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TRU (Tobacco.Reality.Unfiltered) is North Carolina’s youth-led grassroots movement that has helped bring our state’s teen smoking rates to the lowest on record. Any youth who is committed to living a tobacco-free lifestyle can join a local TRU group and work to rally other teens and communities to take a stand against tobacco. The Mecklenburg County TRU Advisory Board went to Charlotte’s EpiCenter, a trendy spot in Uptown Charlotte, to ask how restaurant and bar employees feel about the new smoke-free law.
Interviews started at Black Finn American Saloon, a restaurant/bar, with hostess Mindy Houston.
“It’s going to help me when I go home at night, not smelling like (smoke),” Houston said. Since Black Finn does not have many smoking patrons, she does not foresee any issues with the new law. This positive response encouraged the TRU members to continue their mission of speaking with restaurants and bars about the new law.
Staff of restaurants that are already smoke-free understand the dangers of secondhand smoke and want to protect their customers. The law puts all restaurants and bars on an even playing field when it comes to smoking. Patrons will now choose restaurants based on food selection and service, not on their smoking policies. TRU teens found that staff members at restaurants that currently allow smoking are excited about the new law.
Matt Jenkins, manager at Wild Wings Café, said he agrees with the new law. He expects it to be a good thing throughout Charlotte, adding, “I think there are way more non-smokers than there are smokers. In the age we live in now, it is sort of rude to smoke around other people.”
Jenkins is right about one thing, the majority of people are
nonsmokers. The NC State Center for Health Statistics reports that in 2008
only 20.9% of NC adults were current smokers.
“Without fail, smoke-free laws should happen everywhere in the United States, because cigarette smoking is not only killing them, it’s killing me,” said Kim Clabo, regional manager of The Fudgery. Clabo has a strict non-smoking policy with her workers, who are not allowed to smoke in uniform. The TRU members loved that Clabo shares their passion for smoke-free environments.
“We have to follow the rules,” said Eric of Whiskey River. “People will just go outside and have a cigarette, it’s no big deal.” This seems to be the overall view of restaurant and bar employees. The law does not take away a person’s right to smoke, it just eliminates harmful secondhand smoke in enclosed public places.
The EpiCenter in Charlotte is a central location for people of all ages to hang out, enjoy food and drink, and see live entertainment. The EpiCenter also is the home to an upscale movie theatre and bowling center. Hearing positive responses to NC’s new smoke-free law was very encouraging. It will be a change from what Charlotte is used to, but a welcomed, positive change that many cannot wait for.
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