Area restaurants and students react to smoking ban

House approves bill to outlaw smoking in most public places

John Cline

Staff Writer

A landmark bill was passed April 1 when the North Carolina House voted 75 to 42 in favor of a bill that effectively outlaws smoking in most public places and restaurants. This comes in the wake of a similar bill that was voted down in 2007.

In a statement released shortly after the vote, House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman said that while the true effects are still unknown, the bill represents the beginning of a new age in North Carolina.

The bill still needs one more vote to clear the House before moving on to the Senate.  If passed, smoking cigarettes would become illegal in any public place that employs or serves anyone under the age of 18.  This would include many restaurants but would exempt many bars.  Exemptions are also in place for private residences, private vehicles, tobacco shops, cigar bars and designated hotel or motel rooms.  North Carolina would be the 35th state to put a smoking ban in place.

Students, including Steven Grier, a sophomore in statistics, say they see the bill as more of a political tool and believe that the government is overstepping their bounds.

“I don’t like it.  I feel like it’s a hot issue that politicians use to get votes; it’s just an attention getter,” Grier said. “It’s just politicians trying to get publicity, not really helping people out.”

Hunter Scott, a junior in mechanical engineering, says he is more positive about the actions of the bill but agrees the government shouldn’t be getting involved.

“[The ban] doesn’t really bother me, I’d rather smoke outside anyway.  I can understand how people wouldn’t want cigarette smoke around them, and I don’t want to infringe on other people’s enjoyment,” Scott said. “But it is kind of ridiculous for the government to make this kind of decision and to get involved in private business.”

Owners and employees in the restaurant business share this ambivalence towards the smoking ban.

Randy Mosteller, an employee at Mitch’s Tavern, a local pub on Hillsborough Street, said in a statement that they went ahead and went smoke free while the previous bill was being debated.

“I am conflicted about this because I’m a smoker but I have children,” Mosteller said.  “But I think [the owner] isn’t a huge fan because legislators shouldn’t be messing around in private matters.”

Scott said he also questioned the enforceability of this sort of law.

“It’ll be really hard to enforce,” Scott said. “I’m sure there are a lot of places where people have always smoked and it might not go over too well with some of them.”

Grier echoed Scott’s sentiments.

“Cops won’t want to waste time hunting for smokers,” he said.

The consensus among students and professionals alike was that the government has simply gone about this the wrong way.

“I know why they did it, they just shouldn’t be forcing this kind of legislation on private businesses,” Scott said.