by George P. Hassett

State Sen. Charles E. Shannon, D-Somerville, this week sponsored a bill which would suspend the smoking ban for bars that generate less than 10% of their income from food.

, J“Senator Shannon completely supports the smoking ban enacted last year and believes smoke-free eateries to be a laudable and worthwhile goal. But he feels that the law is too restrictive and severe for small businesses that mainly serve alcohol,” said Shannon spokesman Sean J. Fitzgerald.

 When the law to ban smoking in restaurants and bars was originally passed, lawmakers attempted to make an amendment that would exclude small bars that don’t serve food but the strong anti-tobacco atmosphere of the moment spelled doom for any such effort, said Fitzgerald.

 “The senator kept the idea in mind though and took countless phone calls from constituents and owners and employees of small bars who felt the law was unfair. He saw a similar proposal passed in Florida, used that as a model and re-filed the bill,” he said.

 Shannon was worried that the smoking ban put a strain on an already struggling restaurant business with the smallest bars paying the heaviest price, said Fitzgerald.

 If the bill gets out of committee and onto the senate floor, Shannon will propose an amendment that would allow restaurants of any size to put up partitions and block off designated smoking sections, said Fitzgerald.

 The bill could especially help many establishments in Somerville, said Fitzgerald.

 “There are several small bars in Somerville where smoking would be allowed if this bill were to be signed into law. I think those establishments would see a noticeable rise in revenue as a result,” he said.

 One of those small Somerville bars is Sligo’s in Davis Square. A law allowing patrons to smoke inside the bar would be a welcome development, according to the tobacco-inhalers getting their fix huddled against the outside of the building holding Sligo’s.

 “I feel like the tips of my fingers are going to freeze and fall off. It’s colder than my ex-wife’s heart out here and, believe me, that’s pretty damn cold. That woman could turn her back on the baby Jesus and step over Mother Teresa’s dead body without missing a beat” said Michael Sindoni, a Sligo’s regular, who wholeheartedly supports Senator Shannon’s proposal.

 Health concerns are not a good enough reason to ban smoking in a bar like Sligo’s, said Sindoni.

 “If you’re in Sligo’s you ain’t worried about your health. I’ve seen a lot of things in this world but one thing I will never see is a person boozing in Sligo’s and complaining about second hand smoke,” said Sindoni before heading back into the pub to finish his drink.