Eat smoke-free, Hawai'i, new ad campaign urges
By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawai'i launched a $66,500 advertising campaign yesterday urging residents to patronize O'ahu restaurants so they won't have a drop in business when the new no-smoking restaurant law goes into effect Monday.
• Restaurants must go smoke-free by Monday. • Restaurant bars have an additional year to be in compliance, but must in the meantime have floor-to-ceiling walls separating smoking and nonsmoking areas. • Stand-alone bars may allow smoking indefinitely. Stand-alones are defined as those for which alcoholic beverages account for more than two-thirds of their monthly gross receipts.
In the next four weeks, television, radio and print ads will encourage residents to eat out because as a one ad reads, "O'ahu restaurants will have something special on the menu. Clean air."
The new regulations
The campaign also features the television ad where actresses portraying waitresses are now asking customers to, "Support the new law in Hawai'i restaurants. Enjoy smoke-free dining."
"We wanted the public to know about this law, and encourage them to support the restaurant industry," said Sandra McGuinness, chairwoman of the coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawai'i. "This is a positive change for not only the patrons, but for the workers in the bars and restaurants."
The campaign money is from tobacco settlement dollars distributed to 46 states in 1998, McGuinness said.
In early June, the coalition sent more than 2,000 information packets to restaurant owners and managers to explain how the new law would affect their businesses. The total number of restaurant workers in Hawai'i has been estimated at 48,000.
Under the law, establishments classified as restaurant/bars have an extra year to become completely nonsmoking, but must in the meantime have floor-to-ceiling walls between the restaurant and bar smoking areas, as well as a separate ventilation system.
Restaurants can also provide an outdoor smoking area that is at least 10 feet away from one of their outside walls.
Stand-alone bars and nightclubs, where food is considered incidental, are exempt from the law and may continue to allow smoking. Only establishments where alcoholic beverages account for more than two-thirds of their monthly gross receipts can qualify under this exemption.
"We'd like to remind everyone that the primary objective is to help the law protect restaurant workers and patrons from second-hand smoke, which can cause lung cancer and other diseases," McGuinness said. "We'd also like to thank the restaurants for their cooperation and commitment to creating healthy, smoke-free environments for their employees and patrons."
Police can cite smokers who violate the ordinance. They can be fined up to $100 for the first violation.
Next July, all separate bar areas of restaurants will also become smoke-free.
"Some businesses think the law will have a negative effect," said City Councilman Jon Yoshimura. "But, by encouraging everyone to enjoy smoke-free dining, we can show it will affect businesses in a positive way."
Advertiser staff writer Robbie Dingeman contributed to this report.
Reach Shayna Coleon at scoleon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8004.
