South Carolina: Snuffing out smoking -City of Columbia to enforce new smoking ban

Its cool to see my old city in the States going renegade with a Smoking ban enforcement. Bless Michael Martin, the Cork man who never knew he could change the attitude of the world......

Snuffing out smoking -City of Columbia to enforce new smoking ban after court's OK

Haley Dreis, Staff Writer- Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News

Columbia will enforce a ban on smoking in public restaurants and bars on July 1 in light of a recent State Supreme Court ruling.

The city council of Columbia created the ordinance based on its findings that "secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing 53,000 Americans prematurely each year."

The new ban is a revamped version of the original ordinance, which had been put on hold from November 2006. Violators of the newly enforced ban will face a civil penalty instead of a criminal penalty.

The current ordinance states that bar owners are subject to a $500 fine and imprisonment for no more than 30 days. But when the new ban is passed in July, bar owners will no longer risk facing imprisonment.

According to a news release, exceptions to the smoking ban include:

- Bars where at least 85 percent of gross revenue is derived from alcohol sales.

- Private clubs with tax-exempt status.

- Theatrical performances requiring actors to smoke as part of the performance.

- Smoking designated motel or hotel rooms.

- Retail tobacco stores.

- Religious ceremonies with smoking as part of a ritual.

- Medical facilities where smoking cessation classes are held.

Kevin Varner, owner of Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Ale, said he is pleased the ban has been created and will be enforced.

"In general, I'm glad it [was ruled constitutional] and I'm looking forward to being [a non-smoking business]," Varner said. "But I wish it was being done at the state level instead of the municipal level. [Then] people in the city and county are going to be playing by the same rules. This would change the dynamic of their business."

Via The Daily GameCock