| ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 26, 1999 - The National Smokers
Alliance announced today that it is sponsoring legislation that would modify
California's smoking ban in bars, taverns and gaming clubs. Assembly Bill
1216, authored by Assemblymember Dick Floyd (D-Wilmington) and co-authored
by Assemblymembers Lou Papan (D-Millbrae), Rod Wright (D-Los Angeles) and
Brett Granlund (R-Yucaipa), would amend California's existing law to allow
the employees and owners of stand-alone bars the choice to establish their
smoking policy.
"AB 1216 is all about choice. It allows the employees and the owners,
not the government, to choose a smoking policy that is right for their
establishment and their customers," said Thomas Humber, president of the
National Smokers Alliance. "Undoubtedly, some bar employees and owners
will choose to remain smoke-free and that's their choice. But AB 1216 also
provides an option for those employees and owners who choose to allow smoking.
It's a win-win for everyone. That's the beauty of choice."
Polling commissioned by the California Department of Health Services
shows that a  staggering
90% of stand-alone bar employees and owners disapprove of the smoking ban
and want to see the law repealed. AB 1216 would apply only to stand-alone
establishments where "the primary purpose of the establishment is either
the serving of alcoholic beverages for consumption by guests on the premises
or the conduct of controlled gambling." AB 1216 would permit a gaming club,
bar or tavern to permit smoking under the following circumstances:
-
All employees consent to permit smoking -- employers who are found guilty
of coercing employees to consent to smoking shall be subject to a $7,000
fine and a one-year suspension of the right to permit smoking,
-
No employee is forced to work in a smoking area,
-
A prominent sign at each entrance notifies potential patrons that smoking
is permitted within the establishment,
-
The serving of food is incidental to the primary purpose of the establishment
(i.e., on-sale liquor or legal gambling),
-
Air is handled or controlled by a system (air barrier, air purification,
or air ventilation) that meets specified standards described in the bill.
"For a year now, bar employees and owners have had to cope with lost revenue,
angry customers, uneven and punitive enforcement, varying interpretations
of the law and the criminalization of normally law-abiding citizens," said
Humber.
"AB 1216 is a common sense solution aimed at providing stand-alone bar
employees and owners relief from the smoking ban," said Humber. "AB 1216
puts the choice back in the hands of those most harmed by this intrusive
law."
The National Smokers Alliance is a non-profit organization of adults
from across the country dedicated to fighting discrimination against smokers
and to supporting business owners who wish to make their own decisions
about their businesses without unnecessary government interference. The
NSA has more than 3 million members nationwide, including 300,000 in California,
and is supported by membership dues and contributions from hundreds of
businesses and corporations, including three cigarette manufacturers on
behalf of their
consumers. |
