Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

Under a new smoking ban approved by 70 percent of Liberty voters Nov. 3, smokers will have until Monday, Nov. 23, to snuff out their cigarettes. In official totals, the issue passed 2,684 yes votes to 1,127 no votes, with a voter turnout of 17.8 percent.

City Administrator Curt Wenson said as soon as the results of the election were certified, the new wording would replace an existing ordinance, which allowed smoking in bars that grossed less than 10 percent of their income from the sale of food, restaurants that seated fewer than 50 people and in the bowling alley.

“It goes into effect in 10 days after the election but because the council won’t certify the results until Nov. 23, the smokers get a little reprieve,” Wenson said.

The new ordinance prohibits smoking in almost all enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants. Under the new rules smoking is allowed on outdoor patios, in 25 percent of hotel and motel rooms and in designated areas in city parks.

Megan Garrison, a bartender at the Corner Bar just off Liberty Square, said they were uncertain how the ban would affect their business.

“We’ll just see how it goes,” she said. “We’ll just do the best we can. I think we’ll be okay. It affects everybody.”

Clay Lozier, chairman of the Smoke Free Liberty campaign, said he was thrilled with the outcome.

“I think the margin of victory gives a clear mandate that the people of Liberty want a smoke free and healthy town,” Lozier said.

Theresa Ruiz, a representative of the American Cancer Society, called the Liberty election an “exceptional win” in protecting people from exposure to secondhand smoke.

“Now we’ll move on to the next battle ground — Kansas,” she said.

Ruiz said Missouri was lagging behind other states that had already banned smoking statewide, including 14 states that had casinos. She said about 27 percent of cities in Missouri had passed smoking bans but that percentage would increase with the passage of bans in Kirkwood and St. Louis County on Nov. 3.

Once the percentage of cities passing smoking restrictions increased to around 50 percent, Ruiz said, pressure would be put on Missouri legislators to approve a statewide ban.

“Missouri still has a ways to go,” Ruiz said.

According to Ruiz, 24 states have passed smoking bans and 14 other states are considering it.

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

AN ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING BANS
written by Thomas Laprade, November 12, 2009

An alternative to smoking bans


If the public was honestly and truthfully informed about the effects of second-hand smoke, there would be fewer no-smoking laws in this country.

A little smoke from a handful of crushed leaves and some paper that is mixed with the air of a decently ventilated venue is going to harm or kill you?

There has never been a single study showing that exposure to the low levels of smoke found in bars and restaurants with decent modern ventilation and filtration systems kills or harms anyone.

As to the annoyance of smoking, a compromise between smokers and non-smokers can be reached, through setting a quality standard and the use of modern ventilation technology.

Air ventilation can easily create a comfortable environment that removes not just passive smoke, but also and especially the potentially serious contaminants that are independent from smoking.

http://smokersclubinc.com

http://pasan.thetruthisalie.com

• 
• -1
• 
• 

There is a simple solution to this entire debate
written by Joe Gardner, November 12, 2009

There is a simple solution to all of this!

If smokers embrace electronic cigarettes, then the issue of smoking bans will be mute. There is no second-hand smoke, no odor, no carcinogens, no CO2, and no mess like ashes, butts, etc. from electronic cigarettes. If smokers of tobacco cigarettes would switch their habit to a non-tobacco electronic cigarette, we would have no further need to further infringe on the personal freedoms of any one group. Whether you are a smoker, or a non-smoker, you should learn more about this technology.

If you are smoker, consider it as an option. You won't be inhaling all the chemicals and carcinogens that you currently do from your tobacco cigarette.

If you are a non-smoker, learn about the technology, and pass the information on to your friends who are smokers. The electronic cigarette is a win-win in so many ways.

You can learn all about this technology including the contents of electronic cigarette vapor and other information such as scientific studies fully documented at my informational website,

http://www.NoTobacco.net/Blog

Thank you.

• 
• +0
• 
•