Smoking dips -- and few are complaining

Publication Date: 2010-01-17

• Author: Britt Combs
• Publication:McDowell News

More than two weeks after the smoking ban took effect in North Carolina, there have been no reports of angry mobs of smokers in the throes of withdrawal organizing mass smoke-ins in a show of civil disobedience. All indications are that the change has been pretty smooth.

Philip Melton, the interim director of the Rutherford-Polk-McDowell Health Department, said the phone has been silent, as far as complaints go.

"We haven't had any calls," he said. McDowell businesses covered by the law have been compliant. He said he had been impressed by the state efforts to get both businesses and agencies like his ready for the change.

The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) sent letters and guides ahead of time, and set up a Web site to explain the law and how to report violations.

No one in McDowell has complained to the DHHS, either through the Web site or on its toll-free tip line, according to the DHHS's weekly "Smoke Free Restaurants and Bars Summary Report." The report includes statistics for that week's calls and e-complaints broken down by county.

Neighboring Buncombe had the most in the region and, with 11 registered complaints, was exceeded only by Mecklenburg, with 15 complaints, and Guilford with 36.

Complaints can be directed to the local health department as well as to the DHHS. Either way, the matter will be investigated by the local agency, which has jurisdiction.