No Exceptions to Smoking Ban Riles Restaurant and Bar Employees

Not now. Not ever. No exceptions! A tough new smoking ban has stirred employees in restaurants and bars in Alabama, believing that their overall wages from tips will go down and stay down with the new laws. Little do these employees know, their expenses will drop without the need for extended medical care as a result of medical problems arising from secondhand smoke exposure.



In Fultondale, Alabama, the “toughest smoking ordinance in the state” passed Monday, making it illegal to smoke inside any business in the state. We’ve all heard this a time or two, but what makes this so strict is that there are absolutely no exceptions to the law.

One woman, Barbara McCain, stated,

When you work in a business that does tips, smokers tip better than other people, as funny as that sounds, but it also allows people the freedom to move around and do what they want to do and when you work for tips, you need that. That is my livelihood.

Having worked in the food and beverage industry as a manager for many years, I can attest with what Ms. McCain stated, but I also helped transition three restaurants with bars into non-smoking facilities. The decrease in tips only lasted a few months before flourishing again. While that doesn’t help in the short-term, the long-term is something to count upon.

Smokers make up a smaller percentage of customers frequenting restaurants and bars. After the initial shock period, smokers do return – as do their tips.

The benefits of working in a smoke-free establishment are great. After a full shift in the business, employees will find that their noses are not as 'stuffed' and their throats aren't as sore. Clothing smells better – as does hair. Going home to young children doesn't mean passing on that smoke to their delicate and ever changing bodies. Exposure to third hand smoke is dangerous!

Restaurants and bars are often smokier than other places, two to five times greater than the typical workplace. Most restaurant and bar employees are young people, often without insurance. Secondhand smoke causes heart disease and cancer and kills 50,000 Americans each year. Without insurance, individual states are picking up the medical tabs or hospitals write them off as a loss and increase overall expenses for everyone with insurance. Eliminating smoking improves the overall experience and just makes sense.

The ban might seem tough, but in reality, the benefits far outweigh the cons.

Will it cause that electronic cigarettes became more popular?