Editorial: Where there’s smoke

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

A s moking ban that went into effect in January is bringing out the best and worst in area tavern owners.

A story by the Las Vegas Sun on Sunday says that many owners of establishments have found creative ways to comply with the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, a measure overwhelmingly approved by voters that prohibits smoking inside businesses that serve food, including bars, grocery stores and convenience stores.

One tavern operator told Sun reporter Ed Koch that he installed sealed glass windows to separate the bars from the eating areas of his three establishments, while the owner of another tavern decided the kitchen was costing too much to remain open anyway. Now, instead of serving food, that tavern offers customers menus from local fast-food restaurants that can deliver.

Still, as the Sun reports, many tavern owners continue to fight the smoking ban. They have taken away the ashtrays and free books of matches but violate the law by looking the other way when customers light up.

The Southern Nevada Health District has investigated more than 2,000 such complaints, sending warning letters and visiting about 20 particularly stubborn bar owners. It has also filed lawsuits against two establishments.

In all honesty, it shouldn't be this hard. When the law first went into effect, a number of bar owners said small businesses that previously catered to smokers would be closing in droves. And that hasn't happened. In fact, Health District officials say, there are 72 more "drinking establishments" in Clark County than there were at this time last year.

The tavern owners who oppose the smoking ban had ample opportunity to make their displeasure known. But the fact is, smoking is banned in food-serving establishments. Plenty of business owners have managed to comply and still thrive. It is time for these last holdouts to stop acting like petulant children and follow the law.