VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — A proposal that could put an end to smoking in private clubs, drinking establishments, and related public facilities has met with mixed reactions in the local community.

Rep. Dan Frankel, Democratic chair of the Health Committee, and State Senator Jay Costa, along with other elected officials, recently called on the Pennsylvania legislature to extend the landmark PA Clean Indoor Air Act to include additional public spaces.

The proposed legislation – H.B. 2298 – would close the loopholes found in the Clean Indoor Air Act, including those that allow smoking in outdoor spaces, cigar bars, cigar lounges, casinos, private clubs, and drinking establishments.

While this would affect some local clubs, others have already gone non-smoking.

The Moose Lodges in our local area wouldn’t be affected because the Moose Supreme Council voted to go tobacco-free in all of their clubs as of January 1, 2020.

However, many of the other private clubs in our area still allow smoking, including the Oil City Elk’s Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Club.

ExploreVenango.com reached out to some of the clubs in the local region to see how members and management there feel about the proposal and how it may affect their establishments.

Jeff Smith, Sr. Vice Commander of the Oil City VFW, said he believes it will definitely have an impact.

“I think our business will go down,” Smith said. “The Moose recently did the same thing (went non-smoking) nationwide, and I think they’re losing business, maybe not dramatically, but it is taking some business away.”

However, the administrator of the Franklin Moose Lodge, who preferred not to be named, said it hasn’t really hurt their business all that much.

“We knew it was coming after the international convention last July and had about six months to get ready and prepare our members,” the administrator stated.

“It might have hurt business a little, but people are still paying their dues and showing up for activities, so most of them must like what we’re doing, which is a good thing.”

According to the administrator, the vote at the international convention passed by “a considerable margin,” and while they are the first of the major fraternal orders to go tobacco-free nationwide, he doesn’t think they’ll be the last.

“There is legislation coming,” he said. “There are already something like 24 states that have mandated no smoking (in private clubs).”

He noted that, for the most part, members have been fine with the change.

“It was a big change. We’ve had people pull a cigarette out of their pack and start to put it in their mouths, and we have to stop them and remind them, but our members have mostly been very receptive of it.

“They know it’s a general rule now, and they want to keep coming here, so we have to abide by those rules and regulations.”

He also noted the Moose Supreme Council takes their rules very seriously.

“They’re dead serious about it. They closed down one of the oldest lodges, pulled their charter, for continuing to allow smoking.”

In the wider community, opinions on the legislation are also mixed.

There are individuals who support the legislation, mainly for health reasons.

“Our community has a high incident rate of respiratory illnesses, including COPD. Lung cancer is also present in the community. Banning smoking in public places benefits all as a preventative strategy. Smoking impacts all that are exposed,” Christine Bingman noted.

Deb Berry Drayer echoed Bingman’s sentiments.

“I completely support the proposal of not smoking in any public building or place. People who have asthma and other lung conditions are not able to even go to our local VA club, bar or place where smoking is allowed,” Drayer stated.

Others question some specific parts of the proposed legislation.

“This is absurd. No smoking in cigar lounges? Is somebody going to a cigar lounge and complaining about the air quality?” Matt Lindsay asked.

Deb Fugagli added, “No smoking in cigar bar? I as a non-smoker would much rather they smoked there if they are smoking anyway!”

There are also those who see the legislation as another strike against personal freedom.

“I don’t personally smoke, but I don’t see why we need to regulate literally everything. Leave people alone, let them smoke,” Ashley Beckmann stated.

Valerie Wheeling agreed with Beckmann.

“It’s my opinion that smoking should be allowed in any business if the owners of said business is ok with it. People should be responsible for themselves and if non-smokers don’t want to be around it they have the option to work/shop at those locations or not,” Wheeling noted.