In June 2014, authorities in the city of Gadsden, Alabama, passed an ordinance which prohibits smoking in all enclosed working spaces. Now the city council consider to make some ajustments to the ordinance. Councilman Ben Reed participated in creating the initial version of the ordinance. He says that new council members want more time to
Showing posts with label Alabama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alabama. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Proposed city smoking ban to get second look
Changes likely will be made to a proposed citywide ban on smoking in Montgomery, the mayor and city council members said. A proposed ordinance currently would ban smoking in all enclosed public places, including bars and private clubs.
It also would ban smoking in outdoor public places such as recreational areas and parking lots. It also would limit smoking to 20 feet or more from business entrances, playgrounds, outdoor public events and public transportation stations.
Mayor Todd Strange said the ordinance as it exists is the "first pass" of an effort to cut down on secondhand smoke in the city.
"I'd be shocked it is passed the way it is written," Strange said.
The ordinance is on the agenda to be voted on at Tuesday's meeting, but Councilman C.C. Calhoun, the ordinance's sponsor, said the council won't be voting on it.
"Right now, in its present form, the council is not 100 percent behind it," Calhoun said.
He said he will wait for more feedback from other council members, and a City Council committee will hammer out the details.
"We're not going to be restrictive where we limit businesses," Calhoun said.
There also is a question of how it will be enforced, he said.
"We're not going to have the Police Department enforce it," Calhoun said.
The ordinance currently includes exceptions for cigar bars and hookah bars.
Bud Skinner, owner of the Cloverdale nightclub Bud's, said he does not understand why traditional bars are not also exempt.
Skinner also owns Jubilee Seafood, and he said that while an earlier ordinance restricting smoking in restaurants helped that business, he was not sure if it would be the same story at a bar.
"We have customers (at Bud's) who appreciate the fact that they can enjoy an adult beverage and a cigarette," Skinner said, adding that people know to expect there to be smoking at the bar. Tom, the smoker of Viceroy Red cigarettes, is against smoking ban in bars.
Dr. Stephen Davidson, a medical oncologist and president of the American Cancer Society leadership council in Montgomery, said the ordinance will benefit the city both medically and economically.
It also would ban smoking in outdoor public places such as recreational areas and parking lots. It also would limit smoking to 20 feet or more from business entrances, playgrounds, outdoor public events and public transportation stations.
Mayor Todd Strange said the ordinance as it exists is the "first pass" of an effort to cut down on secondhand smoke in the city.
"I'd be shocked it is passed the way it is written," Strange said.
The ordinance is on the agenda to be voted on at Tuesday's meeting, but Councilman C.C. Calhoun, the ordinance's sponsor, said the council won't be voting on it.
"Right now, in its present form, the council is not 100 percent behind it," Calhoun said.
He said he will wait for more feedback from other council members, and a City Council committee will hammer out the details.
"We're not going to be restrictive where we limit businesses," Calhoun said.
There also is a question of how it will be enforced, he said.
"We're not going to have the Police Department enforce it," Calhoun said.
The ordinance currently includes exceptions for cigar bars and hookah bars.
Bud Skinner, owner of the Cloverdale nightclub Bud's, said he does not understand why traditional bars are not also exempt.
Skinner also owns Jubilee Seafood, and he said that while an earlier ordinance restricting smoking in restaurants helped that business, he was not sure if it would be the same story at a bar.
"We have customers (at Bud's) who appreciate the fact that they can enjoy an adult beverage and a cigarette," Skinner said, adding that people know to expect there to be smoking at the bar. Tom, the smoker of Viceroy Red cigarettes, is against smoking ban in bars.
