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Smoking Controversy Continues in Great Falls

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Nov 18, 2009 at 6:40 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2009 at 8:50 PM MST

Last night, the Tavern Association was lobbying commissioners to change the City Ordinance banning smoking within 20 feet of a building.

There are mixed feelings about whether or not that's a good idea.

While some local bars and restaurants say they're hurting from the city ordinance, City Attorney Chad Parker thinks health trumps those concerns.

“The intent and purpose of this is to protect the publics right to not breathe smoke filled air. And so what do you do with that? Is there a right to smoke - no. There's no recognized right to smoke. There's a desire to smoke - we understand that. We also understand there's an addiction,” Parker said.

The Tavern Association says one of the major issues with this 20 foot ordinance is how to enforce it. In the first place, many bars and restaurants aren't even aware that it exists and neither are their customers. They also claim sales have gone down 5 percent under the ordinance, and some local businesses recognize that concern.

“For business, I know that it has brought less business for some people - but it's not always going to be like that. Once people get used to the fact that it is non-smoking, it's not going to bother them down the road. I mean maybe except for the bars when drinking and smoking comes hand in hand,” said Rebecka Lewis of local restaurant and bar The Breaks – which itself has had a smoking ban even before the Clean Air Act.

The city attorney also mentioned that the opinion of the people will be key in any decisions made regarding this ordinance.

NewsChannel 5 did reach out to several other local bars and restaurants for this story, but they refused to appear on camera for comment.

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Pat Butler said on Sunday, Nov 22 at 11:15 AM

I am a former resident of Montana, born and bred. I was always proud to be a Montanan but this smoking ban has me rethinking that view. I am a former smoker who will never ever agree with this law. Non-smokers have now and have always have had non-smoking establishments to attend. To my knowlege no arm twisting forced them into smoking areas. Now however the smoker has again been dumped on. So much for the rights of small business owners and the customers they CHOOSE to serve.

Bob said on Thursday, Nov 19 at 11:45 AM

People don't go a bar to get healthy. That's what health clubs are for. If you go out to get healthy, that's a better place to go.

Mandy said on Thursday, Nov 19 at 8:43 AM

Drinking and smoking are both hazardous to one's health. BUT only one of those is hazardous to the health of others not doing it. If a person chooses to have a drink in the same room as someone who is not drinking, the nondrinker doesn't have an increased risk of health problems. Does the Constitution or local law guarantee the right to smoke or drink? No, but it also does not ban them completely. People who don't smoke should be able to go places and not have that choice taken away from them.

Blah said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 9:25 PM

It stills baffles me...Is there a right to drink? No, The state is essentially saying that these people were NOT risking their health by drinking, That was probably not such a great argument for smoking in bars. Has anyone in our government seen what Alcohol does to the liver and Kidney ? There were always choices for non-smokers. Do I have a right to smoke? Maybe not according to the constitution but I don't see anything in the constitution saying I don't have the right to either.

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