Smoking will no longer be allowed in outdoor deck and patio areas at bars and restaurants where food and drink is served by wait staff. The board of health enacted the more stringent tobacco control regulation at a sparsely attended public hearing Oct. 13. The board had already held one public hearing in June and three workshops at regular meetings to iron out the details.

“My sense is that each member has given this a thorough review,” said board member John Livingstone. “I’m happy we’ve reached a consensus about what this regulation needs to be.”

Astrid Berg, owner of Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant, was the only one of the three people present at the hearing to speak. Opposed to the smoking ban on outdoor areas, Berg said that she has two decks but chooses to allow smoking cheap Camel cigarettes on one. Only 10 percent of her 214 seats are in a smoking area. “I give my customers choices,” she said, adding that she has never had a complaint.

Board member Joseph DeMartino said that, though few showed up at the hearing, he has had discussions with members of the public who have come up to him on the street. “In private they have been unanimously in favor [of the change],” he said of the feedback he’s received. Member Ken Janson agreed.

“I’ve been very torn about this,” said board member Elizabeth Williams, adding that a lot of the people who have come up to her also were in agreement with the ban. “I’m disappointed not one member of the public came here to say thank you. I think it’s a very tough situation and my heart is with the business owners.”

The regulation goes into effect immediately, but the board will not enforce the provision until Jan. 1, to allow for a smooth transition.