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Where There's No Longer Smoke
Most area eateries report no ill effects from new smoking ban
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Business New Haven
10/27/2003
By: Theresa L. Corso
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Most area eateries report no ill effects from new smoking ban
Connecticut's workplace smoking ban, which became the law of the Land of Steady (Bad) Habits on October 1, has been the topic of heated debate for almost four weeks.
Many smokers continue to argue over what effect the ban has to their civil liberties, while most non-smokers are satisfied with the influence this legislation will have on public health. But what consequences is the ban having on area restaurants?
Southington State Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-16), co-chair of the Legislature's Public Health Committee, authored the bill that outlaws smoking in restaurants and, as of April 1, in bars as well. Murphy believes the ban will not have any negative effects on businesses.
"The facts are on our side: California bars and restaurants saw no adverse long-term effects on their businesses after the ban, nor did bars and restaurants in New York City," says Murphy.
In Mamoun's Falafel Restaurant on Howe Street in New Haven, a "No Smoking" sign adorns the wall near the restaurant's entrance. Directly in front of the sign on a display case of assortments including baklava, halvah and spinach rolls, rest hookas.
Although the pipes enhance the Middle Eastern atmosphere, Mamoun's Falafel owner, Suleiman Chater, converted his restaurant to non-smoking on May 18 after receiving excessive customer complaints regarding smoking in the restaurant. Chater also wanted his customers accustomed to not smoking in his restaurant to avoid the chance of being fined. "If [smokers] care about a business they should have the decency to obey the rules," he says.
According to Chater, he has not seen a drop-off in business since the restaurant was changed to non-smoking. There may even be a silver-lining effect: "Because they smoke outside, it makes it look busier in [the restaurant]," Chater says.
Hamden's Town House Restaurant on Whitney Avenue took precautions to avoid problems because of the ban as well.
"We posted signs two weeks before [the ban], so people were acclimated," explains Marje Evarts, a manager at the restaurant.
Evarts says her restaurant's employees have not had problems with either enforcing the no-smoking policy or experienced any drop-off in business due to the ban.
"People that have been heavy smokers understand," she says. According to Evarts, other area restaurateurs have had the same experience and do not anticipate problems.
Sara Koenigsberg, manager of the Olde Blue Publick House Restaurant on Chapel Street, describes a different experience. She says she has encountered problems with the younger crowd and has lost regular customers who instead now go to bars that still allow smoking - until April, at least.
"I'm not opposed [to the ban] but it would have been more fair to have smoking banned in the bars, too," she says. "It should have been done at the same time [as restaurants]."
Although Olde Blue placed an ashtray outside of the restaurant for customers' convenience, many smokers chose the bathroom as an ideal place to puff - at first. But management quickly caught on to what they were doing and put a stop to it. Koenigsberg adds that some diners have even walked out on their checks under the guise of going outside to smoke.
For now, at least, Koenigsberg's experience remains the exception, not the rule.
"[The ban] hasn't hurt us," said Sebastian Thomas, a manager at the TGI Friday's in Hamden. "People are happy that it's non-smoking."
According to Thomas, customers' reactions to the ban have been positive and the restaurant has not lost any regular guests to the bars that still allow smoking. "TGI Friday's isn't known as a smokers' bar or restaurant," Thomas says, "and most people have been aware of the ban."
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