Los Angeles, California  December 22, 2009 – When indoor smoking was legislatively banned in Los Angeles restaurants, many restaurant owners opened outdoor patios in order to survive. Now, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, they face possible extinction as a move to ban outdoor smoking at restaurants picks up traction.

The Los Angeles City Council’s Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee agreed earlier this month to prohibit smoking within 10 feet of restaurant patios, gardens and decks.  Under the proposed ordinance, any space within 30 feet of a food truck also will be defined as an ‘outdoor dining area.’  The measure would not apply to nightclubs and bars that require patrons to be 18 or older.

The Committee is headed by Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes parts of Hollywood, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Koreatown. LaBonge has indicated he wants a final council vote on the ordinance before the end of this year.

Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR, said LaBonge was exhibiting signs of a tobaccophobe because he seems to be obsessed with an irrational fear of tobacco.  

“This makes no sense at all.  Councilman LaBonge is being irrational, anti-business, and is depriving all Californians and out-of-state tourists their constitutional rights.  Supporters of this measure have been misled into blindly spreading misinformation about smoking,” he said.

McCalla cited the claim that there is no safe level for secondhand smoke.

“That simply isn’t true. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are safe levels for secondhand smoke.  In fact, OSHA says they are up to 25,000 times higher than are found in bars and restaurants,” McCalla said.

“Los Angeles restaurateurs already have been deprived of their right to decide whether or not to go smoke-free in their establishments.  But when the City Council wants to ban outdoor smoking at these restaurants, that’s when we – smokers and non-smokers, alike – must challenge them,” said McCalla.

“The premium cigar and pipe tobacco business is not ‘big tobacco.’ For the most part, our 2,000 members are a collection of mom-and-pop neighborhood businesses that employ local people and pay local, state and federal taxes.  People enjoy our products as they would a fine wine or specialty beer with friends. And we will fight for our right to do so, even on Los Angeles’ restaurant patios,” he said.

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