Dr. Stephen Davidson, a medical oncologist and president of the American Cancer Society leadership council in Montgomery, said the ordinance will benefit the city both medically and economically.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Mobile City to Ban Youth from Using Hookah
Young people say that though hookah smoking lounges owners claim they do not permit underage people to enter their establishments, there must be implemented tighter regulations in order to fight smoking among youth. Also the regulations must include e-cigarettes that these days became extremely popular due to a belief that they are safe. The City
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Alabama last SEC school without campus smoking ban
With The University of Alabama standing as the last SEC school without a smoking ban on campus, UA students are stepping up to voice their opinions on the matter. “The UA administration is evaluating a campuswide ban on smoking, based on input from constituents across campus,” Cathy Andreen, director of UA media relations, said.
For the past two years, UA students in the Student Government Association, Student Health Center groups and Smokefree UA have discussed their readiness to become a smoke-free campus and join the 1,178 campuses that have already passed a smoking or tobacco ban.
“SGA is not opposed to a smoke-free campus and would support any University policy that our student body feels might enhance their experience here,” Leela Foley, director of SGA media relations, said.
This year is the first time a petition for a smoke-free campus is being offered by the Tobacco Strategic Health Team, SHC Department of Health and Project Health. This gives students a voice to promote smoke-free awareness and support. Andreen said the current policy prohibits smoking in all campus buildings as well as 30 feet from building entrances.
“There are 45 million smokers in America, but 125 million people are impacted by secondhand smoke,” said Delynne Wilcox, assistant director of the the department of health promotion and wellness at the SHC. “Smoking is not one of those things that [is] limited to only the health risks of the smoker. It impacts people around them.”
The American Cancer Society created the Great American Smokeout in the 1970s to bring awareness to health complications related to smoking and tobacco use. Every year on the third Thursday of November, participating organizations hold events to connect people with various resources to encourage them to quit smoking.
Wilcox said the University has participated in the Great American Smokeout for more than 13 years. Project Health had a table in the Ferguson Center Nov. 21 to promote the national event and to offer the petition for students to sign.
“Ideally, it would be great if we had a smoke-free campus because it would be another environmental support for students on why not to smoke,” Wilcox said. “It would decrease the secondhand smoke complications as well.”
However, not all students on campus feel like smoking poses a threat to students on campus. “It doesn’t feel fair to tell people who smoke on the way to class that they can’t, but if everyone could be more courteous where they do it, then a lot of people would stop complaining,” Anna Neff, a sophomore majoring in advertising, said.
For the past two years, UA students in the Student Government Association, Student Health Center groups and Smokefree UA have discussed their readiness to become a smoke-free campus and join the 1,178 campuses that have already passed a smoking or tobacco ban.
“SGA is not opposed to a smoke-free campus and would support any University policy that our student body feels might enhance their experience here,” Leela Foley, director of SGA media relations, said.
This year is the first time a petition for a smoke-free campus is being offered by the Tobacco Strategic Health Team, SHC Department of Health and Project Health. This gives students a voice to promote smoke-free awareness and support. Andreen said the current policy prohibits smoking in all campus buildings as well as 30 feet from building entrances.
“There are 45 million smokers in America, but 125 million people are impacted by secondhand smoke,” said Delynne Wilcox, assistant director of the the department of health promotion and wellness at the SHC. “Smoking is not one of those things that [is] limited to only the health risks of the smoker. It impacts people around them.”
The American Cancer Society created the Great American Smokeout in the 1970s to bring awareness to health complications related to smoking and tobacco use. Every year on the third Thursday of November, participating organizations hold events to connect people with various resources to encourage them to quit smoking.
Wilcox said the University has participated in the Great American Smokeout for more than 13 years. Project Health had a table in the Ferguson Center Nov. 21 to promote the national event and to offer the petition for students to sign.
“Ideally, it would be great if we had a smoke-free campus because it would be another environmental support for students on why not to smoke,” Wilcox said. “It would decrease the secondhand smoke complications as well.”
However, not all students on campus feel like smoking poses a threat to students on campus. “It doesn’t feel fair to tell people who smoke on the way to class that they can’t, but if everyone could be more courteous where they do it, then a lot of people would stop complaining,” Anna Neff, a sophomore majoring in advertising, said.
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