Sitting in the corner at the 999 bar in Jessup, Arbutus resident Joe Smith took a long drag of his Marlboro menthol cigarette and said what many smokers were feeling about the newly enacted smoking ban:
“I think this law sucks.”
Smith, who frequents the bar almost every day, said he is disgusted with the Howard County Council?s decision to ban smoking in all businesses. The bill, which County Executive James Robey will sign today, will take full effect next June.
Bar owner Stan Nasiatka said he predicted the ban would hurt his business “substantially.”
“Smoking seems to go hand in hand with drinking,” he said.
Because his bar sits on the border of Howard and Anne Arundel counties, many of his customers may choose someplace else to drink and smoke, he said. Anne Arundel County does not have a smoking ban.
“I?m gonna go into Anne Arundel [County], I make no bones about it,” said Severn resident Roy Dixon, who comes to 999 every day.
Mark Hemmis, owner of the Phoenix Emporium tavern in Ellicott City, said he doesn?t know if his bar, which has been there since 1885, will survive.
He said the bar?s primary business is after 10 p.m. when patrons come in to smoke and drink.
The ban was an issue of contention among council members, who spent more than six months proposing and debating various anti-smoking proposals, which mainly differed in the ban?s start date.
Council Member Kenneth Ulman, D-District 4, said because the ban wouldn?t be fully enacted for a year, businesses like Nasiatka?s could smoothly adjust their business plans, but Nasiatka said he is doubtful he will.
“My business plan is to give people good service, good product and cold beer, and they keep coming back,” he said. “What can you do? Not much.”
Democratic Council Members Calvin Ball, District 2; Ulman and Guy Guzzone, District 3, voted for the ban; Republican Council Members Christopher Merdon, District 1, and Charles Feaga, District 5, voted against it.
Smoke-free areas
Effective Aug. 8, smoking is banned from:
» Most indoor workplaces and public places, except separately enclosed and ventilated rooms
» 15 feet from all public entrances and exits
» All new bars and restaurants
» Merriweather Post Pavilion
» Most government vehicles
Effective June 1, 2007, smoking is banned from all public places, including separately enclosed and ventilated rooms.
Source: Howard County Government
