Group: Keep Randolph Smoking Ban Intact
By CARRA HIGGINS, Staff WriterMore than two weeks ago, Carman Metheny addressed Randolph County commissioners on behalf of the H.W. Daniels American Legion Post 29 board of directors saying the countywide smoking ban has effected the revenue of the more than 80-year-old post so much that it may close its doors within a year. On Thursday, Christine Mickey of Smoke Free Initiative of West Virginia refuted those statements before the commission claiming fraternal and membership clubs are hosting fewer customers because of the economy and the fact they are not making a movement to recruit non-smoking members.
"Right now the hospitality industry is taking a hit," Mickey said. "There's no better time for them to adopt and implement these regulations ... they're opening themselves up to 100 percent of the population."
Fraternal organizations and clubs requiring membership dues experience difficulties across the state and country after smoking bans go into effect, Mickey said. Mickey cited a VFW commander's speech that urged the clubs to adopt new non-smoking regulations and become more than a bar. If clubs ensure a smoke-free environment, they're likely to establish a new customer base, Mickey explained.
Metheny asked the commission in June to meet with the Randolph County Board of Health to request that non-profit organizations be permitted to have designated non-smoking areas within the establishment. However, a December 2003 West Virginia State Supreme Court ruling could mean Metheny's request will be denied.
The ruling determined private clubs are not exempt from any county health code regulation - including smoking, Mickey explained. Any establishment that serves alcohol is a "private club" because of individual liquor licenses, Mickey said.
Eighteen counties in West Virginia have created smoking regulations similar to Randolph's. According to Mickey, those regulations should remain intact, especially in bars, to protect everyone from cigarette smoke.
Mickey said future generations of smokers are created in bars because those who patronize the establishments are easily influenced. Also, those who work in the hospitality industry should receive protection from secondhand smoke; and the negative influence of seeing others smoke, Mickey said.
"In the hospitality industry the vast majority of them are unskilled workforce," Mickey added.
Nearly all establishments that have received clean air violations likely experience loss of revenue, Mickey said.
"No one comes into the business as long as there's an uncertainty of what's going on in the facility," Mickey said.
Comprehensive clean indoor air regulations are the highest compliance rates of any health regulation because the public assists health departments enforce the codes because most people are law abiding citizens, according to Mickey.
"You can't cheat with it because someone's always going to turn them in," Mickey said. "Whether private or not they're giving away a service inside the establishment and signing a name isn't going to get you out of that protection."
Mickey asked the commissioners if members of fraternal organizations have approached the them regarding the smoking ban. Commissioner Voras Haynes told her members of the American Legion presented information during the previous commission meeting.
"They're in all of them - that's how we know how effective our policies are, because that's where the exposure is the most and that's where we need the protection the most," Mickey said.
According to Mickey, people will accept non-smoking regulations each year they are in place and within a few years people will wonder why smoking was ever allowed in a public building.
"I like your breaking down of the private clubs because that's why we're here," Haynes said after Mickey's presentation.
Commissioners made no decision during Thursday's meeting about the smoking regulation.
In other business of the commission:
- Representatives from CIS, Randolph County's insurance company, presented the county's insurance policy. Commissioners unanimously voted to take the policy under advisement and make a decision during the July 24 meeting.
- Commissioners approved the re-appointment of three members of the Randolph County Development Authority.
- Commissioners approved hiring Julie Paugh and Charlene Roy as full-time dispatchers at the 911 center.
- Sheriff Jack Roy announced that the Randolph County Sheriff's Department received three new Dell laptop computers from the state for outstanding work in completing new accident report forms.
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07-15-08 7:57 AM
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What if people minded their own business! Allow the businesses to make this decision on their own. Then we each can make the decision onwher we eat, sleep, or chose to enjoy ourselves. I'm sure Mickey is a well meaning person but this is not a goverment decision to make. Mickey please turn your attention and energies to real problems and stop wasting your/our and the public officals time on this issue.
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Virginia
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07-11-08 4:10 PM
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I feel that "private" clubs are just that - private. The American Legion may have a bar located in it, it's sole purpose is not that of a bar, but a fraternal organization. Post 29 should be given the choice of being non-smoking or providing a non-smoking section that is completely walled off from the rest of the club. The American Legion (and VFW for that matter) are fraternal organizations for veterans. During wartimes, the military passed out cigarettes, for Pete's sake! I think if veterans want to smoke, let them. The veterans that don't smoke should also have a place in the club(s) that is non-smoking. It would be sad to see Post 29 have to close because of this smoking thing. I think there is common ground for both sides and it appears that the American Legion is the only party willing to compromise - what does that say? PS-MountainMan-the Legion does have a newsletter that is statewide. They cost money to publish and mail - maybe Post 29 used it's "bar&quo
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sas0602
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07-11-08 2:05 PM
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This is interesting to me. I have been in the Legion since the no smoking ban and people were sitting at the bar smoking so it appears that this can not be the sole reason revenue is down.
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MountainMan
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07-11-08 10:16 AM
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I'm a smoker and think the smell of burning cigarettes inside a room is disgusting. I'm very happy restaurants, in particular, can no longer condone smoking. There's no way I'll try to eat and have to smell somone's cigarette burning. I believe Post 29 does alot of good things that don't rely on smoking. It's hard for me to believe that the member's priority was to go there to smoke! One suggestion to expand their member participation and gain new membership is to develop a newsletter to tell people what they're doing. I've been a member for a few years and never hear from Post 29 until it comes time to renew membership. This same hint applies to the VFW.
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