If one state lawmaker has his way, smoking sections in restaurants could become a thing of the past.
Sen. Ray Basham, D-Taylor, has introduced legislation to ban smoking in all of Michigan's restaurants. However, if passed, the law would not apply to private clubs, bowling alleys, fraternal organizations and private facilities, such as party halls.
"You can't train smoke to stop at the end of a smoking booth and not waft over into the nonsmoking area," he said.
But a group representing Michigan restaurants says the bills are unnecessary.
Kristyn Sorensen, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Restaurant Association, said the bill limits customers' choices.
"We believe this legislation is an intrusion into the rights of private-business owners," Sorensen said. "The restaurant industry is in the business of providing customers with options and how and where they dine is the choice they should make."
But Basham disagrees, saying smokers are a health risk to everyone.
"A smoker has rights, but they end when the smoke goes up the nose of a nonsmoker." Basham said. "If restaurants can find a way to make that not happen, then we can talk."
Basham has introduced his bill, the Michigan Smoke-Free Dining Act, three times before but failed to make any change to policy.
Along with the senator, representatives from antismoking groups in Michigan have joined efforts to launch a Web site to gain support and spread awareness to ban smoking. On the site, www.smokefreediningpetition.com, supporters can sign a petition in support of the bill. Since the unveiling last week, the site has received 12,500 electronic signatures.
Some East Lansing restaurants have decided to make the smoke-free switch. Pizza House, 4790 S. Hagadorn Road, is a smoke-free establishment and co-owner Chris Tice said the restaurant's sales have been impacted in a positive way by the policy.
"We cater to a lot of families and residents," Tice said. "Most families prefer it this way."
But Tony's Restaurant, 350 Albert Ave., still offers smokers their own section.
"We are a smoking facility and plan on keeping it that way," co-owner Anthony Tost said. "It's more from the standpoint of business owners ? it draws us a lot of customers."
Gary McMullen, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society's regional office, said smoke-free establishments offer regular smokers "an incentive" to kick the habit.
"There are great results," McMullen said. "More and more restaurants are considering bans - it's a growing trend."
Marx Cooper, executive director of Michigan Citizens for SmokeFree Air, said individual smoking bans have existed in cities in nine states - including Maine, New York and California - for years.
"It's a growing movement; it's a matter of health," Cooper said. "Toxic substances aren't something people should put up with."
English graduate student Steve Gaertner, a smoker for 10 years, said he agrees with restrictions on smoking areas in businesses.
"I don't necessarily have to subject people to my smoking," said Gaertner, who often heads outdoors to light up.
Enforcing smoking bans is "a lot like prohibition," said biology senior Kat Raltsch, a nonsmoker. She said the decision should be made by the establishment, not the government.
"Smokers are still going to find ways to do it," Raltsch said. "People have a right to smoke - it's up to the business owners to keep smoke out of my face."
