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Statewide Smoking Policy
 
Background
For the past several years, local governments have been interested in taking action against smoking in public places. Corvallis was the first to ban smoking in 1996, followed by Eugene. Market conditions had been pushing a majority of restaurants in that direction. ORA members with liquor licenses and lottery contacts run a huge financial risk every time a local smoking ban is discussed.

Lottery receipts in the jurisdictions that banned smoking dropped 25-30 percent. In Corvallis, lottery revenues have still not returned to their pre-ban levels of 1996. In urban areas, a smoking ban in bars can cause management problems by kicking smokers out on the street, inviting noise and other neighborhood livability issues. This would be particularly problematic in an area like Portland's Pearl District.

Oregon's Clean Indoor Air Act, amended in 1991, and its smoking provisions is considered one of the best in the nation. It protects minors and eliminates smoking completely in over 95% of Oregon business. It allows a choice in those establishments or areas in establishments where minors are not allowed. By authorizing designated smoking areas, the state maximizes it's portion of gaming dollars and helps prevent certain neighborhood issues in urban areas.
 
Issue
Special interest groups continue to threaten the existing successful smoking ban that exists in Oregon today. The Oregon Restaurant Association supports the right of business owners to make operational decisions based on current state law and customer/market preference. Legislation is introduced every year to ban smoking, and 2007 is no different. We expected to see legislation introduced this session that would modify the Clean Indoor Air Act, and that legislation will likely pass.
 
ORA Position
ORA supports continuing the statewide smoking ban in most businesses while keeping a policy to allow an owner's the choice on allowing smoking in liquor-licensed establishments closed to the entry of minors. If lawmakers are determined to ban smoking in all public places, ORA will seek to mitigate the impact on our members by making sure customers can be near the establishment, and by giving the industry time to adapt to proposed changes.
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