The Daily News

A new five-year plan to reduce tobacco in North Dakota by banning smoking in bars and other outdoor areas has local proprietors repeating a longtime mantra: business will be ruined.

A state committee formed after Measure 3, the anti-tobacco ballot measure North Dakota voters approved last November, is proposing to more than quadruple the state's cigarette tax to $2 a pack and extend non-smoking bans to areas where public events are held, according to the Associated Press.

At Cowgals Saloon in Great Bend, where an estimated 85 percent of customers smoke, owner Natalie Johnson said her doors would be forced to close. The restaurant and bar is the only facility in town to offer the freedom.

Advertisement

"We've only had a couple of elderly ladies that have complained," said Johnson, who referred those customers elsewhere. "Don't pick on me because I choose to have smoking, I think that's everybody's right. Smoking is bad for you, but it's that person's choice to make."

A strong base of smokers also flow into Firehouse Pub on a weekly basis. Kirk Peterson, owner, said he's heard patrons say they would go to his bar if it became smoke-free, but they only go out once or twice a month and it doesn't substitute for the regulars.

"It doesn't take a lot to see what's happened to the bars in Breckenridge," he said.

The situation would be different if the initiative was local, he added.

"If Wahpeton does it alone, we'll lose tax dollars to every business six to eight miles out of town," he said. "If they want to outlaw tobacco, outlaw the industry altogether. Shut it down at the top, don't go state by state."

Gerald Pulvermacher, manager of Sportsman's Lounge, said the decision should be left up to the business owners, though a state-mandated change will likely be inevitable.

"It will be smoke-free in five years," he said. "I have that funny feeling."

Jason Bergstrand, tobacco prevention coordinator for Richland County Health Department, said his staff will be assessing the local support level for these policy changes in the near future.

If policy makers, community leaders and advocates work together to implement this plan, Bergstrand believes residents will see a dramatic decline in tobacco rates that will lead to saved lives and dollars for the state.

"I hope citizens will embrace the plan as it is a wonderful opportunity to do something remarkable for the health of our communities," he said. "The plan is not based on what we think will work in North Dakota, but rather on what we know will work as previously evidenced all across the country."

Comments

My two cents wrote on Jul 17, 2009 5:40 PM:

" I appreciate your right to smoke. However, with rights also comes responsibilities. When a right harms or violates someone's right (to clean air in this case), then you need to take responibility. This going to happen, like it has in many states and other countries as well. You are certainly free to smoke any where that others are not affected. That is where your right lies. "




Report Abuse

Amanda wrote on Jul 17, 2009 11:23 AM:

" I just feel that there should be smoking and non smoking bars and people should be able to make their OWN decision about where they want to go. I can tell you that since the bars in Breckenridge went non smoking the clientele didn't increase. So all those that talk big about going out when the bars are non smoking are bluffing!! "




Report Abuse

tedee wrote on Jul 17, 2009 5:23 AM:

" You're absolutely correct in saying, "I have the right to choose..." Clean Air! You have a right. But your rights are more important than other people's rights because WHY? Enjoy your rights today. Tomorrow, they will be gone. I am not a smoker, but I do not agree with taking away our rights. This is not what government is for. sadly, we are not the "free" country we once were. "




Report Abuse

kellinm wrote on Jul 15, 2009 10:34 PM:

" They will not stop taking away our rights until they get the guns away from the American people. "




Report Abuse

Clean Air wrote on Jul 15, 2009 2:44 PM:

" I don't go uptown "because" of the smoke. I have the right to choose where to eat or socialize and that is the number one criteria I use when eliminating places to do business. So, in the reverse manner, think of us that will patronize your businesses because you now have clean, smoke-free air! "




Report Abuse

none wrote on Jul 15, 2009 12:20 PM:

" It affects everyone around us??????? Go somewhere there isn't smoke to drink. This whole smoking thing is getting old. The wonderful conservative we put in office and the whole group he comes with is going to take away everything pretty soon, so why complain about smoking? Pretty soon alcohol will be gone along with other things. This whole affecting others for smoking is getting ridiculous. Maybe when all rights are gone, people will think back about how one little issue ruined the fun for all of us. "




Report Abuse

Common Sense wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:42 AM:

" Vikter, You will be in for a surprise in Ireland as you will not be able to smoke in the pubs there either!! "




Report Abuse

vickter wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:39 PM:

" Sunny you are right. Our rights are being taken away from us. Thats why I am plannning on moving to Ireland where my ancestors came from. This is not the America it once was. The face of this nation is changing and the people running the world know this, that is why all the smart people are leaving this country before it is too late. "




Report Abuse

Common Sense wrote on Jul 14, 2009 7:11 PM:

" Smoking affects every one around the smoker. This is not an individual right to involve every one around you in your choice to smoke. Other states have gone to non smoking in bars and business has not been affected at all. The fact is, there are many more non smokers than smokers. Do the math!! "




Report Abuse

sunny wrote on Jul 14, 2009 3:46 PM:

" so smoking is bad for you, so is drinking, should we put a high tax on that too, so the state can have more dollors. what about our right to smoke ( at a decent price ) if we choose to. If a bar has smoking, no one forces a non smoker to go in there. A non smoker, would not work there either. Our rights are slowly being taken away one by one. People need to stand up for their rights or lose them. "




Report Abuse

duien wrote on Jul 12, 2009 7:53 PM:

" It is going to eventually happen everywhere. North Dakota will be no exception. Lets just look at the bright side and realize that cigarettes are bad for our health. I am a smoker and I oppose this, but nothing I can say or do will stop this law from happening. Maybe it will help me quit and I can live a longer life. "




Report Abuse

Step-out wrote on Jul 10, 2009 12:28 PM:

" I'm a smoker, and personally I think that this is a good idea. I still enjoy going out in Breckenridge, even with the smoke free atmosphere.

The short and long of it is this. It's going to happen, and it will not have a huge effect on business. The only reason it hurt Breckenridge is because you only have a couple blocks to go to get to a bar that you can smoke in, and I don't see too many people taking the trip all the way down to South Dakota just to smoke. "




Report Abuse