LOOKING BACK AT A SMOKELESS WEEK

Publication Date: 2005-03-06

• Author:Tom Kasprzak
• Publication:The Westerly Sun

A week into the smoking ban at bars and restaurants in Rhode Island has left mixed reaction among patrons and workers of local establishments.

"It was a lot easier cleaning up the bar," noticed Dave "Lou Dog" Lewis, a 22-year bartender at Danny's bar on Railroad Avenue.

Lewis, who was on duty on Tuesday evening, the first night Rhode Island's smoking ban went into effect, said patrons were civil and there were no incidents of people sneaking cigarettes in the bar.

"Everything ran smooth, (smokers) were courteous to go out back and smoke," Lewis said.

Meanwhile, at Cleats bar, located in the Granite Plaza off Route 1, Michelle Medeiros, a bartender for 8 and a half years, said one patron threw a cigarette at her when she told him he couldn't smoke.