13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Business, liberties vs. health in smoking ban debate

Business, liberties vs. health in smoking ban debate

Indianapolis - Marion County could be a few puffs away from a tougher public smoking ban.

A City-County Council committee approved a tighter ban in a 4-2 vote. The measure is designed to further reduce health effects of secondhand smoke especially on non-smoking workers at bars and clubs.

The existing law allows smoking in bars and restaurants if minors are not permitted inside. The new measure would ban all smoking in bars and bowling alleys - even private clubs. The only exception would be cigar bars and hooka bars. But they would need a license and the county would only issue twenty of those.

Some bar and restaurant owners were not happy.

"I talked to three bar owners in Franklin, Indiana today. Their revenues are off 20 percent since June 1st. Two of nine bars in Franklin are going out of business as result of the smoking ban," said Mike Smyth, bar owner.

City Councilor Christine Scales questioned the wisdom of expanding the current restrictions. "Why a total ban? We're talking about serious liberty interests at stake here. Smoking is legal," she said. Scales said a total ban would hurt business and Councilor Lincoln Plowman said to expect a "16-percent loss of revenue in bars where bucks are banned."

Another speaker said, "I like the idea of going to be able to leave my home, go to a bar, smoke a cigar, watch the local game and not have that affect my family at home." A self-described libertarian says the ban "is against property rights and takes choices away from employers."

Opponents of public smoking argued that studies show no loss of business after smoking bans are enacted - and pointed out that the ban often attracts new business.

"Employers should have to protect their employees from these known cancer-causing chemicals," argued one ban supporter.

A council panel heard an Indiana University cancer doctor say 30 percent of his lung cancer patients never smoked and he claims secondhand smoke was the cause.

Dr. Nassar Hanna said breathing in secondhand smoke was "inhaling the equivalent of rat poison, exhaust fumes, toilet cleaner and 2,000 other chemicals." A public health specialist said the health care cost of secondhand smoking in Indiana in 2007 alone was $319 million.

"Who pays those costs? The answer is we all do," said Dr. Terrell Zollinger, pointing out the higher insurance costs for employers and workers.

The City-County Council votes on the plan October 26th.