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EATERIES MUST GO SMOKE-FREE
No smoking in restaurants starting TuesdayDate published: 11/29/2009 BY EMILY BATTLE Choking on someone else's cigarette smoke while dining out in Virginia should become a thing of the past as of Tuesday. That's when a state law banning smoking in restaurants takes effect. The General Assembly passed the law last winter. It bans smoking in all restaurants, unless they have a separately ventilated smoking section that is structurally separate from the rest of the restaurant. The exceptions are private clubs, mobile outdoor food carts, outdoor dining areas that are not enclosed and restaurants on the premises of cigarette factories. Statewide, 72 percent of all full-service and fast-food restaurants are already nonsmoking, according to statistics from the Virginia Department of Health. In most localities in the Fredericksburg area, according to state statistics, between 63 percent and 82 percent of restaurants completely ban smoking. Louisa County is the exception. According to state statistics, only 29 percent of its restaurants are smoke-free. However, the numbers are changing rapidly as the start of the ban approaches. Lisa Hill, environmental health supervisor with Hill said a newsletter she sent in late October to restaurants that needed to come into compliance with the new law went to about 150 establishments. The district includes Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline and King George counties. In the past month alone, the number has shrunk to closer to 100. AMF Fredericksburg Lanes bowling alley is one of the establishments that has been knocked off the list as Tuesday approaches. It's listed on the state Web site as allowing smoking anywhere on the premises, but a manager said the facility banned smoking completely as of Sept. 1, and he hasn't heard many complaints. Bowling alleys and other recreation-related businesses that sell food count as restaurants under the law, and if they want to continue to allow smoking, they must either cut out all food and beverage service or build a walled-off smoking area. Hill said the health district plans to contact all affected restaurants by phone by the end of December to determine whether they have put into place an acceptable plan to comply with the law. Within the first three months the law is in effect, she said, the district plans to send an inspector to each restaurant.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 11/29/2009
I'll bet Sammy T's complies
(posted by
Getitright
, Dec. 2, 2009 3:59 pm)
They'll be cited if they do not. It sounded as if they were contemplating how they could get around the law. Hope not. Smoking stinks and so do those that smoke. Nasty...
You know what I don't get about Sammy T's
(posted by
brandonj
, Dec. 1, 2009 4:34 pm)
Is why they have to "consider" what to do. Their separate non-smoking section sucks. It's really just an overflow area and is not nearly as nice as the main dining room within the historic building. If anything, they should reverse the rooms, but considering how they try to attract vegans and vegetarians and considering their crowd, I would think that they should ban smoking entirely. I've rarely seen someone smoking in there and all it does is allow the smell to remain, which is awful.
Very happy
(posted by
Nya_nyas
, Dec. 1, 2009 9:05 am)
I'm very happy to see this law go into effect! As a non-smoker (and someone with asthma) I get so annoyed at having to breathe in smoke when I go to restaurants. Even in many non-smoking sections you still smell it. I am more understanding at bars though. I think it's kindof expected there. Plus, children aren't present at bars (or shouldn't be)so it's not harming them. Anyway, I'm glad to hear it.
It takes time, but in the end...
(posted by
Getitright
, Dec. 1, 2009 9:04 am)
I see quite an about face in this column, from the last time we all had this discussion. It would appear the number of those on board now with this legislation has grown and outnumbers the whiny "smoker's rights forever" crowd. Want to talk rights? Remember the rights of those who wish to breathe air, free of toxic carcinogens produced by burnt chemically treated tobacco products. There is no constitutional right given to anyone to intentionally and adversely affect the health of another. The end.
Now....
(posted by
SimplyAmazed
, Nov. 30, 2009 11:32 pm)
they just need to ban strong, foul smelling colonge that gags me every time I go to a restaurant to enjoy a meal. Forget going to a restaurant...all I have to do is walk down the street or stand in a retail line to be gassed by the stinking non-smoking woman within ten feet of me. Its as disgusting as any smoke I've every smelled. Causes as many coughing fits as well. Hey, but now, NO ONE WILL EVER GET CANCER AGAIN! WHOOPEE TO ALL THE ANTI-SMOKERS WHO GET DRUNK AS SKUNKS AND STINK AS SUCH!
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