With a cigar smoldering and the smoke wafting throughout, O’Toole’s Irish Pub doesn’t hide the fact it serves smokers. “I’m okay with that. I’m not proud of it. I’m just okay with it. It’s an economic reality,” said Bill Comerford, President of E&J Lounge Operating Co. which runs O’Toole’s, Kelley O’Neil’s and the Irish Rose Saloon. Three years ago the state passed ... Jump to full article >>

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In a landmark move, the Kansas House passed a statewide public smoking ban Thursday and sent it to Gov. Mark Parkinson. If Parkinson signs the legislation as expected, Kansas will join nearly 40 states that have some statewide restrictions on where smokers can light up. The ban would go into effect July 1. Today’s vote was 68-54. Supporters said they were tired of waiting as ban proposals languished for years on the legislative agenda. R ... Jump to full article >>

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The smoke officially cleared Jan. 2 in North Carolina, but public health officials say it could take a few more months for the dust to settle with the state’s new indoor smoking ban. Some warning letters have gone out to businesses not complying, but most owners appear to be adhering to the new rules, said Erin Morrissette, tobacco prevention educator for the New Hanover County Health Department. Morrissette, who is fielding complaints made abo ... Jump to full article >>

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A local group is pushing to pass laws that will end smoking in bars and dictate where people can smoke outside. Shelley Courington is with a group called CHART. They’re about to start lobbying state lawmakers to ban smoking in bars. They’re also pushing to keep smokers from lighting up within 25 feet of a building. “We have to have a healthy safe workforce in Tennessee. We have to make it safe for our workers, no matter what, ... Jump to full article >>

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Prohibiting smoking in a North Carolina restaurant used to be one of the hardest decisions an owner could make. But that’s no longer the case after the state took the choice out of business owners’ hands when legislators decided last spring to stop allowing smoking in restaurants and bars. The ban will go into effect Saturday. Owners of restaurants that have already banned smoking say that owners of places that had still been letting ... Jump to full article >>

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With his fingers curled around a Marlboro Light and a gin and tonic in the other hand, Randy Dawe mused on the unfairness of a state smoking ban approved Thursday by the state Legislature. Next spring, he won’t be able to inhale at his favorite tavern, Bob’s Sports Bar, 725 Michigan St. NE. Meanwhile, people who frequent casinos still will be able to light up. “I think it’s a bunch of crap. I don’t think it’s f ... Jump to full article >>

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