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For Bars

Home  |  Making the Switch  |  Get Help

Recently, a group of local owners of smoking and smoke-free bars shared their fears and advice about going smoke free. The main areas of concern focused on how customers would react to the change and possible adverse financial impacts.

1. HOW DO I KEEP MY SMOKING CLIENTELE?
Research has shown that a few smokers will leave, but here are some suggestions to help ease the transition with your regular smoking customers.

  • Discuss the change with your smoking customers.
  • Tell regular customers who smoke that you enjoy having them and hope they will remain as customers.
  • Some die-hard smokers will become upset. However, most smokers will step outside to smoke.
  • Accept that some people will leave, but know that others will start coming.
  • Provide ashbins and tables outside, if possible.

2. HOW CAN I MAKE THE SWITCH, AFTER BEING ESTABLISHED AS A SMOKING BAR?
People aren’t only in your bar because you allow smoking. Even chain-smokers have other reasons for choosing your bar, such as friends, location, atmosphere, friendly staff, food, etc. Here are some suggestions about how to go smoke free after being known as a smoking bar.

  • Include customers in the discussion. Plan an informal conversation, formal meetings with patrons to discuss the changes, and/or a questionnaire in partnership with the Tobacco Prevention Program.
  • Understand that you can’t make everyone happy.
  • Explain your reasons for going smoke free (health, employee rights, etc.)
  • Ensure employee support through informal conversations, meetings or a questionnaire.
  • Know that smokers are more willing to step outside than they ever have been; it’s not as controversial as it used to be.

3. WILL THIS AFFECT MY BUSINESS FINANCIALLY?
Bars have been able to go smoke free successfully without long-term financial repercussions [7].

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4. ISN’T VENTILATION GOOD ENOUGH?
Absolutely not! Every reputable technical, scientific and medical expert, the ventilation system companies, and even Philip Morris, agree that these systems cannot eliminate health risks from secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 known carcinogens [8].

James Repace, a former EPA scientist, physicist and expert in secondhand smoke, reports that to cut contamination to safe levels, a bar would need a machine “comparable to a tornado” that produces 100,000 air changes per hour. Currently, ventilation manufacturers recommend a system that produces at least nine air changes per hour [9].

The cost of these ventilation systems is huge! The tobacco industry does not want to lose money because of smoke-free policies, so they market ventilation systems to bars and shift the cost to businesses instead. There are no positive gains to balance the costs. Bar owners spend $10,000 to $50,000 or more on a ventilation system with higher maintenance and energy costs, which require extra work such as filters that need to be changed monthly, and their customers and employees are still exposed to secondhand smoke [10].

5. WHAT PERMITS ARE NEEDED TO BUILD AN OUTDOOR SMOKING SECTION?
Building codes vary locally. Examples of local ordinance provisions include:

  • Smaller structures (like a low deck) do not require a permit (up to 18 feet high and 120-square-foot deck).
  • Larger projects need a “Subject to Field Inspection” permit. These require a bar owner to submit a construction plan, get a permit, and have an investigator inspect the construction. Awnings also require a permit.
  • Outdoor smoking sections need to have a special permit to allow alcohol outside the premises. Otherwise, alcohol must remain inside the bar.

6. IS THERE GOING TO BE A PROBLEM WITH NOISE IF MY PATRONS SMOKE OUTSIDE?
Experience suggests that noise has NOT been a problem.

  • The City of Seattle Noise Code states that the following is not allowed: “Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by the amplified or unamplified human voice between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m [11].” This means that people can’t be so loud that they disturb neighbors or other people.
  • According to the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, a bar owner would not be held responsible for any complaint, unless he/ she is involved personally in the public disturbance [12].
  • Normal conversation levels outside a bar are not an issue.
  • Well-trained security can help decrease noise levels.
  • Noise codes vary among cities or jurisdictions. Contact your local city hall if you have questions.

Success Stories

Photo of Bar Owner

Since going smoke free the Whistle Stop Ale House has attracted quality staff and loyal customers. Their bottom line increased by 40 percent in the first six months after they made the switch.
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Membership

Join the many others who have successfully made the smoke free switch and become a member of the Seattle Smoke Free Coalition.
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