Bars butt out as feud with city smoulders

Bar owners who are still fuming over Calgary's new smoking bylaw are asking customers to butt out for now.

A"no smoking" sign washungonthe Bull and Finch'sdoor after the city announced a crackdown on scofflawsas ofThursday.

Owner Chris Balakas was one of several Calgary business owners who refused to obey thenew bylaw and challengeditin court. But BalakastoldCBC NewsThursday thatthe group'slawyer, Tim Bardsley, has told them to follow the rules.

"I suppose[Bardsley's] acting on the threats city hall made yesterday, that it could be a little complicated, especially when they drag the staff into it."

Alvin Murray, the head of bylaw services with the city, said Friday that no tickets had been issued yet,andrestaurants and bars that had been given warnings in the past now seem to be complying with the rules.

Calgary's new bylaw, which came into effect on Jan. 1, makes it illegal to light up in all public places, including restaurants and bars.

Anyone caught smoking in a bar or restaurant could be fined $100. Anyone who serves a smoker could be fined $200, while the owner faces a $300 fine for a first-time offence.

The city has given one-year exemptions to businesses with separate ventilated smoking rooms, as well as to casinos and bingo halls.

The 35 Calgary businesses mounting the challenge at the Court of Queen's Bench argue they are more like bingos and casinos than bars and lounges because alarge part of their revenue comes from VLTs.

Burrows defends checkstop comments

Meanwhile, theCalgary Pub and Bar Association is calling for alderman Craig Burrows to apologize and resign from the city's police commission for comments he made Wednesday suggesting police should set up checkstops outside establishments that allow smoking.

"What other laws are they flaunting?" Burrows said. "Maybe they are over-serving. Maybe we should have checkstops in front of these restaurants to encourage patrons to be very careful."

On Thursday, Burrows said he wasn't speaking as a member of the police commission.

"I never spoke on behalf of the police commission. I never, ever said I ordered the chief to do anything. I basically wanted to look at options when we have people who are breaking the rules."