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PTC smoke ban law to get makeover

No exemptions for bars, but bars and restaurants might be allowed to have ‘smoking rooms’

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Just because Peachtree City’s proposed smoking ban failed with a 2-2 tie vote, it’s not dead in the water by any stretch.

Council members Steve Rapson and Judi-ann Rutherford voted against the measure because they opposed allowing smoking at bars, which were exempted from the ordinance.

Instead, Rutherford suggested bars and restaurants should be allowed to build separately enclosed areas with separate ventilation systems for patrons who wish to smoke.

The idea seemed to gain at least partial approval of the other council representatives, and city staff will be investigating the requirements needed for the ordinance to make that happen.

Rutherford and Rapson took the viewpoint that because the matter is a public health issue, no public areas should be exempt from the indoor smoking ban.

Several city bar owners had agreed to the exemption and therefore supported the ordinance, even though it meant they had to exclude all persons under the age of 18. Bar owners didn’t have the opportunity to comment on the separately enclosed and separately ventilated room option because the public comment had closed when it was suggested.

Instead, council decided to send the ordinance back for another committee meeting.

Council also agreed to remove a ban on the smoking of combustible materials after it was pointed out that could keep churches from burning incense, which is a tradition and custom dating back for years in many cases.

Scott Trammell, the managing partner of the Peachtree City Longhorn Steakhouse, said the restaurant has only four smoking tables now out of 52 total tables. But restaurants in the chain which have had smoking bans enacted dropped between 7 and 17 percent in their overall sales figures, he noted.

“Some stores have lost in the neighborhood of $250,000 a year,” Trammell said.

Peachtree City resident Kathie Cheney, who has fought for the smoking ban, said the issue was about public health, just as there are guidelines for bars and restaurants to wash glasses to prevent the spread of diseases.