Well the public had to find out at some point what did the “public health Regulator” do on New Year’s Eve? Well. . . I couldn’t help myself I picked a bar in downtown Salt Lake and went to check out to see if they actually followed the smoking ban on bars or shall we say “private clubs for members” or as I believe the policy states: Taverns. In Utah bars are basically illegal, EVERYONE has to pay a cover. . . ya- wow!

Anyway, it was really interesting or aggravating in my case reading articles and blogs prior to the ban, in fact it was unreal. The “arguments” were unreal. There was a guy on one of the forums who worked in a restaurant in Utah for something like 35 years who had lung cancer and had to have half of his lung removed and there was some guy who kept arguing with him that it wasn’t caused by secondhand smoke. It was frankly unreal almost like the twilight zone.

Here is an excerpt about the ban details from the Salt Lake Tribune:

While the timing may not have been convenient for New Year’s Eve revelers, said Utah Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program spokesman David Neville, people are expected to walk outside to smoke after midnight.
“It’s the perfect New Year’s resolution,” Neville said, adding if people need help quitting, they can call 1-888-567-TRUTH or go to utah.quitnet.com.
Under state law, tavern owners are expected to tell patrons to put out their cigarettes or smoke outside, Neville said. If a customer refuses, then local police or health officials should be called.
A bar owner who allows smoking inside could be fined up to $5,000, Neville said. He expects most enforcement will arise from anonymous tips.
Several Salt Lake City bar and club owners are slightly apprehensive about what the new regulation will bring Thursday.
Because he owns a private club and his customers are required to buy memberships, Rob Eddington of Murphy’s Bar & Grill said he thinks it should be up to him whether to allow smoking.
“What makes it private?” he asked, adding he hopes Utah will get rid of membership rules.
Charlie Newman, who books bands at Bar Deluxe, said the South Main Street venue experimented six months ago by banning smoking after a musical artist asked for a ban on smoking during his concert.
“I’ve heard some say they are going somewhere else because [other places] have smoking,” Newman said. “I’ve never heard anyone come here to say they come here because it’s nonsmoking.”
Others don’t seem too worried.
“I’m not really sure if it will affect business,” said Will Sartain, co-owner of smoke-free Kilby Court and Urban Lounge, which allows smoking. “It seems to have worked out fine in other places. People seem to like drinking regardless of whether they can smoke or not.”

I visited Port O’ Call a bar that has been around for ages that actually will be torn down soon because it has been claimed as eminent domain by the Federal Government for a new Courthouse. I actually feel for the owner who is a really nice guy and down-to-earth. I always support the small business owner aside from his misguided and WHACK ideas about secondhand smoke.
He did NOT enforce the smoking ban at MIDNIGHT his excuse was that it would have been “Too difficult” and a “hazard” to remove the smokers from the building.
I asked him “What did the did the Department of Health give you to prepare for the ban?”
He stated “A couple of window clings and some information about the risks of secondhand smoke”
I also asked him “Are you worried that one day your employee’s might sue you? You know their are many class action lawsuits among airline flight attendants soon it will be casino employee’s etc”
He said “No, we are one big family” (you know I was chuckling, well LAUGHING my A%& off on the inside, I wonder if he will believe that when his employees are sick and their children need to be taken care of. . . )
I also had the nerve to ask him “Do you smoke?”
Anyone want to guess his answer? . . . yes he does. . . .

If Port O’ Call is a “Family” the owner should consider the following of his employee’s by going smokefree he will:
Reduce risk of lung cancer. Employees exposed to secondhand smoke on thejob are 12% to 19% more likely to get lung cancer.
Reduce heart attacks. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of a
heart attack by 25% to 35%.
Reduce heart disease.
Reduce upper respiratory infections.
(All toolkit information and statistics can be found at the Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Website)

The below video shows just a little bit of me on the streets of Salt Lake, I had hoped for more, but it was just too cold and I really don’t know the “scene” in Salt Lake because I could never go out because it was was too smokey.