Springfield considers banning smoking in restaurants

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Lighting up a smoke while enjoying a meal at Springfield restaurant could become a thing of the past.

Springfield's City Council was getting its first look Wednesday at a draft ordinance that, if adopted, would ban smoking in most eating establishments.

Springfield-Greene County health director Harold Bengsch believes the time has come for the state's third largest city to join others across the country that have smoke-free dining ordinances.

Under the draft proposal, smoking would be allowed in establishments that derive 60 percent or more of their revenue from alcohol sales, Bengsch said. It also would be allowed when a restaurant is able to sufficiently separate its smoking and nonsmoking sections and provide self-contained ventilation in the smoking area.

Preliminary results of a survey of city restaurant owners show nearly 70 percent support a ban on smoking, Bengsch said.

Mike Jalili is not among them.

"I honestly think it's way too early for the Midwest to go smoke-free like that," said Jalili, co-owner of Bijan's, one of Springfield's most popular downtown restaurants.

"Right now, a lot of people in Springfield smoke."

Many particularly like to smoke with meals.

Debbie Gunter, who enjoyed a cigarette at her table Tuesday night while dining at Bijan's with her husband, was conflicted about a smoking ban. She could support it at family oriented restaurants, but at grown-up establishments, like Bijan's, she said, let adults be adults.

Gunter's husband Mark, an occasional cigar smoker, is worried the ban might be expanded to bars.

"I probably would have a problem with that," Gunter said.

But some restaurant owners are eager for a ban. At Mexican Villa, managers try to separate the smokers from the nonsmokers, and Manager Tom Ferguson said a ban on smoking would make his job easier.

"I'm not too much for government telling us what to do, but I would be in this case," Ferguson said.

Mayor Tom Carlson said it would be several months before the proposal is ready for a vote. Carlson said he has yet to form an opinion on the issue. Any action should balance health issues against the rights of private business owners, he said.

"The reality is no one is forced to go into a particular restaurant," Carlson said.