While the Chicago City Council continues debates about smoking bans at all or some bars and restaurants in Chicago, Windy City Times surveyed businesses last week to gauge their response to the bans.
One proposal calls for a ban on smoking in all establishments, similar to a law in California. However, after a backlash, some aldermen are proposing a compromise of just a ban in restaurants, and not businesses which are just bars. There have been heated City Council hearings filled with those from both sides of the debate. Those against the ban say smoking—and being around smoke—is a personal choice that government should not regulate. They also say the ban would hurt businesses already fighting an economic downturn. Those in favor of the ban point to health risks for customers and employees.
In our survey of GLBT businesses, and those that have a lot of GLBT clientele, the vast majority are against the ban and said it would hurt their business. Of the 16 businesses who would take a side, all of them were against the ban; some businesses would not comment.
One bar suggested a compromise, with separate rooms for non-smoking—but many bars do not have divided structures. While most said their businesses would be hurt, one bar with an outdoor patio said they are not sure how much business they would lose. Two bars said they were strongly against the ban.
Tim Rasmussen, owner of Charlie's Ale House in Andersonville, said he is not a smoker but he is also not one to dictate the morals of others. His business is on record at the City Council against the ban. He also surveyed his bartenders and servers, and 90% oppose the ban, even though 45% of his staff are non-smokers.
'I am always one opposed to having the government dictate how private business should operate,' Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen also pointed out that the neighborhoods around bars are also impacted by the noise and garbage of those people who are forced outside—and at least 20 feet away from the front of the business.
Ina Pinkney of Ina's Restaurant is among those speaking against the tide. She wrote a strong letter in support of the smoking ban.
'Because my restaurant is smoke free, my employees are sick less often and they don't have as many health insurance claims,' she said. 'And being smoke-free hasn't stopped my cash register from ringing.'
Not helping in the debate is the entrenched view that Chicago is different from California, Boston and New York, which have such bans in place. Former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka said Californians are 'fruits and nuts, that's what they are,' and that Chicagoans are different. Maybe Ditka should take a pub crawl on Halsted or Clark—he might find some allies among the 'fruits.'
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Meanwhile, a new national survey shows that GLBTS would prefer a smoke-free environment.
When asked whether or not they would prefer smoke-free bars and clubs, 59% of adults nationwide, including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT), said they preferred a smoke-free environment.
According to these latest survey results released by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive®, when asked if they would be willing to pay an additional cover charge for their favorite bar or club to be smoke-free, 70% of GLBT respondents who indicated that they prefer smoke-free bars and clubs said they would be willing to pay more for that environment. In contrast, only 52% of heterosexual respondents who indicated the same preference said they would be willing to pay an additional cover charge.
'The good news is, lesbians and gays seem willing to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to eliminating smoke in bars and clubs not yet covered by smoke-free laws,' said Colleen Dermody, vice president of Witeck-Combs Communications. 'The bad news is that 34% of gays are still smoking cigarettes despite 2001 survey results which showed 98% of GLBT smokers and tobacco chewers understand that smoking increases their risk of lung cancer and heart disease. They know smoking is unhealthy, but, according to these latest results, a third of them continues to smoke.'
The survey showed:
— 34% of GLBT adults surveyed said they smoke cigarettes, as compared to 24% of heterosexual adults.
— Of those who said they smoke cigarettes, 47% of GLBT adults and 36% of heterosexual adults smoke more than one pack each day.
— Only seven percent (7%) of GLBT adults and eight percent (8%) of heterosexual adults said that they smoke a pipe or cigars or use chewing tobacco.
— With reporting by Kathleen Ulm
