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What public smoking law was passed in Ohio? What does it mean?

I am from NY and I currently go to college in Ohio I am used to no smoking in bars, clubs, resturants. No smoking anywhere, they even rope off what sections you can smoke when your OUTSIDE, at theme parks. In my mind it's the greatest law ever because smoking in a smoking section in a resturant is like peeing in a pool. What law ended up getting passed in the state of Ohio? Can people still smoke in resturant and bars? Whats the deal cause this will effect my next 4 years of living here? k your answer didn't help at all I am still clueless thanks for tying I'm still confused can people still smoke in bars and resturants?

Public Comments

1. It's apparently on the ballot today as a (1) an initiative against smoking in public places and (2) a constitutional amendment that would ban such laws. Overkill I should think: inappropriate for a state constitution. But I don't live in Ohio.

   Issue 4: constitutional amendment that overturns smoke-free laws already in place in Columbus and 20 other Ohio cities and prevents anyone from ever passing a smoke-free law without an amendment to the constitution.

   Issue 5: "right to breathe smoke-free air in all restaurants, public places and workplaces."

   Similar laws are now in place in Ireland and I think now in Italy and France too. There's one scheduled to go into effect in Britain next year. The Irish pub owners complained when the law was discussed, but apparently their business has improved since it went into effect.




2. Issue 5 was passed, and issue 4 was not, meaning the more stringent ban on smoking in most public buildings passed, and the more lenient amendment which would exempt bars and others from the ban was not.

   So, no smoking in bars, clubs, restaurants in Ohio anymore.

   Edit:

   Just informational...

   On face value, the state constitutional amendment seemed like overkill. Actually, it was a piece of legislation which was being sponsored by the smoking lobby as an attempt to undercut current Ohio law that prohibited smoking. Note the section in the proposed amendment which said that no smoking-related laws could be passed without constitutional amendment should Issue 4 be passed. That would have meant that more stringent laws on the books would be invalidated, and the constitutional amendment which was rather lax, allowing smoking in bars amongst other places, would take precedence, and future efforts to outlaw smoking in public places would be that much harder. Luckily, it did not pass.




3. Simple answer to a simple question. No.



4. No smoking in bars or restaurants, and other places too. I voted for Issue 5 and helped it pass. I agree it is an excellent law. Takes effect 30 days from passage.

   Full text of the law here with all the details you are looking for:

   http://www.smartvoter.org/2006/11/07/oh/state/issue/5/

   ~Kyle