Put it out

Smoking ban to take effect in Muncie Saturday

The Delaware County smoking ban will officially go into effect Saturday, according to Delaware County Commissioner Tom Bennington.

The county-wide smoking ban was passed unanimously by the Delaware County Board of Health in February. The ban prohibits smoking in public buildings, excluding private clubs, free-standing bars and personal homes and cars.

Bennington said the Delaware County Health Department, which was in charge of alerting the public of the change, will enforce the smoking ban.

"The businesses have all been notified, and they should all be aware of the change," Bennington said. "Some of the business owners even participated in the public hearing process."

Although some business owners are looking forward to the smoke-free environment, others are concerned about the negative effects the ban will have on sales.

Manager of Munsee Lanes bowling alley Stan Willis said he is enforcing the ban by putting up no smoking signs and telling his customers they cannot smoke inside the building. However, Willis said he did not want to ban smoking in his establishment because many of his customers smoke.

"About 80 percent of our bowlers are smokers," said Willis. "The way I see it as an owner is it should be your choice as an owner, and customers should be able to choose if they want to come in or not."

Some Delaware County residents are also responding negatively to the smoking ban. Muncie resident Carolyn Warner has been smoking for 20 years and said she did not appreciate the ban,

"I understand that I'm putting myself at risk, but this day and age they tell you everything is going to kill you," Warner said. "My philosophy is 'I'm not asking you to pick up a cigarette so don't ask me to put mine out.'"

For some residents, the smoking ban will provide relief from second-hand smoke in restaurants.

Ball State senior Jen Wilczynski said the ban makes her happy because she has a physical intolerance to cigarette smoke.

"It will make going out to eat a lot nicer because I won't have to worry about smoke coming over from the smoking side," Wilczynski said.

While the county-wide ban starts Saturday, some businesses have already established their own policies.

Cardinal Health Systems, including Ball Memorial Hospital, has a smoking ban that went into effect on May 1. The ban prohibits smoking on all property owned by CHS, including inside privately owned vehicles and on sidewalks. The hospital does not provide designated smoking areas and requires that all personnel leave the property to use tobacco products of any kind. Public relations agent Neil Gifford said CHS provided all employees with information on the hazards of smoking as well as free classes and aids to help them quit.

"We did it for overall health reasons," said Gifford, "not just for smokers but for non-smokers too. "The Delaware County smoking ban will officially go into effect Saturday, according to Delaware County Commissioner Tom Bennington.

The county-wide smoking ban was passed unanimously by the Delaware County Board of Health in February. The ban prohibits smoking in public buildings, excluding private clubs, free-standing bars and personal homes and cars.

Bennington said the Delaware County Health Department, which was in charge of alerting the public of the change, will enforce the smoking ban.

"The businesses have all been notified, and they should all be aware of the change," Bennington said. "Some of the business owners even participated in the public hearing process."

Although some business owners are looking forward to the smoke-free environment, others are concerned about the negative effects the ban will have on sales.

Manager of Munsee Lanes bowling alley Stan Willis said he is enforcing the ban by putting up no smoking signs and telling his customers they cannot smoke inside the building. However, Willis said he did not want to ban smoking in his establishment because many of his customers smoke.

"About 80 percent of our bowlers are smokers," said Willis. "The way I see it as an owner is it should be your choice as an owner, and customers should be able to choose if they want to come in or not."

Some Delaware County residents are also responding negatively to the smoking ban. Muncie resident Carolyn Warner has been smoking for 20 years and said she did not appreciate the ban,

"I understand that I'm putting myself at risk, but this day and age they tell you everything is going to kill you," Warner said. "My philosophy is 'I'm not asking you to pick up a cigarette so don't ask me to put mine out.'"

For some residents, the smoking ban will provide relief from second-hand smoke in restaurants.

Ball State senior Jen Wilczynski said the ban makes her happy because she has a physical intolerance to cigarette smoke.

"It will make going out to eat a lot nicer because I won't have to worry about smoke coming over from the non-smoking side," Wilczynski said.

While the county-wide ban starts Saturday, some businesses have already established their own policies.

Cardinal Health Systems, including Ball Memorial Hospital, has a smoking ban that went into effect on May 1. The ban prohibits smoking on all property owned by CHS, including inside privately owned vehicles and on sidewalks. The hospital does not provide designated smoking areas and requires that all personnel leave the property to use tobacco products of any kind. Public relations agent Neil Gifford said CHS provided all employees with information on the hazards of smoking as well as free classes and aids to help them quit.

