More than half the Eugene bars that still allow smoking will be sending smokers outside sooner than previously expected.
Last week, the city manager ordered 18 of the 31 bars that received exemptions from the city’s smoking ban to be smoke-free by Sept. 15.
After the city began enforcing its smoking ban July 1, it granted 31 bars and taverns extensions to allow smoking indoors while building outdoor smoking areas.
Concerned that some bars used the extensions to delay compliance with the smoking ban, councilors on July 9 ordered city staff to review the policy.
“The ordinance all along stated that the exemption will continue as long as businesses were proceeding with construction at a reasonable pace, but reasonable pace wasn’t clarified,” said Jan Bohman, the Eugene senior analyst overseeing the review.
A handful of bars now facing a shortened deadline said the change is unfair.
Darren Bliss, the owner of the Bliss Steak House, said he is planning to build a deck, and the city’s policy will rush the construction job and is anti-business.
Since the city began enforcing the smoking ban in bars and taverns July 1, Tobacco Free Lane County’s complaint line has received about 10 complaints concerning businesses that should be smoke-free by now, said Stephanie Young-Peterson, a county tobacco prevention coordinator.
The following businesses have until Sept. 15 to go smoke-free: Bliss Steak House, Doc’s Pad, The Embers, John Henry’s, Moretti’s Italian Restaurant, Mulligan’s Pub, O’Donnell’s Irish Pub, Olympus Club, Original Joe’s, Rich’s Dugout, Rock ‘N’ Rodeo, Taylor’s Bar and Grille, Wild Duck and Wiley’s.
These businesses can allow smoking through the end of the year while construction continues: The Downtown Lounge, G. Willicker’s, Jo Federigo’s, Joggers Bar & Grill, Lucky’s Club Cigar Store, Max’s Tavern and Rennie’s Landing.