What is the law re: smoking in Pgh area? (Philadelphia: sales, how much)

[DomerJen]

Is it by city? State wide? Are restaurants non-smoking? What about bars? Specifically curious about the Waterfront (I recall a piano bar there) and Primanti's in the Strip district.

Thanks!

[Geeo]

I think it's a county law, but not sure. No smoking in restaurants. No smoking in bars that sell food. You can smoke in bars that sell under a certain percentage of food. But most of the newer lounges that have opened that don't sell food are non-smoking anyway. I don't remember the last time I went anywhere to eat or drink that people smoked.

[squarian]

State law. As I recall, a licensed establishment with less than 10% of gross receipts from food sales is allowed to permit smoking. The law includes some specific exemptions, such as racetracks and casinos.

[Hopes]

It's state law. Here's an article: Pittsburghers Adjust To Pa. Smoking Ban, Exemptions - Health News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh (http://www.wtae.com/health/17444407/detail.html - broken link)

[Sideblinded]

Pittsburgh is behind on smoking laws, but catching up. I think you can still smoke at some bars. It gags me, but I think if people know it is a smoking bar and choose to go there it is their business.

[Michael J. McFadden]

It's a state law. Private clubs and casinos are exempt, plus 2,790 bars and such places that applied for and received an exemption. Probably about one bar out of every three or four in PA allows smoking at this point. The ones that do NOT allow smoking are required to post signs, remove fire-safety equipment (ash trays), and ASK their patrons not to smoke. I do not believe they are required to throw people out, although if they get cited they may need to show that they made a "good faith" effort in asking the smoker to stop.

Philadelphia is exempt from the state law and has its own, more restrictive, smoking ban: only 100 bars in the city are officially exempt (out of well over a thousand liquor licensed establishments) Philly.com has an interactive map showing the exempt establishments.

[gg]

The law has to do with how much food you sell in comparison with how much liquor. If you are a bar with not food, it isn't a problem to allow smoking. There are pros and cons to the whole thing, but I am happy there are some places that don't smoke and I enjoy them. Not a fan of the no teeth stinky smoking crowd.

[Michael J. McFadden]

h, yes, the food/liquor ratio was supposed to be the main criterion, but even if you're a pure liquor place you probably still need to actually decide that you WANT to have smoking AND then apply for the proper exemption/waiver. I forget at the moment how PA's law is written, but in a lot of ban laws the Antismokers have written in sunset type provisions where exemptions will someday permanently lapse or where no new ones can be given out or old ones change ownership. As far as state ban laws go PA is certainly one of the better ones: 3,000 places out of 12,000 or so isn't a bad ratio although I'd still push for Free Choice in the matter.

[Rodeno]

IF under 20% of sales are food you can be an eighteen or older establishment and have smoking.

[robrobrob]

The law concerning smoking in Pittsburgh is pretty clear. If you work downtown you have to smoke. No exceptions.