An Upside For Smoking-Ban Opponents

Now that Philadelphia Smoking Ban Proposal III seems to be out of theaters — I’m expecting October is when the the newest sequel will come out — it’s time to turn our collective watery eyes across the river to New Jersey, where a ban goes into effect on April 15.

Or will it? A few bars and restaurants are suing, claiming that the exemption for casino floors is unconstitutional, but previous exemptions in other stats have been ruled constitutional, and so… it seems like the entire state will be not as dirty in just a few days. The lawsuit goes to court tomorrow.

There are some strange aspects to the law, such as the fact that the official rules and restrictions of the ban won’t be established until months after it goes into effect. (I’m not quite sure what the rules are going to be. Is it really much more than “No smoking in public places”?)

But some restaurants are accepting the ban, and getting ready for life after it, such as the owner of 10 West, a club in Galloway Township:

[Club owner Jeff DeLucia] bought five stylish Middle Eastern hookahs - water pipes - and stationed them around the lounge of his Atlantic County nightclub, 10 West, in Galloway Township.

Instead of tobacco, the hookahs burn a combination of dried fruit and molasses, which DeLucia hopes will remain legal after the smoking ban’s scheduled start at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Mmmmm… dried fruit and molasses! I can’t believe it, but he actually managed to find something you can smoke that sounds more disgusting than tar and tobacco (or whatever). I can’t wait ’til (ha ha) this hits Philly!

Last-puff effort on N.J. ban [Inky]
Photo by Maria G.I.