NJ bars pass first smokeless week

While the fight over anti-smoking legislation in Philadelphia continues to rage, New Jersey's first week without smoking in bars and restaurants passed with little incident.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services reported few complaints and has issued no smoking-related fines to bars and restaurants since the state-wide ban on smoking in such establishments took effect April 15.

Though the department neither monitors restaurants and bars for smoking nor keeps track of the required "no smoking" signs it distributes, New Jersey Health and Senior Services spokesman Tom Slater said that the transition has gone well.

"Anecdotally, it's been a positive experience," Slater said. "Most of [these bars] have been smoke-free for many years," so it's not a big change.

Joe Han, manager at the bar and restaurant Lombardi's in Newark, N.J., said he has seen a decrease in people sitting in his restaurant's bar area since the ban went into effect. He added that he has made up for lost revenue with increases in the restaurant area of his establishment.

"There hasn't been too much of a difference." Han said.

Han and other bar owners are more worried about a separate proposal in New Jersey that would require 25-foot smoke free buffers around restaurants and bars.

"The big stink is about the 25-foot law," he said. "It's an unfair situation. What if you're sandwiched between two bars?"

Han, who hadn't put up "no smoking" signs and was unaware they were required, said there had been no problems enforcing the new law in his establishment.

Philadelphia Councilwoman Marian Tasco, who has proposed a ban on smoking in all workplaces, does not think that a smooth transition in New Jersey will change any minds in Philadelphia, her spokeswoman said.

The votes against anti-smoking legislation are more deeply rooted than "logistical issues," Tasco spokeswoman Melody Wright said. "It's a question about Council members' bars or taverns in their local areas" losing revenue.

Councilwoman Joan Krajweski, one of the bill's opponents, has said that the effect of the smoking ban in New Jersey wouldn't change her position on a ban in Philadelphia.

Krajweski spokesman Chris Creelman said Council members with primarily restaurants in their districts are the main supporters of the bill, adding that Krajweski opposes it because her district has more corner bars.

Bar workers in Krajweski's Northeast Philadelphia district back up her stance.

Lenny Dolphin, a manager at Anthony's bar in Northeast Philadelphia, said that he is strongly opposed to a smoking ban.

"Ninety-five percent of the people here are smokers," Dolphin said. "A lot of people told me that they wouldn't come in if they weren't allowed to smoke."

Tasco's bill is the successor to one proposed by Councilman Michael Nutter that targeted smoking in bars and restaurants specifically and narrowly missed being passed.

Smoke-free in NJ - New Jersey's statewide smoking ban in bars and restaurants went into effect earlier this month - Officials in that state report that the ban has gone smoothly so far - Philadelphia legislators say they doubt the success of a ban in New Jersey will affect their positions on a similar ban in the city

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