Local Businesses See No Change In Sales Two Years After Smoke Free Ordinance Goes Into Effect

By Rebecca Banks
News Reporter

It has been two years since the San Marcos city council passed the smoke free ordinance and local businesses are still thriving.

The law prohibits any residents from smoking and using e-cigarettes in any public areas, including city-owned properties.

Valentino’s general manager, Daniel Moreland, said the business became completely smoke-free in 2011. Since the business stopped allowing its customers to smoke before the ordinance, they were not affected when the law took effect, said Moreland.

Sean Patrick’s manager Chance Garbutt said the ordinance has not affected the businesses incoming and returning customers. Garbutt said guests are happier to go into Sean Patrick’s during the evening.

“It’s a lot cleaner atmosphere, the restaurant’s cleaner, it smells better when you walk in,” Garbutt said. “You can actually smell the food instead of smoke.”

According to the San Marcos’ city website, residents will be fined $200 for the first offense. A second offense will result in a $500 fine and any additional charges will have a fine of $2,000 in citations.

Local businesses can allow customers to smoke in designated outside smoking areas or private properties.

Businesses are required to have the smoke-free symbol posted in a visible area of their property. In addition, owners are required to inform customers and employees the locations that prohibit smoking.