Complaints made about 4 county eateries

A statewide smoking ban in restaurants and bars has been in place for three weeks. During that time, four formal complaints have been made about someone smoking in a public eatery in Catawba County.

The first complaint was made on Jan. 2, the day the smoking ban went into effect, at Twin Oaks Bar and Grill in Denver, said Jennifer Shomaker, tobacco prevention coordinator with Catawba County Public Health.

Subsequent complaints have been made about smoking at First Turn Sports Bar in Denver on Jan. 11, J&L Café in Maiden on Jan. 13 and Wheelers Sports Bar in Conover on Jan. 18.

There are nearly 400 restaurants in Catawba County.

"At First Turn, the complaint said there was smoking, an ashtray or receptacle at the restaurant and that the owner or manager knew someone was smoking and did nothing about it," Shomaker said. "Two complaints were made there on the same day."

At J&L Café, someone complained that a person was smoking at the restaurant and no employees asked the customer to stop, Shomaker said. In addition, "no smoking" signs were not posted — another requirement of the legislation.

"I made contact with them, and the person I spoke with said their mail goes to a P.O. box, and the state must have sent the 'no smoking' signs to the physical address and they bounced back," Shomaker said. "I sent them some more signs."

As for someone smoking in the restaurant, the person Shomaker spoke with said they weren't aware of it, but that it wouldn't happen again.

At Wheelers Sports Bar, the complaint made to Shomaker was that several people were smoking at the restaurant.

"Customers saw many (other) customers smoking, and an employee was smoking behind the bar," Shomaker said.

Kellie Coffey, public information officer for Public Health, said that just because a complaint was made against a bar or restaurant does not necessarily mean that it's a valid complaint.

Complaints against a business are reported to the state's Web site or called in to the tip line, and the business is followed up with by Public Health, Coffey said.

Shomaker said when a complaint has been made against a business, Public Health will send an educational letter to it. The letter states a complaint has been filed against it, and includes information about the violation, but clearly states that it is not a letter notifying the business that it violated the law.

It also includes information about the no smoking ban. If a business does not post no-smoking signs, remove all indoor ashtrays and tell someone who is smoking inside to extinguish their tobacco product, they're in violation of the law, the letter says.

Included in the letter are additional no-smoking signs and Public Health contact information. It also warns the owner what will happen if there are second or third violations. If there is a second complaint against a business, environmental health will come and investigate the business, making an unannounced visit, Shomaker said.

"Public Health is very excited about the new ban," Coffey said. "I think a lot of people are excited about not having to look for a no-smoking section."

Shomaker said she's spoken with several restaurant mangers throughout the county, and they said they're pleased about the ban.

She added that Public Health has received several calls from area restaurants and bars with questions about the smoking ban, to ensure they are in compliance with it.

Shomaker said she expects the next few months to be busy.

"I've gotten at least one to two questions a day from business owners about restricting smoking," Shomaker said. "We expect the first six months to be a learning period."