“No smoking, under Oregon’s Smokefree Workplace Law,” reads the small, inconspicuous signs in the corners of Eugene bars. While these signs may seem unobtrusive, their message has proven to be extremely effective since the law was revised in January.
According to a study released on Nov. 10 by the Oregon Department of Human Services Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, 100 percent of 147 observed bars show no traces of smoking indoors — no butts, no ashtrays and barely any lingering aroma of tobacco.
“The results of this survey are astounding!” said Cathryn Cushing, spokesperson for TPEP.
The January law banned smoking not only inside bars but also 10 feet from the entrance, the windows, or any other ventilation intake. Between June 19 and Aug. 9, undercover surveyors visited the 147 Oregon bars between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. for accurate observation.
While the state found no indoor smoking in these bars, they did find that 80 percent of the bars assessed did not have any designated outdoor smoking areas, and only 12 percent of the 25 bars observed in the Willamette Valley had designated outdoor smoking areas available.
Jo Dee Moine has been the owner of Luckey’s Bar in downtown Eugene for more than seven years and has been a non-smoker her whole life. Her bar is one of the many without an outdoor smoking area. She said that her business has been affected by the new ban, losing smoking patrons to bars with a designated space.
“While I’m very supportive of this ban, it’s been hard not having an outdoor patio for smokers,” Moine said. “It’s great adapting to welcome everyone, especially people not fond of cigarette smoke, like myself, but it’s difficult to keep all customers satisfied.”
Moine said that there is physically no space to construct a legal, designated outdoor smoking area on her property.
“Usually, smokers have to stand on the curb outside to smoke,” Moine explained. “It’s clearly a hassle for them; it seems to be our responsibility to provide a more private space.”
Moine said she has considered talking with the city to expand the Luckey’s property further back into a city-owned parking lot, but at this time it would be too expensive.
University junior Oanh Nguyen thinks the 10-foot-away outdoor smoking law is a little harsh.
“Smokers have already made a compromise: not smoking inside,” Nguyen said. “The added 10 feet just seems like an added punishment.”
However, she conceded that the ban is a vital law.
TPEP has not received any negative feedback relating to bad business since the legislation passed.
“History shows that these sort of laws actually help business,” Cushing said. “More people want smoke-free bars than there are smokers.”
With 80 percent of Oregon smokers wanting to quit, Cushing said that the law has been praised by struggling smokers, saying that it helped push them to end their unhealthy habit.
When it comes to enforcing the law, TPEP will only take action when it has received a public complaint. Once the program is informed of a bar breaking the law, it will help the business become more compliant with the regulations.
“Our goal is not to fine people,” Cushing said.
By the numbers:
Willamette Valley bars
- 100 percent showed no signs of smoking indoors
- 76 percent showed no signs of smoking outdoors within the 10-foot smoke-free zone
- 24 percent had outdoor seating available for smokers
- 12 percent had a designated non-enclosed outdoor smoking area
- 20 percent displayed required “No Smoking” signage
