls show that an overwhelming majority of Californians
support smoke-free bars.
While the law has been an enormous success and overall
compliance is high, there are still some areas where the law is
not being enforced. American Lung Associations around the state
are focusing their efforts on working with local governments to
develop effective enforcement strategies. In much of California,
county health departments are responsible for enforcing the law.
But those on the front lines say it is important to get local
police and sheriff departments involved in the effort.
Lung Association and Local Law Enforcement Work
Together
"It's extremely important to get buy-in from
the law enforcement community," said Bob Doyle, director
of media and community outreach for the American Lung Association
of San Diego and Imperial Counties' tobacco control programs.
His association joined forces with the San Diego
Sheriff's Department and the San Diego Vice Squad. In January
they launched a comprehensive enforcement campaign to increase
compliance among the few bars still violating the smoke-free workplace
law. It features a print advertising campaign highlighting the
benefits of smoke-free bars and promoting a complaint line to
report bars that still allow smoking.
In Sacramento, tobacco control advocates have been
working closely with the city police and compliance rates there
are high. Police officers accompany inspectors on compliance checks.
But in the unincorporated county areas, enforcement strategies
are still being developed.
"Enforcement is all over the board in California,"
said Dian Kiser, director of BREATH,
the statewide smoke-free bars project conducted by the American
Lung Association of the East Bay. "Some areas have policies
developed, others are just beginning to talk about strategies."
BREATH provides trainings to law enforcement agencies
and helps them develop protocols for handling enforcement issues.
"Virtually all of the bars that are restaurant-bar
combinations are smoke-free," said Carolyn Martin, who works
on policy issues for the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant
Trails. "Most of the problems are with stand-alone bars."
Data collected in San Diego showed that while only
a third of the bars are stand-alone, they receive five times the
number of complaints. The same survey found that while 91 percent
of San Diego bars are smoke-free, only 51 percent of stand-alone
bars are in compliance.
"When you consider that stand-alone bars represent
only 11 percent of the liquor licenses issued in California, and
about half are out of compliance, the overall picture is incredibly
successful," Martin said. "But the law has been in effect
for over a year and it's time for all bars to comply."
More information on smoke-free bars:
More information on
tobacco control.
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