By Naomi Johnson
Reeking clothes and burning eyes filled with tears. Those are the effects of second hand smoke on this non-smoker, after an evening out at a Centretown bar or restaurant.
Non-smokers like myself may soon be able to breathe a little easier, knowing that smoking in public buildings in Centretown could disappear like a puff of smoke.
The region wants to see smoking banned in public buildings in every municipality within its jurisdiction. Currently, there is no consistency in smoking bylaws across the region because it is up to each individual municipality to create and enforce (if they decide to do so at all).
But won’t introducing zero tolerance for smoking in public places drive away business and make smokers stay away from places like restaurants?
Arguably, no.
There is growing evidence that restaurants that ban smoking do not suffer a decline in business.
Dr. Andrew Pipe of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute supports that notion in a 1998 Canadian Medical Association Journal article.
Pipe says the hospitality industry will not lose business because smokers will continue to go restaurants, even if they are smoke-free.
He also points out that “non-smokers are in the overwhelming majority and that they outspend smokers in restaurants by a factor of 2.5.”
A number of U.S. cities with smoking control bylaws “have shown business and sales can actually increase when restaurants become smoke-free,” adds Pipe.
Not only would sales stay the same or increase, I would argue that employee health would also improve. There would be a considerable reduction in the employees’ daily exposure to second hand smoke, which is inescapable in restaurants that permit smoking. Healthier employees means fewer sick days, which is better for business.
Smoke-free restaurants would also be great for customers, who would be encouraged to return to a healthier environment and ultimately better service.
Far too often, non-smokers are forced to wait until a table is available in the non-smoking section, while smokers have numerous tables available to them. And as for being seated right next to the smoking section, you may as well skip the wait and just ask for smoking.
Restauranteurs should throw their support behind the region’s initiative to eliminate smoking. Business would be all the healthier for it.