Smoking-ban opponents present poll before House vote

With a ban on smoking in Utah's private clubs and bars just one positive vote away from going to the governor's desk, those opposed to the measure have stepped up efforts to see it defeated for the second year in a row.

The Utah Hospitality Association on Tuesday released results of its newly commissioned poll showing that the majority of those questioned disagree with the premise behind SB19, sponsored by Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville.

SB19 would amend the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act to ban smoking in private clubs, bars, taverns and social clubs, which were excluded from the original 1995 legislation banning smoking in public places.

According to the survey, 69 percent of the 505 registered voters polled think smoking should continue to be allowed in private clubs. Another 69 percent believe the decision to allow or forbid smoking should be left up to the individual club owners.

"The results speak for themselves," said Bob Brown, association president and owner of the downtown club, Cheers to You. "The citizens of the state of Utah understand that private clubs and taverns are different from hospitals and office buildings."

The poll was conducted Feb. 8-11 by the Washington, D.C.-based Better Consumer Research.

Waddoups, who proposed a similar measure last year, has painted SB19 as a workers' rights and health issue. The measure has the support of Gov. Jon Huntsman and health advocacy organizations such as the American Heart Association and American Lung Association.

Opponents, however, see it as an unwelcome intrusion into the rights of private property and business owners and contend that employees don't want the protection SB19 seeks to offer.

Brown on Tuesday displayed a petition signed by more than 400 employees of private clubs, bars and taverns opposing the measure.

"These are the people who are supposed to be protected," he said. "We have clearly demonstrated that the vast majority of employees do not want this ban."

The state Senate passed SB19 on a 17-12 vote, and members of the House Health and Human Services Committee moved it forward late last week with a vote of 6-1.

The full House could vote on the bill as early as today.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com