Pocono News Section

Smoking Ban Causing Confusion

Smoking Ban Causing Confusion - Monday, July 7, 2008 at 5:30PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Jul 7, 2008 @ 05:30pm EST
Berwick, Columbia County-

Enforcement of Pennsylvania's recently passed smoking ban doesn't start until this fall. But it's already causing some controversy.

We spoke with some people who say the fine print is creating a lot of problems. One patron of the Berwick V. F.W. explained, "I think it's everybody's right to smoke or drink or whatever. I don't think they have the right to take that away from us."

There are strong opinions both in favor of and opposed to Pennsylvania's recently passed smoking ban.

It will prohibit smoking in most public places, including bars and restaurants whose food sales account for more than 20% of the total revenue. Under certain regulations, casinos, tobacco shops, and private clubs, like the Berwick V. F.W., are supposed to be exempt from the ban.

Linda Hess, a bar steward at the Berwick V. F.W., said, "They're taking too many rights away from people. And we were told we wouldn't be affected by it, being a club, and then we find out we are."

The confusion stems from the part of the smoking ban that says private clubs are exempt, unless they let non-members into the building. Most private clubs around here allow their members to bring their wives, significant others, or family friends to the establishment.

"I have an 81-year-old father, that doesn't care for smoking but he too thinks that they're taking too many things away from the people that come into places," Hess noted.

Different interpretations of the language in the smoking ban have many establishments confused over whether they will be forced to go non-smoking.

Linda Herring spends plenty of time here at the Berwick VFW. She is a former smoker, but like others here, is opposed to the ban. Herring explained, "I don't think it's right because these men went overseas for our country. And we should be allowed to smoke, anybody should be."

We spoke with State Representative Garth Everett, who says he believes that, during normal operating hours, private clubs are exempt from the ban, even if spouses or friends of members are present. If the clubs are hosting larger functions where the public is invited, then they would have to prohibit smoking.