Greencastle enacts smoking ban

By: Emily McStay

Posted: 8/28/07

Starting at noon Saturday, all public places and places of employment in Greencastle will become smoke-free.

The Greencastle City Council voted 3-2 to pass the smoking ban on May 8, 2007, making Greencastle the 33rd Indiana community to adopt such an ordinance. While the prohibition of indoor smoking removes the hazards of secondhand smoke, some Greencastle citizens question whether this law violates their civil liberties.

Carolyn Hammond, owner of Moore's Bar, said she objects to the new law.

"I am a business owner and I feel like I should have the choice to allow smoking in my bar," she said. "This is an over 21 establishment, so my patrons are adults. This law infringes on my rights and their rights."

While advocates of the bill argue that smoking bans do not hurt, and sometimes improve business, Hammond disagrees.

"This ban will hurt my business," she said. "Eighty-five percent of my clients smoke, as do all of my employees and myself. My bar doesn't have room for an outside patio, so my customers will have to go smoke on the city streets after the ban begins."

Others believe the ban is a positive change for the town.

"I don't like to be surrounded by smoke," said DePauw senior Elise Wagner. "And I am much more likely to go to a bar if there is no smoke there."

Greencastle Mayor Nancy Michael said she did not feel the ban would deter Greencastle residents from visiting their favorite locations around the community.

"I believe that people are loyal to establishments and the fact that they can't smoke there anymore, won't keep them from frequenting that place."

Michael said she sees the smoking ordinance as a way of opening up public places to everyone in the city.

"All people should be able to go to all places, but some people can't be around smoke," Michael said. "This ban evens out the playing field."

Dr. Scott Ripple, medical director of the Wellness Center, said he feels the ordinance was a step in the right direction to protect the health of Greencastle residents.

"I feel that patrons of our local businesses will smoke less if they are not allowed to smoke inside these businesses and the workers in these establishments will be protected against the effects of second hand smoke," Ripple said.

Meredith Williams, Program Director of the Putnam County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, sees the ordinance as a way of fighting for workers' rights.

"Yes, patrons can choose where they want to eat and drink, but people working in those establishments do not always have the choice where they want to work," Williams said. "Choosing between your job or your health should not be a choice any of us have to make," she continued.

Williams said smoking is responsible for more than 420,000 premature deaths in the United States annually and secondhand smoke kills nearly 50,000 Americans each year.

"With these numbers staring us in the face, how could you not want to prevent one more person from dying?" Williams said.