Few Complaints About Violation of Smoke-Free Law

Publication Date: 2010-08-05

• Author:Florence Gilkeson
• Publication:The Pilot

Complaints about non-compliance with a state non-smoking law appear to be going up in smoke.

In the first six months of the new law, the Environmental Health Division of the Moore County Health Department received 10 complaints about non-compliance by restaurants and bars.

Terry McNeill, the county's environmental health director, thinks that's a pretty good record inasmuch as his division supervises 379 establishments that fall within the purview of the Smoke-free Restaurants and Bars Law. One complaint was received in July.

"We follow up on all complaints with smoke-free information, an educational letter and a first warning letter. No fines have been imposed to date," McNeill said.

Statewide, the number of complaints has dropped from 537 in January to 39 in June. The January total involved 318 businesses, the June total 32 businesses.

McNeill attributes the drop to cooperation between businesses and their local health departments.