Letter: Restaurants join health district in smoke-free trial

Friday, July 9, 1999 | 9:13 a.m.

The health district's "Take a Bite Out of Smoking" announcements, as observed on place-settings at The Country Inn, show four poster-children youngsters quoting the following phrases:

* "When I eat at a restaurant, I'd rather blow bubbles than smoke."

* "When we go out to eat, I love playing in smoke-rings with my little brother."

* "When I eat out, I want to inhale lots of secondhand smoke."

* "When I eat at a restaurant, I always wait quietly for the non-smoking section."

All of The Country Inn restaurants are participating, as is Harbor Palace seafood restaurant, the Dragon Sushi, Mar Y Tierra seafood Mexican restaurant, Panini (South Rainbow only location), The Egg & I and the East Tropicana and West Flamingo locations of Ricardo's.

It will be interesting to see, smell and measure the results of this bold venture by the health district and the participating restaurants.

Among those watching and wondering will be the waiters and waitresses who fear the rumored low toke volume from smoke-free patrons, whether or not smokers will "approve" this move, as opposed to fearing a trend (which may result in a boycott), and the restaurateurs who wonder whether food service dollar volume will remain the same, decrease or increase.

ARNO GUNTHER SEEGERS