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Taverns win exemption in smoking ban

WISHTV.COM

Jim Shella

Updated: Jan 27, 2012 4:55 PM

The owners of some bars and taverns won a victory in the battle to create a statewide smoking ban today.

The bill to create a statewide smoking ban already has exemptions for private clubs like this one, as well as gambling facilities, tobacco shops, hookah and cigar bars, and the sponsor of the bill today suggested one more, an 18 month exemption for bars and taverns.  “So they would actually have 18 months to transition to smokefree,” said Rep. Eric Turner (R-Cicero.)

It was an amendment approved by a voice vote with the backing of a co-sponsor, Rep. Charlie Brown (D-Gary.)  “Bars are not going to be able to do this overnight,” said Brown, “so this kinda makes sense to say hey, here’s a warning.  You’ve got 18 months to get your house in order to talk to your customers and say, are you gonna leave me as a result of this?”

Afterward Brown said the exemption is part of a deal that insures the smoking ban will pass.  “This is all about the friendly art of compromise,” he said, “and if we get this through and the governor signs it we’ll come back next year and chip away.”

Clean air advocates would like to see a complete ban but they know that bars and taverns have helped kill previous attempts to create one.  “Right now we’re happy that it keeps the dialogue going,” said Danielle Patterson of the American Heart Association.

The House will cast a final vote on the newest version of the smoking ban as soon as Monday.

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