HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.206 2002-2004
7-2-03
TO: Members of the Hawaii County Council
FROM: Paul W Mann, Director -Hawaii Restaurant Association
Owner -The Korner Pock Bar & Grill
. Paparoni's Pizza & Pasta
RE: Bill 260 Draft S,Relating to Smoking in Certain Places in Hawaii County
The food and beverage industry is about accommodation. We strive to meet the desires
and expectations of our customers. When we fail to meet these desires our clients' feel
they have been treated in an indifferent manner. We really don't want to be drawn into
this debate on smoking bans or the affects of second hand smoke. The well intended
"Smoke Free Coalition" as their first line of attack to push their position and eradicate
smoking has targeted us. While this is a notable quest they seem to have forgotten the
rights of those that do not agree with them.
I believe all present will agree that "Smoking is not good for you". Those of you who
embrace this effort at all costs are easily swayed into believing all the horror stories about
the affects of engaging in this addiction.
If you wish to eradicate the use of tobacco, them go after the government subsidized
tobacco industry and leave the food and beverage industry alone. When you drive the
adults out of the lounges and force them back into their homes you have put their children
at a greater exposure than they otherwise would have experienced. A safer place to
smoke is probably in a commercial lounge where the air exchange is five to fifteen times
greater than the average home.
If we denied smoking privileges in all restaurant dining areas and permitted smoking in
lounges that allowed only " 21 year old plus" with limited food service, we would be
accommodating customers of adult age and thereby protecting their right of choice.
In 1994 OSHA embazked on a quest to establish a "Clean air standazd in the work place".
Their efforts were centered on the issue of 2nd. hand smoke. After more than 800,000
comments to inquires and eight years of collecting information they abandoned the
program saying there was insufficient data to support the claim that 2"d hand smoke
caused significant harm to the worker or posed any creditable risk.
The EPA also collected information in a separate study and later discontinued their
efforts due to a lack of creditable data which would support the premise that 2"d hand
smoke kills people.
Comm. No. 1 7 ~
Ref. Tos - ~h_d`~:OLLf1f.1I
Ref. Date,.llll p 2 7nna
2
The activists would have us believe that people were drooping dead azound us from 2"d
hand smoke. The mayor of New York had claimed 5000 people in that state died last yeaz
from the affects of 2nd. hand smoke. The National Restaurant Association's investigative
team went to New York and could not find any of the families who experienced this
tragic loss. They also contacted the mayor's office and were unable to find anyone in that
office that could produce any documents to support the statement.
This is an issue of Public Health. It is also the duty as mandated by federal law charging
OSHA with the responsibility with creating regulation of any condition, which poses a
hazazd to a worker in the workplace. Since neither OSHA nor The Department of Health
have been able to meet the requirement of collecting "Creditable Data" to support these
excessive restrictions on our citizens, why do you, the County Council feel you are
exempt from this same discipline before you pass regulations that is cleazly beyond your
training and expertise.
I would suggest if you are truly concerned about the health and safety of the worker, you
simply let OSHA do their job.
Yours Truly,
Paul W. Mann
P O Box 84
Kealakekua, Hi. 96750
Ph. (808) 322-2994
Fax. (808) 324-4627