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

USA: Bill to punish piracy

Bill to punish piracy

Universities could find their funding withheld if they don't use 'technology based deterrents'

Sean Gruber

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: News

A bill scheduled for debate in the House of Representatives could punish universities for not placing "technology based deterrents" for piracy on their school networks.

The bill, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, contains a list of requirements for universities to meet if they want to be eligible for federal funding and programs.

Embedded in the nearly 800-page bill is a clause which said, "each eligible university participating in any program" in the bill must "offer ... alternatives to illegal downloading, as well as a plan to explore technology based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity."

The bill is supported by the Motion Picture Association of America and Recording Industry Association of America.

According to a CNET News article by Anne Broache, MPAA Washington general counsel Frtiz Attaway, said that linking college funding and piracy is "perfectly legitimate."

The MPAA released a study in 2005 stating that the movie industry lost 44 percent of its domestic revenue. The MPAA said it made a mistake when compiling the study, and it then said the movie industry lost "approximately 15 percent" of its revenues to college students."

Source & Cont'd: The Carolina Gamecock