BAR OWNERS MUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH CLEAN AIR

Legislature showing no interest in reviving smoke-filled
bars

IN California, the smoke-filled tavern is unfashionable, unlawful and
unlikely to make a comeback. But the National Smokers Alliance and
hundreds of California bar owners refuse to give up.

Last week the bar owners made a last-ditch effort to convince the
Legislature to let them cater to smokers, but for the second year in a
row, they got a stone-cold reception. Two days later, the state
unveiled a set of new anti-smoking billboards that will be replacing
tobacco billboard ads across the state. For smokers, it's tough all
over.

AB 1216, which would have lifted the statewide ban on smoking in bars
and gaming clubs, was a modest proposal. A bar could only allow
smoking if all its employees consented in writing and if it installed
special ventilation equipment.

Bar owners complained to the committee that they have lost money
because their smoking customers are doing their drinking at home where
they can smoke in peace -- or in bars that don't enforce the law.

But the arguments against lifting the tavern ban are just too solid.
Tobacco smoke is lethal, and the state protects employees against
health hazards whether they want to be protected or not. People who
work in bars and gaming clubs are four to six times more likely to
develop a tobacco-related disease than workers who don't breathe smoke
all day, according to an analysis prepared for the Assembly labor committee.

The bill died a quick death in the labor committee, and a similar bill
was withdrawn before it could be killed.

No doubt the bar owners will be back again next year. But if they
really have their hearts set on cleaning ashtrays again, there is hope
under existing law.

The statewide ban on workplace smoking, which passed in 1994, provides
that smoking be allowed in bars whenever the Environmental Protection
Agency or the California Occupational Safety and Health Agency comes
up with a ventilation method that reduces to an insignificant level
the deadly chemicals in the air around smokers.

But it may be a while before technology makes that possible. Any
existing fan powerful enough to eliminate all harmful smoke would
likely suck the cigarette right out of your hand -- and take your
drink with it.