East Carolinian

Issue date: 6/3/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: photos.com

It is no secret that North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue signed a new law banning smoking in all bars and restaurants in North Carolina. This has been an ongoing debate for the state, but after much deliberation and a 62-56 vote, the bill was finally set into motion. As a result, many restaurants and bars are in a frenzy due to the new smoking ban that will take effect on Jan. 2, 2010; however, the policy can be strictly enforced as early as July 5th of this year.

There are some limitations to the new law. The ban exempts all hotel and motel locations, private clubs, cigar bars and medical research facilities conducting research on tobacco. However, Congress has left the decision of whether or not to enforce the ban up to each individual state, which allows each state to apply its own limitations to the law.

Employees at local restaurants will be seeing a change of atmosphere when the new law is put into place.

"It's kind of a little annoying when we ask guests, 'would you like smoking or non-smoking?' and they give an entire speech about why all restaurants should be non-smoking like it is up north," said Mariam Remindd, an employee at Tripp's restaurant. "I always smile politely and reply, 'We won't have to worry about that too much longer.'"

The smoking ban also appeals to employees who are non-smokers or who only smoke occasionally.

"I smoke on my own time, but I absolutely hate going home after work smelling like cigarettes," says Stephanie Hu, another server for a restaurant in Greenville.

The new smoking ban will definitely put a damper on business for sports bars and clubs in downtown Greenville. Greenville resident Jared Newcomb believes that the smoking ban will upset many regular customers at bars downtown and take away from business for the first couple of months after it takes effect.

"I just don't see the point. If you can still buy cigarettes and cigars legally, why put regulations on when and where we can smoke them," he said as he put out his cigarette. "That just doesn't seem fair to me."

Smoking in hookah bars has become an increasing new trend in North Carolina. In Greenville, the only hookah bar is located downtown on Evans Street. Fortunately, for his business, Hisham Saleh, owner of Hookah Haze, the new smoking ban will not force him to close down his facility. Hookah Haze has been open for approximately two years and has pulled many college students and young adults into the world of hookah. Some hookah bars around North Carolina are being forced to shut down due to the new law because they serve items such as alcohol, food and beverages, as well as hookah. Saleh assures that Hookah Haze will remain in business since the sole purpose of his hookah bar is for smoking 100 percent fruit flavored shisha.

"I think the new law will be beneficial to my hookah bar," said Saleh. "Since people can't go to other places they're used to smoking at, they will come here."

There is still much controversy surrounding the smoking ban that will take effect in 2010. Many individuals, both smokers and non-smokers, agree that the new law is a violation of their personal liberties and feel the ban will only irritate customers, especially at bars and clubs. It may also force some businesses that encourage and welcome smoking, such as hookah bars, to close down since they do not meet the requirements of a private club or cigar bar. Now, businesses that make a great deal of their money from smoking customers will have to incorporate other methods to keep up their clientele.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools