The Eugene City Council ended a plethora of public controversy by banning smoking in bars, taverns and bingo parlors at Monday night’s meeting. Effective July 31, 2001, all business establishments in Eugene with two or more employees will be smoke-free.
“I wasn’t sure if it would pass and I’m relieved it did,” Councilor Betty Taylor said. “It was the right thing to do.”
Despite a lengthy consideration of exemptions for smoking rooms by the council, the measure passed without any changes. A motion by Councilor Gary Papé to exempt facilities which have a separate smoking room did not receive support to put it to a vote. Mayor Jim Torrey’s suggestion to allow bars, taverns and bingo halls to allow a separate smoking room utilized only for smoking, not for eating or drinking, was also voted down.
“[The separate smoking room] is not enforceable and workers would feel pressured to go into those rooms and serve patrons,” Councilor Bonnie Bettman said.
Councilor Gary Rayor added that a letter from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission says a separate smoking room would be difficult to enforce — such as keeping the doors shut and keeping patrons from drinking in the smoking room. Rayor also said air quality would also be hard to control or monitor.
Councilor Pat Farr, who registered the lone ‘no’ vote against the ordinance, said the issue was not just one of health issues, but of fairness in passing a ban in only one community.
“Adjacent communities allow smoking,” Farr said. “We’re just passing the issue outside of city limits.”
Opposition to the ordinance agreed with Farr’s point.
“You’re illegalizing my establishment for a legal substance,” Silver Dollar Club owner Lucas Mericantante said. “It needs to be a statewide law.”
The vast majority support of the ordinance by the council was echoed by many of Eugene residents attending the meeting.
Opposition, including members of Bingomania and local bar owners who oppose the ban, advocated that the issue enveloped more than just the exposure to second-hand smoke.
“My whole feeling [on the issue revolves around drunk driving],” Mericantante said. “I can afford to build a bar in Springfield but you’re going to take smokers and put them out of town and then getting DUI’s.”
Mericantante, a non-smoker, also brought up the issue that forcing smokers outside is only solving one problem.
“You’re putting people on the street smoking,” Mericantante said. “What better advertisement is that for smoking?”
Despite the controversy and continued contention over the ordinance, supporters of smoke-free businesses celebrated their victory.
“Because of health problems, I can’t enjoy dancing and playing Bingo [because of the smoky atmosphere],” Sherion Fulton of Eugene Community Partnership said. “Now I’ll be able to enjoy those activities again.”