One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
WeHo Butts Out: New Smoking Ban at Restaurants Takes Effect New Year's Day
Photo by stephenfalk via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Smokers who enjoy lighting up with a drink or after a meal on the patio of West Hollywood restaurants are going to have to butt out for good starting Sunday, when a ban in such spaces goes into effect.
Some restaurants are "bracing for fallout from customers," reports West Hollywood Patch, who spoke with business owners and managers who are worried about how an estimated 10 to 50 per cent of their clientele will take to the new local law.
It will be up to the restaurants--and other customers--to enforce the law, however, according to Anne McIntosh, West Hollywood’s Community Development Director. She assures patrons there will be no "smoking police." Either the restaurant or the customer can notify the authorities, but McIntosh says if the smoker puts out the cigarette, the matter is resolved: " It is only if the person keeps smoking that he will get into legal trouble." Only the smoker is subject to fines, though if a restaurant is the site of numerous violations, the restaurant may face legal troubles.
Ready to be confused now? The ban only applies to restaurants. Businesses with nightclub licenses, or bars, are not subject to the ban. WeHo Patch offers this example: "people will still be able to smoke on the patio at Mickys in Boystown, because it has a nightclub license, but not next door on the patio at Fiesta Cantina, because it has a restaurant license." The city advises patrons to look for signs about the ban, or ask the business' staff if they may light up on the patio.
Restaurants may opt to set up separate smoking areas, but they cannot serve food there, and it must be entirely separate from the rest of the dining area. Some restaurants may just send smoking patrons onto the sidewalk, where it is still legal to smoke, so long as it is at least five feet away.
Before you think this ruins your smoking and eating brunch plans for New Year's Day, you can still smoke 'em while you got 'em and are allowed: The ban goes into effect at 11 p.m. on January 1, 2012.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
