February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Another rally was held outside the Department of Health by representatives of the bar and restaurant industry on April 6, focusing on the Department’s claim, along with Bloomberg, that the smoking ban would save 1,000 lives per year. Protestors demanded to know the names and addresses of the 1,000 people who they said must have survived since the advent of the ban in March 2003.
Brian Nolan, executive director of United Restaurant & Tavern Owners of New York, laid the statistics at the door of Mayor Bloomberg, saying that the city had launched a massive coverup to hide the appalling economic downturn caused by banning smoking.
“It’s a complete distortion of the facts,” Nolan said.
Some bar and restaurant owners have forgone paying themselves a salary, he added, in order to stay in business.
Department of Health officials say 97 percent of bars and restaurants are complying with the law, but health inspectors are planning late-night raids based on tip-offs.
“Officials will inspect places late at night and into the morning especially when we receive complaints related to violations at those times,” said Sandra Mullin of the Department of Health.
It’s been street wisdom since the ban took effect that some late-night dive bars off the beaten track, as well as bars in the outer boroughs, have been skirting the law and permitting drinkers to light up after midnight.
David Rabin, president of the New York Nightlife Association, said: “In many parts of town, places have to choose between risking a ticket for allowing smoking inside or getting a summons for the noise of their patrons out front smoking.”
The campaign against the ban appears to have acquired some new energy since a handful of remote and isolated upstate watering holes successfully lobbied lawmakers in Albany and proved that the statewide smoking ban had decimated their business.
Meanwhile, in Ireland, where the new smoking ban is barely three weeks old, there is overwhelming evidence that a surprise spinoff of the New York ban has happened there also: the smoking scene outside bars is being cited as the new, fun and random way to make new friends, or strike up a chat with someone you fancy.