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CNN Live Sunday

Bloomberg Wants Smoking Ban in NYC Bars, Restaurants

Aired August 11, 2002 - 17:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Bars and restaurants in the Big Apple could go smoke-free. Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to ask the New York City Council to ban smoking in places not covered by current rules. CNN's Brian Palmer looks at whether there's support for the idea or whether some want his Honor to butt out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Smoking, a right or a privilege? New York City's mayor says it should be a crime in the city's restaurants and bars.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: Nobody's taking away your right to smoke. If you want to smoke on the street, smoke on the street. You don't have a right to hurt others.

PALMER: It's about time, say anti-smoking advocates.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every court which has addressed that issue said there is no right to smoke in a public place, and logically if people who smoke tobacco had a right to do it in public places, people who chew and spit tobacco, or people who want to burn incense in public places would have a right.

PALMER: Workers' health is his main concern the mayor says.

BLOOMBERG: If you are a bartender and work in an establishment where there is smoking, in an eight-hour day it's the equivalent of you smoking half a pack of cigarettes yourself. It is just a health risk that workers should not be exposed to.

PALMER: Not all bartenders want Bloomberg standing up for them.

AARON MYTHEN, BARTENDER, SMOKER: People like to come in, have a drink, and have a smoke and I mean it's kind of unfair to punish people when you get people addicted to something. It's an addiction really, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you're a non-smoker then you probably would want to get a job elsewhere. It's a bar.

PALMER: Chuck Hunt is Executive Vice President of the New York State Restaurant Association.

CHUCK HUNT, NY STATE RESTAURANT ASSN.: A total ban is telling us that we have to now be the smoking police and tell our customers that they can't do something in our restaurant. We're in the hospitality business. This is not going to be a comfortable situation for us.

PALMER: The 1995 city law banned smoking in dining areas of big restaurants, not covered the restaurants with fewer than 35 tables and bars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It affected it in the beginning but people seemed to be more adjustable after a period of time, probably like a year, year and a half.

PALMER: In fact, restaurant business boomed through the end of the '90s. Many cities in two entire states, California and Delaware, banned smoking in bars and restaurants.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do think it's a good idea. Most restaurants out here have outside patios, so the customers have a choice of sitting inside or outside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's so much better. I just went back. I went to Florida and they didn't have it there and it was disgusting.

PALMER: The smoking debate now moves to the City Council, which must decide whether to turn the mayor's proposal into law.

Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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