Profits Wouldn’t Dip, Pro-Smoking Ban Group Says

Waiters and waitresses of San Diego could use a breath of fresh air, according to members of the Task Force for a Smoke-Free San Diego who met Tuesday in support of a proposed city ordinance to completely ban tobacco smoking in city bars and restaurants.

The task force brought statistics and surveys to a press conference to bolster their position that San Diego business profits wouldn’t go up in smoke should the council approve a total smoking ban at the Oct. 26 meeting.

However, San Diego City Councilman Ron Roberts said during aninterview that the economy has thrown the timing off for such an ordinance, which could cut income for the local restaurant industry. In “one of the worst business climates I have ever seen,” any shortfall would be devastating for people who count on that income, Roberts said.

“We’re trying to market San Diego to foreign visitors,” said Roberts, who is a nonsmoker. “You’re talking a pretty significant change to that sector of business.”

At the press conference, American Heart Assn. spokeswoman Lisa Gaspard said 17% of San Diego’s visitors come from foreign countries, many of which have restricted tobacco-smoking.

The task force also gave the results of a survey of the 40 largest groups that used the new Civic Center in the last two years, including the American Assn. of Zoological Parks, and the American Gas Assn. The groups were asked if a complete smoking ban at the center would keep them from returning. All but one group, American Wholesale Marketing Assn., said they would return, Gaspard said.

The proposed 100% smoking ban ordinance is also firmly supported by the County Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Resource Center.

“We’re in the business of (illness) prevention,” said health educator Harry Silas. “And one way of preventing cancer and lung disease of nonsmokers is to eliminate the source.”

Environmental, or second-hand smoke, causes health problems. Each year, 53,000 nonsmokers in the United States die from smoking-related diseases, he said. Add that to the 454,000 tobacco-smoking related deaths of people who actively smoke and the number approaches half the city population of San Diego.

The center is in charge of enforcing the current ordinance of providing at least 50% of a restaurant’s tables for nonsmokers, Silas said. The proposed ordinance would strengthen a violation penalty by increasing it from an infraction to a misdemeanor. The center now learns about violations from anonymous callers, writes the offender a letter and has, on a couple of occasions, referred them to the district attorney when they refused to comply, he said.

The task force also cited a survey of 61 San Diego restaurants that have a 100% ban, finding that business grew or stayed the same when they extinguished the cigarettes. One couple’s business actually doubled, Gaspard said.