Smoke-free work places were a hot topic of debate at the Eugene City Council work session Wednesday night. City councilors decided unanimously to bring two proposed ordinances into the arena of public debate.
The most debated ordinance addresses the implementation of a smoke-free policy in Eugene businesses with two or more employees. A second ordinance relates to vendor-assisted sales and ID checking.
City councilors also addressed the issue of youth access to tobacco, but decided more information was needed before making a decision.
A similar smoke-free work place ordinance in July 1998 banned smoking in Corvallis businesses. Despite grumbling from local business owners, specifically those of bars, studies by the Oregon Health Commission show that the ban does not affect beer or liquor sales. The study points out that 65% of bar customers report enjoying the bar atmosphere more after it became smoke-free.
Ward 4 City Councilor David Kelly felt that the issue is no longer about smokers, but about the person next to the smoker.
“It’s also about the people trying to make a buck as a bartender or waitress and don’t have a choice,” Kelly said, referring to the exposure that many non-smoking employees are currently subjected to.
Kelly disclosed the story of a close friend who had died of lung cancer at 45 years old and had never smoked a cigarette in his life. His exposure to second-hand smoke as a musician in bars were the cause Kelly attributed to the death.
Charlie Braden, a bartender at Rock ‘n’ Rodeo, said she has experienced first-hand the negatives of working in a smoking environment. Before working in a bar, Braden said, she never had bronchitis. That’s changed, she said, with her exposure to large amounts of second-hand smoke and Braden recently recovered from her second bout with bronchitis.
Since then, Braden has developed asthma, and her doctor told her to find a new occupation before it gets worse.
“I’d be happy if the bars go smoke-free; it’s a lot healthier and safer,” Braden said, referring to the numerous times she’s been burned by a drunk customer’s cigarette who are “too drunk to hold them properly.”
Not all bar staff are in favor of the idea. Jim Rice, of Prime Time Sports Bar in Springfield, said that bar owners “don’t want City Council to dictate how to run a business to business owners.”
Though Rice would not be immediately effected if the ordinances come into effect, he believes “pressure would be put on Springfield City Council.”
Roxanne McAnally, a Florence resident and spokeswoman for Tobacco Free Lane County, brought up the concern that cigarettes are one of the most stolen items in stores, something that vendor-assisted sales could cut down on.
“We’re very excited; this is a big step, yet it’s such a simple one,” McAnally said, referring to the steady push of communities becoming smoke-free. “I think the big tobacco propaganda is what complicates things.”
After the public expressed its concerns, the City Councilors’ opinions proved consistent enough that the votes on both issues were unanimous. After the public hearing, at a date to be determined, the City Council has the option of moving to a final vote at its next meeting, or requesting further research.
“We’ve seldom dealt with something where the right thing to do is so obvious,” Ward 2 City Councilor Betty Taylor said.