WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new state law banning smoking in restaurants goes into effect Wednesday.
The smoking ban extends to bars on April 1, 2004. State Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Southington, the chief sponsor of the new law, said it affects bars later because unlike restaurants, they did not have experience in dealing with smoking restrictions.
A group called Mobilize Against Tobacco for Children's Health Coalition, which includes the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association, considers the ban "landmark public health legislation" that will reduce the harmful effects of secondhand smoke such as asthma attacks to cancer.
Some restaurant owners believe it will hurt the economy.
In New York, where some restaurant owners have complained about a similar ban, the New York City Health Department found that jobs in restaurants and bars increased after a smoking ban went into effect.
James Farrell, vice president of operations for the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said the financial impact of the ban is not clear and may depend on the extent of a restaurant's bar crowd. Most restaurants already ban smoking in dining areas, but some allow it in their bar areas, he said.
In a small state such as Connecticut, restaurants and bars in border towns might be affected more than businesses in larger states where smoking bans have been enacted, Farrell said.
Some restaurant owners are applying for cafe permits, which would allow them to avoid the ban until April, Farrell said. Most are focused on how they can accommodate their customers, by creating comfortable places outdoors for them to smoke, Farrell said.
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Smoking Banned In Restaurants
