Capitol Hill bar patrons take start of smoking ban lightly

At 12:01 this morning, the state's new smoking ban went into effect.

But you wouldn't have known it if you were at one of Seattle's best-known smoky bars.

Some patrons at Linda's Tavern on Capitol Hill even reached for another cigarette after the ban went into effect.

Manager Rebekah Freeman said she didn't plan to police the smoking early this morning. But she said staff would crack down on smokers starting tonight. She said people were stealing ashtrays from the business to commemorate the historic evening.

"I'm happy about it because I'm a nonsmoker," she said of the ban. "It will be nice to not wake up to smoker's cough every day."

Voters approved the statewide smoking ban last month. The ban applies to all workplaces and public places, including restaurants, bowling alleys, skating rinks, nontribal casinos, private clubs and reception areas. Even cigar rooms and hookah bars are affected.

Smoking within 25 feet of doorways also is banned.

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At Linda's, doorman Jason Reavis said he has worked at the bar for more than 10 years and often worried about his health. Reavis, also a nonsmoker, joked about keeping his smoke-tainted outfit from his shift to mark the evening.

"Ninety-five percent of the people here know what's going on," he said in reference to customers ignoring the ban.

Israel Guyman, 30, of Seattle, said bars should be able to decide for themselves whether to allow smoking. Guyman, who had his first cigarette at the age of 5, said he has no plans of quitting today. Nearby, J. Porter of Seattle, a smoker who has struggled to quit, said he voted for the ban.

"Any barrier I can put between me and smoking is a good one," he said shortly before midnight. "I think everyone quits at 12:01 tonight." At 12:03 a.m., he lit up another cigarette.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com