The Casper, Wyo. City Council recently passed a smoke-free ordinance that exempted private clubs; a resident says that because clubs still expose the public to second-hand smoke, they should be subjected to the same rules.
In a Letter to the Editor published on June 3 in the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, Paul Lobdell, a Casper resident, wrote to “extend a thank you to our Casper City Council members for their hard work” on a smoke-free ordinance that was recently passed. “I’m very happy to see a large step forward promoting the health and well-being of our city and its guests,” Lobdell wrote about the new law.
His letter then continued by posing a question. “I am interested to understand why the Casper City Council exempted private clubs from the smoke-free ordinance?” Lobdell said. “Our clubs are one of the great things about our community, hosting events such as pancake breakfasts and renting out their halls for weddings, fundraisers or other occasions.
“Yes, they have members that pay dues, but they employ citizens and invite the public into their establishments,” the letter continued. “This, in turn, exposes them to the hazards of secondhand smoke, just like in any bar or restaurant.
“Any private club that serves food or alcohol has to have permits that regulate these activities,” Lobdell’s letter concluded. “Why would the smoke-free ordinance be exempt from this umbrella of health and safety? I hope that the council re-includes private clubs in the smoke-free ordinance and continues to protect Casper’s citizens and visitors.”
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