Smoke-free Gallup
One month after ban began, little impact seen

The recent smoking ban that went into effect in Gallup proved to be a minor issue for many local business including bars. While customers may still buy drinks at the bar, smoking can longer take place. However, smokers may still light up at the Elks Lodge in Gallup, because it is a private club. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Melissa Nicholson
For the Independent

Smoke from a cigarette curls upward from an ashtray at the Elks Lodge. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

GALLUP — Local businesses and their customers seem to have complied with the recently passed law prohibiting smoking in most public places.

Restaurant and bar business has remained steady, smokers and nonsmokers alike are voicing indifference, and there have been no reported complaints or violations.

"We used to have smoking up at the bar top," Applebee's assistant manager Deborah Sowers said. "We had quite a few regulars who used to smoke at the bar top, but they still come in."

Sowers said she has not seen any impact on restaurant sales, and smoking customers have never complained of the smoking ban.

Earl's Restaurant likewise has seen neither an increase nor decrease in customer numbers since the ban went into effect.

"We still get our regular smokers," Earl's Family Restaurant manager Herman Livingstson said.

However, Earl's waitress, Dusti Embrey, who is a smoker, is a bit apprehensive about the banned smoking in bars.

"It sucks mainly for the bars," Embrey said. "Maybe for the restaurants I understand, but in bars, no."

Coal Street Pub used to have a house policy allowing smoking, Coal Street's bartender Toby Crooks said.

"Eight months now there has been no smoking and it hasn't really affected us much," Crooks said. "I'm a smoker trying to quit so it helps me out."

"Basically, it's good for restaurants and crappy for bars," said truck driver Chris Huff from Ohio, while smoking a cigarrette outside Applebee's. "I can see smoking bans in restuarants because there are kids."

Huff, who has traveled throughout the country, also said since smoking bans in public places began, he has seen parking lots "turned into ashtrays." The law was passed during the New Mexico Legislature's 2007 session and bans smoking in most public areas including bars, restaurants, and stores.

When the law was passed there was confusion as to whether the Gallup Fire Department or the Gallup Police Department was in charge of enforcement of the ban.

"I think it's still in the preliminary stages," Gallup Police Chief Sylvester Stanley said of the enforcement issues. "The statute says the fire and police department are in charge of the enforcement."

However, Stanely said if a call is received concerning a smoking ban violation, the police department will take the appropriate action.

The fire department will address violations discovered when doing inspections and the police department responds to business and customer calls, Stanley said.

"I haven't had any violations nor complaints," Stanley said. "I'm hoping the businesses will do good jobs in policing themselves."

Even the Elks Lodge 1440, which is exempt from the smoking ban because it is a private club, has not seen an increase in customers.

"I have no interest for it or against it," said Treasurer of the Elks Lodge, Jake Muskrat, who is a smoker. "I don't wish to inconvenience other people. If I'm around people who don't smoke, I don't smoke."

However, the Lodge implemented its own smoking policy, banning smoking in the casino and dining areas only.

"I don't really have any opinion of the state smoking ban," said Elks Lodge manager Chris Collier, who also smokes. "I don't mind leaving the building."