Bereano, Bruce C.
In this scathing 1993 letter, Maryland tobacco industry lobbyist Bruce Bereano castigates Marcia S. Harris, Executive Vice President of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, for the Association's new policy of supporting the statewide regulation of smoking in public places.
Typically restaurant associations adopt the position of the tobacco industry in opposing such regulations at the state level. The Restaurant Association of Maryland, however, stepped out on its own and broke with this pattern in 1993.
In her original letter to Bereano, Harris pointed out that part of the Restaurant Association's change in policy was partly due to the EPA's classification of secondhand tobacco smoke as a Group A carcinogen and the ensuing state legislation emerging after that classification. She explained also that the Association changed its stand in part because "a 'patchwork' of contradictory [smoking] regulations across the state would create an administrative nightmare" for chain restaurants and would confuse customers. She also said that until a statewide law was passed, the Association would continue to oppose local smoking restrictions.
(Harris's original letter to Bereano is available at
http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?if=avpidx&DOCID=2045919780/9781 )This list of reasons did not appease Bereano.
Bereano's hostility towards Harris and the restaurant association's new policy of embracing statewide smoke-free laws is palpable:
"Personally, I am not happy or please to receive this letter...I thought we were working closely together...There is, in my opinion, absolutely no reason or excuse for what you did...I am not happy at all [with the Maryland Restaurant Association's revised position] and opposing interest groups will use your new position against my clients [the Tobacco Institute]. This also makes me look and feel foolish after all the efforts, the financial resources and commitment to this unique and successful voluntary [Accommodation] program in which I and my staff have spent a lot of time over the years working on...I would never treat you that way! Thanks for nothing."
Bereano's letter reveals the hostility that restaurant associations may face from the tobacco industry if they fail to do the industry's bidding and oppose state-wide smoking restrictions, despite the fact that such measures may actually benefit restaurants.