Bingo latest arena in smoking battle

The battle between smokers and non-smokers is now being fought in bingo parlors. Anaheim Union High School District trustees lifted a no-smoking ordinance that nearly put a Katella High School booster club's bingo games out of business and cost the school about $100,000 per year. But what smokers consider a victory angers those who want bingo games smoke free. "If I go I have to put up with it," said Bernice Steffen, a non-smoking bingo player. "It certainly has been more pleasant without the smoking." Trustees first considered lifting ban on Jan. 19, but feared doing so would cost the district nearly $3 million a year in federal grant money. A state law enacted on Dec. 26 prohibits smoking on school district property. While districts such a Anaheim Union acted on the law, others allowed smoking to continue during night-time bingo games. Hersh Cherson, president of Katella High School All Sports Boosters, feared the ordinance would drive bingo players to other schools and pot his game out of business. District officials concluded last week that lifting ban wouldn't jeopardize federal grant money as long as no one younger than 18 was present. "We are pleased that the trustees listened to our plea and gave their approval," Cherson said. "We are not pro-smoking. However, in order to run a bingo game we want to be treated as other school districts are." But the smokers' victory will be short-lived. After July 1, smoking again will be prohibited because a federal law goes into effect that prohibits using tobacco products on all school district property, regard less of use.