Senate bill: Their poll agrees with the Trib’s that Utahns are against forcing bars to be smoke-free
Bar and private club owners lined up Tuesday against a bill that would ban smoking in their establishments, and unveiled a poll showing that respondents are opposed to more restrictions on tobacco.
SB19, which would bar smoking in private clubs, taverns, fraternal meeting places, country clubs and rental facilities for such events as weddings, awaits a vote before the full House. The Senate passed the measure 17-12.
The statewide poll, commissioned by the Utah Hospitality Association, shows that 69 percent of those questioned think smoking should be allowed in private clubs, 79 percent say they are satisfied with current regulations restricting smoking in public places, and 69 percent think the decision about smoking in private clubs should be left to managers and owners.
“The people of Utah understand the rights of private business owners,” Bob Brown, president of the hospitality group, said in a news conference at the Capitol. “.It is clear that individual establishments should have the right to decide whether or not to allow smoking.”
The latest poll is one of several showing Utahns are opposed to more smoking restrictions, said attorney Phillip W. Dyer, who represents the hospitality group. This includes a poll by The Salt Lake Tribune, conducted in January, which found three out of five respondents were against making private clubs and bars smoke-free.
The hospitality poll, conducted Feb. 8-12, questioned 505 registered voters – 92 percent of whom identified themselves as nonsmokers or former smokers, Dyer said.
Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, said some proponents of the bill are using straw-vote surveys that “are not scientific” to prove their point. Oda said he will oppose the bill when it comes before the House.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he has suspicions about polls conducted on behalf of organizations with specific agendas. He thinks the House is split on the issue, “but we’re working to get this over the top and into law.”
Waddoups said the measure addresses the health issue of secondhand smoke, and will protect waitresses, bartenders and musicians who must work in smoke-filled environments.
For its part, Brown said the hospitality group has collected 5,000 signature cards from bar and private club employees indicating they oppose a ban on smoking in their places of business.
Souzzann Zink, a smoking cessation specialist, said the most important reason to pass SB19 is to reduce medical care costs for everyone.
“Restrictions on smoking are proved to decrease the number of people who start smoking and to increase the number who quit,” she said. “Because 78 percent of Utahans who smoke want to quit, making it easier to start – in clubs and bars – means adding expensive smokers to our health-care costs, for life.”
Originally written By Dawn House
The Salt Lake Tribune
