Smokes-Out! Bassett’s Restaurant Bans Smoking Early!

It turns out that the statewide smoking ban is passing after all. Just in case, some restaurants like Bassett’s in Poolesville,MD are smoking out early.

Owners Leo and Betty Bassett made the decision to go smoke-free before the state Senate and House of Delegates passed differing versions of a statewide ban last week. A committee is hashing out the differences.

Maryland would join at least 18 states, and Washington, D.C., that have banned smoking in restaurants and bars.

If the bill is signed, the law would go into effect Jan. 1, 2008, said state Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown, the bill’s lead sponsor.

Yet, it's good to see that business owners are looking for the long-term benefits of the ban.

At Bassett’s on Thursday, bar manager Josh Greer said the move will increase bar patrons.

‘‘Personally, I hate to see my civil liberties taken away, but in the long run it’ll be good for business,” bar manager Josh Greer of Poolesville said last week during a brief cigarette break. ‘‘The whole state’s going non-smoking soon, so we’re beating them to the punch.”

This would mean that families, and non-smokers (which are in the majority) can finally enter the restaurant without inhaling secondhand-smoke. Don't worry smokers, you can skill smoke outside.