Starkville Aldermen Consider Ban on Smoking

by Elizabeth Crisp
November 19, 2005

Starkville aldermen are reviewing an ordinance that could possibly ban smoking in all public enclosed buildings in Starkville.

Citizens for a Breathe-Free Starkville, a grassroots organization that claims about 450 members, presented the "Starkville Smoke-Free Air Act of 2005" at the Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday.

Aldermen voted to have a town hall meeting on the issue, but they have not set a date for it yet.

"There's a chance that we may not have it until January," Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey said. "This is going to affect students as much as residents, so we will have the meeting when school is in session."

Robert McMillen, an organizer for the group and research fellow at MSU's Social Science Research Center, said the proposed ordinance-which would apply to restaurants and bars-was very strict.

"The medical and scientific community agrees that second-hand smoke is incredibly dangerous. From a public health standpoint, this is a huge issue for Starkville," he said. "We've made it with no exceptions to create a level playing field."

However, many Starkville restaurant owners oppose the ban.

"It's not a level playing field like they say," said David Whitten, managing partner at Cotton District Grill. "Tonight's the first time we've seen the draft."

Whitten also said he did not think it would be a level playing field because some restaurants and bars-like the Boar's Head and Tiki at Rick's Caf?-are outside so they will not be affected by the ban.

McMillen said that should not be an issue.

"Places have their loyalty," he said. "People like certain places and will keep coming back to them whether they can smoke there or not."

There are petitions in local restaurants-including the Grill-that oppose the ban, Whitten said.

"We're not promoting smoking, but it should be a restaurant owner's decision," he said. "We enforce alcoholic beverage codes, safety codes, food service codes-now they want to add being tobacco police on top of that."

Corey said he is still listening to both sides of the argument, so he has not made an official stance on either side.

"The overwhelming majority of people who've contacted me want this ban," he said.

He noted though that the board has the option to make changes to the proposed ordinance. Options include allowing smoking during certain hours and making exceptions for certain places.

The Starkville Restaurant Association will make a presentation to the board at the next aldermen meeting, he said.

Robin Fant, president of the Starkville Restaurant Association, presented to the board results from a poll of 45 local restaurants. According to the poll-which included MSU eating establishments-56 percent were smoke-free, 33 percent had designated smoking and nonsmoking sections and 11 percent allowed smoking everywhere.

"What message is this going to send to restaurants?" Starkville resident Jeff Jones said. "This is a very industry-specific bill. How can you tell them what they can and cannot do?"

"If you don't like smoking, go to a non-smoking restaurant," he added. "Let the marketplace determine how this will happen."

Joe Tkach, owner of City Bagel Caf?, a non-smoking establishment in Starkville, said he supports the proposed ordinance because he sees the issue as a public health concern.

"Maybe if it's not in your face at every bar and every restaurant, some college students won't start smoking," he said.