Section 11-50-23 - Hygienic practices(a) Eating, drinking, or using tobacco.(1) Except as specified in paragraph (2), an employee shall eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco only in designated areas where the contamination of exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; unwrapped single-service and single-use articles; or other items needing protection cannot result;(2) A food employee may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of: (A) The employee's hands;(C) Exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, unwrapped single-service, and single-use articles.(b) Food employees experiencing persistent sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose that causes discharges from the eyeS/ nose, or mouth may not work with exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service or single-use articles.(c) Hair restraints effectiveness. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), food employees may be required to wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings or nets, beard restraints, and clothing that covers body hair, that are designed and worn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles;(2) This section does not apply to food employees such as counter staff who only serve beverages and wrapped or packaged foods, hostesses, and wait staff if they present a minimal risk of contaminating exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.(d) Animals handling prohibition.(1) Except as specified in paragraph (2), food employees may not care for or handle animals that may be present such as patrol dogs, service animals, or pets that are allowed as specified in section 11-50-74(o)(2)(B) to (E);(2) Food employees with service animals may handle or care for their service animals and food employees may handle or care for fish in aquariums or molluscan shellfish or Crustacea in display tanks if they wash their hands as specified in section 11-50-22(b) and (c)(3).[Eff FEB 24 2014] (Auth: HRS § 321-11) (Imp: HRS § 321-11)