HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.007 2002-2004 ?EC-04-02 WED 12 :3T RM S08 329 249T P. 01
Dec. 3, 2002
Dear Councilman Tyler,
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As the co-owner of a Kona bar/restaurant and-~~~armer smoker; 1 wish to express my objection to
the proposed smoking ban. I was off island and unable to testify in person at last week's hearing gin
Kona. I understand and can support such a ban for areas where food is prepared and consumed or
where children may be present, but I oppose banning smoking In bars. I could support giving bar
owners the choice to go smoke-free, but I ob)ect to a blanket ban.
The majority of my customers are smokers and some already have told me they would be less like-
ly to frequent my business. That's the county government taking away my business by telling me to
stop adults's^m engaging in otherwise legal behavior.
In addition, I foresee a ban causing a whole new set of problems -all of which will be at my
expense and in some cases promoting illegal behavior, such as public drinking, underage drink-
ing, excessive drinking, public urination, loitering. Has the council fully considered the following:
• A ban will not stop people smoking. Smokers will step Into the parking lot. Who will clear the park-
ing lots of the cigarette butts each day?
• Bartenders are used to monitoring what goes on inside their establishments, and can quickly and
safely defuse potential problems. Those problems -everything from assaults and fights to drug
deals now will occur in parking lots. Who will police the parking lots?
• Customers may stock their vehicles with alcohol for their smoke breaks, eventually preferring the
parking lot to the bar. Bartenders check identification of customers, they don't card minors hanging
out in the parking lot. Bartenders cut off customers who overindulge; they cannot cut off a drunk in
a parking lot. Also, such a gathering may discourage other patrons from entering the parking lot or
the bar.
I understand several people have tesiified that business would increase if bars were smoky-free,
while offering statistics about restaurants. On® representative of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free
Hawaii even guaranteed it. He apparently does not own a bar nor is he listed In the Hawaii County
telephone book. Please don't be swayed be the opinion of a man who is not one of your constituents
and has such a blatant agenda.
The small business owners, who pay taxes here on the Big Island and employ your constiiuents,
testified in opposition of the ban. Like me, they fear the decision you make will push them out of
business. I know that is not the Intent of the council but it seems such a blanket ban has the poten-
tial to create more problems than it can possible solve.
The solution is to exempt bars or, at the very least, allow individual business owners the choice.
Thank you,
~ n Comm. No.
y~ 1^;J(-Y~' File No.
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