| COMMUNITY |
| Message Boards Chat Feedback |
| SITE SOURCES |
| Contents Help! Search CNN Networks |
| SPECIALS |
| Quick News Almanac Video Vault News Quiz |
|
Drew Carey leads 'smoke-in' to protest ban
April 1, 1998
Web posted at: 1:21 p.m. EST (1821 GMT)In this story:
WEST HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- Fuming over a "stupid" California law that bans smoking in bars, comedian Drew Carey took action -- and a cigarette -- into his own hands.
(186K/18 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
In an act of in-your-face civil disobedience, he lit up. In a bar. And he's not a smoker. Not usually, that is.
Actor Drew Carey smokes a cigarette in a bar in California to protest a law against it 1.1MB/20 sec./240x180
738K/20 sec./160x120
QuickTime movie"I don't think there should be a total ban," Carey said Tuesday through a cloud of smoke inside Barney's Beanery, a bar, restaurant and pool hall in West Hollywood. "It should be up to each bar owner and patron to decide if they want to smoke or not."
About a dozen other protesters also puffed away on cigars and cigarettes in a publicity stunt sponsored by Reason magazine, which was promoting a newly released book on the "anti- smoking crusade."
Smoking in bars became illegal in January to protect California's 850,000 bar employees from the health hazards of secondhand smoke.
State legislators banned smoking in most indoor workplaces in 1995, including the non-bar areas of restaurants. But a temporary exemption was granted to some 35,000 bars, casinos and bar-restaurants.
Comedian not penalized; bar owner faces fine
Owners who allow smoking can be fined several hundred dollars for each infraction. Customers can also be fined. Employees of Barney's Beanery did their duty, telling the protesters they were breaking the law.
Carey and the others did not receive a citation from police, but West Hollywood Mayor Steve Martin told reporters that bar owner Irwin Held would face a "small fine."
"Ultimately, if there are other infractions, he's going to be shut down," the mayor added.
"It's smoking today," Held said. "Tomorrow it will be beer, and the next day liquor. Hopefully they'll rescind the ban and give people freedom of choice."
"We're losing our freedoms right and left," said Gordon Wilson, a nonsmoker who held a burning cigarette inside the bar. "It's time people stood up or it will continue to go downhill. I have nothing against people who don't want smoke blown in their faces. I avoid it myself. But this is going way too far."
Carey, whose popular TV sitcom airs on ABC, is the first celebrity to speak out against the smoking ban. But Martin said he's "disappointed" in the comedian.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Will California's bar smoking ban go up in smoke? - January 29, 1998
- Smoking ban in California bars widely ignored - January 23, 1998
- On Super Sunday, smokers sent packing at California bars - January 25, 1998
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Hydro's Drew Carey Show site
- Mad About Drew
- Action on Smoking and Health HomePage
- FORCES - The Pro-Choice on Smoking Organization
- Smokefree Schools, Workplaces, and Homes
- The National Smoker's Alliance
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards & chat |
|
© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.