Smoking at bingo meant a $16.250 fine to a Lithuanian group in PA
The Lithuanian Citizens’ Society of Western Pennsylvania was fined on March 21, when a health department inspector visited a Wednesday night bingo and found 65 people smoking at the game.
Now the group removed ashtrays and hung ‘no smoking’ signs. They are planning on taking ‘smoking breaks’ but still fear attendance will decrease with this new rule. "If they can't smoke, they might find someplace else," Frank Ziaukas, financial secretary of the group, said.
Ziaukas explained they thought they were exempt until May 1st, and therefore will appeal the fine. Officials from the health department said they had sent a warning letter last month.
As for an exemption for the smoking ban, it applies to volunteer organizations. The Lithuanian group doesn’t qualify because it employs 17 people –according to Ziaukas- on bingo nights.
The Lithuanian Citizens’ Society of Western Pennsylvania was fined on March 21, when a health department inspector visited a Wednesday night bingo and found 65 people smoking at the game.