| Show Banning smoking in Utah Bars and Clubs Amanda Gomez Contributing Writer The heated debate in Utah on whether smoking should be allowed in bars and clubs is s still ll raging The bill that would smoking in private clubs and bars didn't didn't didn't did did- nt pass in January But some Utah State Senators such as Curt Bramble of Provo and Chris Buttars of West Jordan are still pushing for it to go through Utah has a reputation of being a health state because of the predominate Latter-Day Latter Saint population But in a recent poll conducted conduct conduct- ed by Dan Jones Associates in January of 2005 showed that over 40 percent of think that the decision of prohibiting smoking in private clubs should be left up to the discretion dis- dis discretion discretion dis dis- of the club manage manage- ment Countries such as Norway and Ireland have nation wide laws against smoking in public public public pub pub- lic places And here in the US U.S. six states including California and New York have already passed statewide laws that smoking in workplaces and bars But will Utah follow Billboards line the sides of 15 1 telling drivers how many people have or will die from second hand smoke each year Among the strongest Friends Cont on Page 4 Friends Cont Cant from Page 3 supporters is former Mayor Rock Rocky Andersen Senators are trying to look at this issue from all different sides the smokers nonsmokers nonsmokers non- non r smokers and also the employees of the clubs and bars In 1995 the Utah clean I air act prohibited smoking in inI all pubic buildings pushing smokers outside at least 25 feet from the building Now some senators are wanting to push smokers outside outside outside out out- side clubs and bars Salt Lake City clubs and bars barsI I charge between 5 and 20 as a cover charge just to get in the door Then if you J leave for any reason you have to pay re-pay to get back in Although many clubs and bars do have patios and bal- bal If smokers non-smokers dont don't want to be around the smoke there are plenty of nonsmoking nonsmoking non ing clubs to go to toU said smoker Gavin Putnam He also you pay to get in the door you should be beable beable beable able to smoke if you want to tt U The smokers non-smokers have expressed their worries through petitions and online forums Second-hand Second smoke has been proven to be hazardous hazardous haz haz- hazardous haz- haz to ones one's health Many smokers non-smokers believe it is their right to be in a smoke free where ever they go Allergies and asthma asthma asthma ma among other health concerns concerns concerns con con- cerns are by the smoke The view of the club and bar employees employee's is ed They are working everyday everyday every every- day in the smoke filled and their health is in question They do have the right to a safe working but they also havethe have havethe havethe the right to choose their occupation The grey line of freedom is being decided here Do smokers have the right to beable beable be beable able to smoke in buildings that they pay to get into Or should smokers non-smokers have the right to be healthy |
