Tighter rules for smokers has some North Okanagan businesses fuming.
Many pubs and restaurants are concerned they will see a
substantial drop in revenue once a new ban on smoking on all indoor public places occurs Jan. 1, 2008. “It’s just another kick for us,” said Gerry Obrecht, owner of the Kalamalka Hotel in downtown Vernon. Under the ban, separate smoking rooms will be ripped out. “Business has picked up because we have both (smoking and non-smoking) and it’s their choice to smoke,” said Barb Louis, owner of Kerry’s Restaurant in the Polson Place Mall. Previous provincial regulations have allowed bars, pubs and restaurants to install ventilated smoking rooms. In the case of Kerry’s, $5,000 was invested. “We should be paid back for what we paid out,” said Louis. Obrecht believes Victoria is infringing on smokers’ rights. “If they’re not bothering any non-smokers, what’s the problem?” he said, adding that the government is hypocritical. “They’re making huge tax revenue (from tobacco sales) and yet they don’t let us participate.” Louis plans to fight the new rules, even threatening a class action suit against the government. “We’re going to get all the smokers to band together,” she said. George Abbott, Shuswap MLA, isn’t surprised to hear the complaints. “I understand why they’re disappointed, but every day the health care system is struggling to deal with preventable disease as a result of smoking,” said Abbott, who is the health minister. Abbott has little time for suggestions that personal rights are being trampled on. “We’re seeing an epidemic in chronic diseases and for a large part, they’re preventable. They’re related to the lifestyle choices we’ve made in the last 20 to 30 years.” Abbott has the full support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Gerry Barker, with the society’s local unit, insists that the overall health of B.C. must take priority. “They can smoke at home,” she said. Smoking will be banned on all school property starting next September. Also on the health front, the government has announced junk food will be banned from all provincially owned buildings, including hospitals.“It’s important to lead by example,” said Abbott of the obesity problem.
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