Sugar Land Update
Sugar Land Limits Smoking
September 30, 2007
By Carl Willis
By Carl Willis
A new smoking ban in Sugar Land goes into effect at the end of the year, but it will not apply to all bars in the city, KPRC Local 2 reported Saturday.
Mayor David Wallace said the ban is a step in the right direction.
“We have taken a quantum leap from where it was with this new ordinance,” he said.
But some restaurant managers are taking exception to the exemptions in the ordinance.
Country clubs, retail tobacco stores, tobacco bars, stage areas at theatrical performances and some bars established before the end of 2007 will continue to allow smoking.
“I wish that it went farther,” Wallace said. “I wish that all bars had smoking banned at this point with this ordinance, but there were certain council members who felt that would be inappropriate.”
Some managers fear that their customers will just go elsewhere.
“I think it’s a little unfair,” said Buffalo Wild Wings Manager Jesse Vega. “It’s going to be difficult to try to overcome that loss, especially being new. We’re going to have to find new ways to get people to come in, besides sports and atmosphere.”
The ordinance will go into affect Jan. 1 and will prohibit smoking in most public areas.
Wallace said that almost 60 percent of the Sugar Land’s restaurant owners told him they support the ordinance.
Customers have mixed opinions.
“When you prevent people from smoking in bars, I think that’s wrong,” smoker Kathy Garnett said. “You don’t have to go.”
“The bars in Houston, you don’t really see people not coming to it, so it not like an economic detriment against them,” non-smoker Chad Quick said. “Everyone still shows up. It’s nice. You go home, you smell good.”
Restaurants owners will be able to apply with the city for bar status, but they would have to rezone their property and complete the application process before Dec. 31.
