Cambridge and Somerville go smoke-free

On Oct. 1, Cambridge and Somerville are joining the growing number of smoke-free cities and towns in Greater Boston, banning smoking in all restaurants, bars, and public areas.

Interest groups such as Coalition for a Healthy Future and Clean Air Works have campaigned for smoke-free workplaces, resulting in a city-wide ban in Boston, which took effect this summer.

The smoke-free movement is focused on preventing workers from inhaling secondhand smoke, a class-A carcinogen that is mixture of both the chemicals released from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. Secondhand smoke has been proven to cause lung cancer, leukemia, asthma, and emphysema.

For example, restaurant and bar employees face a 50 percent greater risk of lung cancer. During an eight hour shirt, a bartender is exposed to the equivalent of smoking 16 cigarettes.

Employees have mixed feelings on the new regulations, balancing concern for their health and the well-being of the businesses they work for, which are often frequented by smokers. "As a non-smoker I can appreciate the new law, but I could see how some people might shorten their visits to bars," Kathy Doel said, a bartender at the Joshua Tree Grille in Davis Square.

Though the restaurant industry voiced a concern that the new ban would harm business, Clean Air Works had the support of Boston Hotel & Restaurant Employees Union, Local 26.

When there are disparities in smoking laws in nearby towns, smoke-free supporters recommend leveling the playing field. "Even [advocates] of the ban realize that if one city banned smoking and the neighboring city did not, that could create major losses for businesses within the banned city," said Dave Newman of Clean Air Works. "That is why Somerville and Cambridge decided to go it together."

Joshua Tree Manager Rob Ames is confident that the new law is not a concern to business despite the complaints and threats of patron smokers. According to Doel, "The ban is being placed on the entire region; people don't have a choice to go somewhere else."

Despite this confidence from the restaurant there are still patrons, such as Larry Dobie, who vow they will not return once Oct. 1 hits. "I wouldn't be here if I couldn't smoke," said Dobie, a local who frequents the bar. "After the first, I'll be suffering and staying at home."

Ames' personal feelings on the matter were mixed. "I don't agree with it, and I don't disagree with it. People should have the right to choose. It's a great point of debate," he said.

The smoke-free movement began in California in 1995. By 1998 the ban covered the entire state. Over the past three years more states have begun to take measures toward eradicating smoking in the workplace, including, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Colorado, Florida, and Hawaii.

According to Newman, public interest groups, and city officials have collectively taken steps towards preparing the cities for the huge change. The Health Department has visited all food venues and bars in both Somerville and Cambridge educating managers and employees on the changes and procedures.

Each venue will be visited twice and have materials for notifying people that their business is completely smoke-free. Local newspapers featured ads in order to raise awareness. On the first day of going smoke-free, the organizations hope to hold a kick-off event at a bar near the Somerville-Cambridge border.

Ames is unsure what changes the Joshua Tree may have to make. But he, like most restaurant and bar owners, said the Davis Square nightspot will comply with all regulations.