"We did it for overall health reasons," said Gifford, "not just for smokers but for non-smokers too. "The Delaware County smoking ban will officially go into effect Saturday, according to Delaware County Commissioner Tom Bennington.

The county-wide smoking ban was passed unanimously by the Delaware County Board of Health in February. The ban prohibits smoking in public buildings, excluding private clubs, free-standing bars and personal homes and cars.

Bennington said the Delaware County Health Department, which was in charge of alerting the public of the change, will enforce the smoking ban.

"The businesses have all been notified, and they should all be aware of the change," Bennington said. "Some of the business owners even participated in the public hearing process."

Although some business owners are looking forward to the smoke-free environment, others are concerned about the negative effects the ban will have on sales.

Manager of Munsee Lanes bowling alley Stan Willis said he is enforcing the ban by putting up no smoking signs and telling his customers they cannot smoke inside the building. However, Willis said he did not want to ban smoking in his establishment because many of his customers smoke.

"About 80 percent of our bowlers are smokers," said Willis. "The way I see it as an owner is it should be your choice as an owner, and customers should be able to choose if they want to come in or not."

Some Delaware County residents are also responding negatively to the smoking ban. Muncie resident Carolyn Warner has been smoking for 20 years and said she did not appreciate the ban,

"I understand that I'm putting myself at risk, but this day and age they tell you everything is going to kill you," Warner said. "My philosophy is 'I'm not asking you to pick up a cigarette so don't ask me to put mine out.'"

For some residents, the smoking ban will provide relief from second-hand smoke in restaurants.

Ball State senior Jen Wilczynski said the ban makes her happy because she has a physical intolerance to cigarette smoke.

"It will make going out to eat a lot nicer because I won't have to worry about smoke coming over from the non-smoking side," Wilczynski said.

While the county-wide ban starts Saturday, some businesses have already established their own policies.

Cardinal Health Systems, including Ball Memorial Hospital, has a smoking ban that went into effect on May 1. The ban prohibits smoking on all property owned by CHS, including inside privately owned vehicles and on sidewalks. The hospital does not provide designated smoking areas and requires that all personnel leave the property to use tobacco products of any kind. Public relations agent Neil Gifford said CHS provided all employees with information on the hazards of smoking as well as free classes and aids to help them quit.

"We did it for overall health reasons," said Gifford, "not just for smokers but for non-smokers too. "The Delaware County smoking ban will officially go into effect Saturday, according to Delaware County Commissioner Tom Bennington.

The county-wide smoking ban was passed unanimously by the Delaware County Board of Health in February. The ban prohibits smoking in public buildings, excluding private clubs, free-standing bars and personal homes and cars.

Bennington said the Delaware County Health Department, which was in charge of alerting the public of the change, will enforce the smoking ban.

"The businesses have all been notified, and they should all be aware of the change," Bennington said. "Some of the business owners even participated in the public hearing process."

Although some business owners are looking forward to the smoke-free environment, others are concerned about the negative effects the ban will have on sales.

Manager of Munsee Lanes bowling alley Stan Willis said he is enforcing the ban by putting up no smoking signs and telling his customers they cannot smoke inside the building. However, Willis said he did not want to ban smoking in his establishment because many of his customers smoke.

"About 80 percent of our bowlers are smokers," said Willis. "The way I see it as an owner is it should be your choice as an owner, and customers should be able to choose if they want to come in or not."

Some Delaware County residents are also responding negatively to the smoking ban. Muncie resident Carolyn Warner has been smoking for 20 years and said she did not appreciate the ban,

"I understand that I'm putting myself at risk, but this day and age they tell you everything is going to kill you," Warner said. "My philosophy is 'I'm not asking you to pick up a cigarette so don't ask me to put mine out.'"

For some residents, the smoking ban will provide relief from second-hand smoke in restaurants.

Ball State senior Jen Wilczynski said the ban makes her happy because she has a physical intolerance to cigarette smoke.

"It will make going out to eat a lot nicer because I won't have to worry about smoke coming over from the non-smoking side," Wilczynski said.

While the county-wide ban starts Saturday, some businesses have already established their own policies.

Cardinal Health Systems, including Ball Memorial Hospital, has a smoking ban that went into effect on May 1. The ban prohibits smoking on all property owned by CHS, including inside privately owned vehicles and on sidewalks. The hospital does not provide designated smoking areas and requires that all personnel leave the property to use tobacco products of any kind. Public relations agent Neil Gifford said CHS provided all employees with information on the hazards of smoking as well as free classes and aids to help them quit.

"We did it for overall health reasons," said Gifford, "not just for smokers but for non-smokers too."

Comments