|
Businesses develop anti-smoking solutions
Restaurants are to comply with the non-smoking law, the Natasha Protection Act. On Friday Court Judge Steven Unpingco dismissed Attorney General Douglas Moylan's motion that questioned the constitutionality of the Act. Now, consider the opinions of a few popular restaurateurs that have developed solutions for smokers and non-smokers alike.
After a good meal or a few drinks, those who have a craving for nicotine usually end up lighting a cigarette. And according to the Americans for Non-Smokers' Rights, while the tobacco industry has claimed for years that smoke-free ordinances have a negative impact on business, particularly hospitality-oriented businesses, that simply is not true. Take popular eating establishments like Tony Roma's and Capricciosa located in the Agana Shopping Center - even before the smoking ban was in its proposal stage, both establishments decided to change their policy, to accommodate everyone.
"We have an outside patio area; since January 1, 2006 we accommodate them [smokers] in that area since the law was proposed. So for now we have a smoking area. Our inside is non-smoking," said Lynn Sanchez, who runs Capricciosa. General manager of Tony Roma's Restaurant Frank Tretasco added, "We do have a smoking policy, it's outside in the patio. But even when we first heard of the Natasha bill, we went ahead and took proactive measures and did the non-smoking in the dining room and we receive positive comments from out guests."
And for businesses, it's all about making the customers happy. But how happy can some customers, particularly the smokers really be if they're outside feeling the humidity, looking in on those enjoying the air conditioning? Sanchez says surprisingly, not at all. "It did not affect our inside area. Actually it's a little more comfortable to know that we have an outside area for smoking," she said.
Tretasco admits that while the Hagatna restaurant has had no problems with the ban on smoking, he is concerned that the non-smoking policy will affect the Tony Roma's in Tumon, as the clientele is mainly of the tourist variety. In fact, several tour agencies have been informed by way of letter that Guam now has a no smoking law in eating establishments. "Just so that when the tourist come it's not a shock when managers to go up to them and say 'I'm sorry, you can't smoke in the restaurant,'" said Tretasco.
Sanchez added, "As for our other locations in Tumon, this is something new that we're going to be testing because with them because they have smoking area. We're not sure. Although, we have a patio area in one of our other locations to accommodate yet so I'm not sure yet as far as that is concerned."
In the meantime, AG Moylan has also sent a letter to Department of Public Health director Arthur San Agustin regarding the enforcement of the Natasha Protection Act. Moylan indicated that he intends to appeal the decision on the ground that the court should not have dismissed the case. Moylan is recommending Public Health inform the community that until the question is further answered legally, Public Health should not permit any smoking in any public places and facilities on Guam.
|