The 2004 statewide smoking ban went into effect amid claims that it would create as many problems as it solved. For one thing, it was feared that outdoor smokers would produce a cloudy miasma, a toxic gauntlet at the entrances to restaurants, offices and bars.
Indeed, for a while that was a problem. Nancy Delaney of the Peabody Licensing Board recalls walking past hardy bands of smokers congregating outside all sorts of buildings in every kind of weather.
"But you don't see them standing around anymore," she said. At least not in significant numbers. "Maybe they've adjusted. Maybe the smokers have just given in."
Just before the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 15, a transformation seems to have occurred, altering the atmosphere in all sorts of establishments and even changing the behavior of many smokers.
There are exceptions.
Residents living near the Courthouse Pub recently appeared before Delaney's board, bitterly complaining about the noise and litter made by smokers congregating at the front of the Central Street establishment.
"Generally, there is excessive noise three to five nights per week along with plenty of foul language and a big mess from cigarette butts and the like," reported Michael and Johnette Pelger, who live across the street.
Some of the mess has blown onto their lawn. Worse yet, Johnette complained about smokers actually urinating in public.
Also in Peabody, receptacles designated for smokers outside City Hall created a ruckus when one caught fire. Two engines responded.
"Someone put trash in there," Veterans' Agent Chris Tighe said.
The receptacle is mostly for visitors to dispose of their smokes before going in. Few city employees smoke outside.
Mostly, businesses have worked to adjust to the law.
"Like at the Outback (Steakhouse)," Delaney said. "They have a little patio outside where people can stand."
Salem's Baybridge Restaurant and Night Club once had smokers congregating at the door, making enough noise to provoke complaints from residents. Owner John Colantoni built an outdoor patio on the other side of the building, which attracted up to 20 people at a time. Complaints stopped.
At Salem's Shetland Park, smokers have been banished to an unheated loading dock away from the entrance, manager Tom Kent said.
Indeed, for a while that was a problem. Nancy Delaney of the Peabody Licensing Board recalls walking past hardy bands of smokers congregating outside all sorts of buildings in every kind of weather.
"But you don't see them standing around anymore," she said. At least not in significant numbers. "Maybe they've adjusted. Maybe the smokers have just given in."
Just before the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 15, a transformation seems to have occurred, altering the atmosphere in all sorts of establishments and even changing the behavior of many smokers.
There are exceptions.
Residents living near the Courthouse Pub recently appeared before Delaney's board, bitterly complaining about the noise and litter made by smokers congregating at the front of the Central Street establishment.
"Generally, there is excessive noise three to five nights per week along with plenty of foul language and a big mess from cigarette butts and the like," reported Michael and Johnette Pelger, who live across the street.
Some of the mess has blown onto their lawn. Worse yet, Johnette complained about smokers actually urinating in public.
Also in Peabody, receptacles designated for smokers outside City Hall created a ruckus when one caught fire. Two engines responded.
"Someone put trash in there," Veterans' Agent Chris Tighe said.
The receptacle is mostly for visitors to dispose of their smokes before going in. Few city employees smoke outside.
Mostly, businesses have worked to adjust to the law.
"Like at the Outback (Steakhouse)," Delaney said. "They have a little patio outside where people can stand."
Salem's Baybridge Restaurant and Night Club once had smokers congregating at the door, making enough noise to provoke complaints from residents. Owner John Colantoni built an outdoor patio on the other side of the building, which attracted up to 20 people at a time. Complaints stopped.
At Salem's Shetland Park, smokers have been banished to an unheated loading dock away from the entrance, manager Tom Kent said.
"It's worked out very well," he said. And it might explain why he sees so few smokers, at most a handful at a time.
In Danvers, the Board of Health has debated banning smokers within 25 feet of an entrance.
"But we can't enforce that," Health Inspector Mark Carleo said.
In any case, he hasn't heard of any difficulties and even if he had, Carleo isn't too worried.
"Is it causing cancer?" he asked sarcastically about any noise or litter.
Indeed, officials eventually suggested that the Courthouse Pub find an outside area to segregate the smokers.
And how are the smokers faring in all this? They've grown accustomed to limits.
Cynthia Manson of Beverly left her last job just as smoking was banned there.
"I actually heard you can be fined for smoking anywhere in public," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "Unless you're in a designated smoking area."
"Not true," Marblehead Health Director Wayne Attridge said with a laugh. "There's no smoking inside of structures. There once was a move in Marblehead to stop smoking at playgrounds and beaches." It didn't pass.
"I just felt it went too far," he said.
Marblehead banned smoking in restaurants well before the state, in 2001. Problems were predicted, Attridge said, but didn't materialize.
Even the cold can't stop the real addicts from puffing away, Baybridge bartender Heidi Page said.
"People who smoke are going to bring their drinks out (to the patio) even if they're freezing," she said.
Frosty weather might make them smoke faster, however.
"When it's cold," David Davis of Lynn said, "everyone goes 'puff' and moves on."
Of course, some might ask if it's healthy for smokers to be out in freezing weather.
Attridge doesn't take that concern very seriously.
"I hope they get their flu shots," he said.
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