Tobacco Documents Online

i • NEW YORK POST, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1995 Restaurant owners vent steam over smoking law By TONiCE SGRIGNOLI Restaurant owners were smok- ing mad yesterday. More than 100 of them showed up for a Health Department hear- ing on regulations implementing the city's tough new law which bars smoking in most restaurants. Patricia Sadoff, owner of the Spring Street Bar and Restaurant, asked: "Is this 1984? Are we living in George Orwell's time?" The overwhelmingly pro-smoking crowd burst into cheers. "What's next?" said Ellena Par- rino of Miss Elle's restaurant. "Are we going to decide I can't seat cus- tomers in direct sunlight because it would cause skin cancer?" The restaurateurs complained they were being ordered to enforce a law they don't approve of. "Do you want us to be a police state?~ said Joseph Napolitano, owner of Arturo's Restaurant. Diners who like to smoke are being forced to -act like high school kids, the owners said. 'I'hey're sneaking into the bath- rooms rooms to smoke," said John Kaeka- las of the Rex Manor restaurant. John Bruno, owner of the Pen & . Pencil restaurant, said his business is down 15 percent since the law took effect April 10. 'he restaurant industry was al- ready over-taxed and over-bur- dened before the new law." Scott Wexler, head of the New York Tavern and Restaurant Asso- ciation, agreed the anti-smoking law is badTor business. He said more than half of his members are repor~n~ their sales are down more than 15peycent. Although they were outnum- bered, anti-smokers also had their sa . oseph Cherner of Smokefree Ed• ucational Services said: "More than 100 cities have passed smoke-free restaurant legislation. 'The data's in.- and the data's clear. Smoke-free restaurant legis- lation is good for thealth and good for business.' • Department of Health spokesman Sam Friedman insisted: "It's clear that the law is a good law. "It's only been m effect for fewer than 30 business days... We need to give the law a chance." . Tim Zagat, who publishes the res- taurant guides, was not at the hearing but told The Post that he does not thmk restaurants have been hurt by the law. ~~a=~ts 3fi-l W ga ~fit Yno l'~,~ believe me, business is booming.'