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Bowing to the interests of dozens of bars and restaurants in Evanston, a city committee has thrown its support behind a workplace smoking ban that would still allow people to light up when they go out to eat or drink. Evanston's Human Services Committee voted 5-0 Monday night to recommend that the City Council ban smoking in indoor workplaces except bars, restaurants, hotel rooms and long-term-care facilities. Critics said the recommendation ignores the health risks to people who work in those places. "It's really essential to ensure restaurant and bar workers are protected against the deadly effects of secondhand smoke," said Dr. Donald Zeigler, vice chairman of the city's Community Health Advisory Board. "It's a Class A carcinogen, placing it in the same category as asbestos, benzene and arsenic." But restaurateurs breathed a sigh of relief. "We're thrilled with their decision," said Scott Anderson, director of marketing for the Clean Plate Club, which owns three Evanston eateries. "Banning smoking definitely would have hurt us. There's no question many of our customers would have gone to Chicago . . . where smoking is permitted." The nine-member City Council is expected to take up the smoking ban when it next meets April 26. "It's got a good chance of getting though council," said Ald. Gene Feldman (9th), a member of the Human Services Committee. "It's a reasonable proposal that meets the needs of the community." Smoking bans have been considered or approved in many communities recently. Late last year, Wilmette approved the state's strictest law, which bans smoking from restaurants, bowling alleys, country clubs and nearly every public place. The ban will take effect July 1. Skokie enacted a similar ordinance. But in Evanston, critics have said a smoking ban would make it more difficult for restaurants to compete with those in Chicago. "Why would we gamble with what has become the lifeblood of our tax base?" said Ald. Arthur Newman (1st). "If Chicago goes smoke-free, maybe the day after that we should go smoke-free. Until then, I want to be on an equal playing field in terms of our restaurant industry." The committee also recommended that the City Council ask state legislators to pass a statewide smoking ban and that Chicago aldermen pass a no-smoking ordinance. Of the 177 bars and restaurants in Evanston, more than half already forbid smoking, according to city staff members. Hotels were excluded from the committee's ban recommendation because smokers should be allowed to smoke in their temporary living quarters, the aldermen said. Long-term-care facilities were excluded because they serve the same function as private homes for people who live there, aldermen said. Zeigler rejected what he described as a "weak economic argument" for excluding restaurants and bars. Studies have shown there has not been a significant economic impact on the hospitality industry in cities where anti-smoking laws have been enacted, Zeigler said. "Smokers aren't going to wholesale leave town," he said. "If they're not allowed to smoke in a certain setting, they adapt; they just go outdoors." Other studies have shown that restaurant and bar employees have three to six times more exposure to secondhand smoke than other workers, Zeigler said. "Evanston has dug its heels in against the tide of smoking bans . . . across the country," Zeigler said. "It's a temporary victory for the hospitality industry. We know we'll get the smoking ban we want. It's just going to take a little longer than we thought."