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Chad Smith's new tavern is a little different from his competition. It's a little less smoky.
Smith banned smoking inside the bar completely.
'I think the town is moving in that direction,' said Smith, owner of the Alcove International Tavern, which opened about two months ago at 730 22nd Ave. 'I think in three to four years, all taverns will be non-smoking, because that seems to be the trend.'
In 2003, a state law banned smoking in hospitals, schools, most retail businesses, elevators, buses and taxis, and several Alabama municipalities have enacted smoking bans that are even more restrictive.
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TUSCALOOSA * When Chad Smith opened a new tavern, he made it different from his competition by banning smoking inside.
"I think the town is moving in that direction," said Smith, owner of the Alcove International Tavern, which opened about two months ago at 730 22nd Ave. "I think in three to four years, all taverns will be non-smoking, because that seems to be the trend."
Tuscaloosa's ban of smoking in public places exempts bars that don't serve food. In bars within establishments serving food, smoking is allowed after 10 p.m.
But Smith said he deliberately went further by opening a smoke-free, drinks-only tavern. He said the response from customers has been positive.
Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital - Administrators at Coffee Health Group have agreed to open the park across the street from Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital emergency room for smokers.
The decision was made during Monday's board meeting and comes in response to complaints by residents who live in homes that border the hospital to the south.
Coffee facilities became smoke free Oct. 1 in response to a Florence city ordinance that bans smoking in all public buildings and on public property. Coffee Health Group includes ECM Hospital and ECM East in Florence and Shoals Hospital in Muscle Shoals.
Bridges Crawford, who lives near ECM, had complained that smokers were making their way across Alabama Street and up Water Avenue to smoke near homes in the Rivermont subdivision.
Health advocates have received some ammunition in their arguments for more comprehensive anti-smoking legislation in the Shoals.
The nationally-renowned Institute of Medicine released a report, based on nearly a dozen studies from across the United States, Canada, Italy and Scotland, that says smoking bans decrease the risk of heart attacks. . . .
Florence just completed its first month under a smoking ordinance, which required owners to choose between designating their restaurant as entirely smoking or nonsmoking.
And while it's too early to determine its health imprint, business owners already have noticed where it impacts them the most - their wallets.
Initial observations seem to affirm Frieden's belief.
"Business has gotten a little better,"
Administrators at Coffee Health Group have agreed to open the park across the street from Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital emergency room for smokers.
Bridges Crawford who lives near ECM had complained that smokers were making their way across Alabama Street and up Water Avenue to smoke near homes in Rivermont subdivision.
My husband, twin 5-year-old girls and I happened by the Renaissance Faire in Wilson Park and thought since the smoking ban went into effect we might actually get to enjoy some of the activities in the park this time. The last time we ventured out to an event in the park we had to leave with two crying children because of all the smokers mixing in with the crowd. We wrongly assumed that since the law had gone into effect that people might actually observe it and show some consideration for others who might not want to smoke their cigarettes with them. . . .
My children were excited to go and confused when they saw smokers ignoring the ban, and I think it is pretty sad when children comment about people breaking laws and being inconsiderate, and the adults breaking the law apparently don't care about the people around them.
Efforts to loosen Decatur’s ban on smoking in public places appear to be slowing as the matter moves to a review committee this week.
Proposed by Councilman Gary Hammon, amendments to the city’s 2-year-old smoking ordinance would rescind language that bans smoking in bars and restaurants.
When he pitched the plan more than two weeks ago, Hammon called for an up-or-down vote by Oct. 19, saying he did not want to drag out the controversial issue.
Hitting snag
But his plan hit a snag the same week when Council President Greg Reeves delayed the vote until Nov. 2, saying he wanted to give the public more time to comment.
TUSCUMBIA, AL (WAFF) - In the Shoals, going smoke-free is the new trend.
Recently, the city of Florence started a smoking ban for restaurants and parks.
Now, the outside of a county building might go smoke-free, too.
Finding a place to light up a cigarette is becoming harder and harder in the Shoals. The next place that might go smoke-free is the outside of the Colbert County Courthouse.
A few weeks ago, the 200 employees there got to vote to see if they would support a ban.
"I do find (smoking) offensive," said Lynn South, Colbert County Chief Accounting Clerk, "I personally had to vote yes to ban the smoking."
South was not alone. More people voted to ban smoking, so the item came before the county commission.
One Colbert County commissioner is ready to move forward with a request from county employees to ban smoking around the courthouse.
Courthouse employees voted 38-24 to ban smoking within 50 feet of any courthouse door after some complained about cigarette smoke drifting inside the building.
There are about 200 employees who work in the courthouse.
Commissioner Rex Burleson said he is ready to move forward with the smoking ban. The topic could come up for discussion at today's commission meeting.
Make up your minds. That’s the sentiment some local business owners expressed this week in response to a proposal that would repeal portions of Decatur’s 2-year-old ban on public . . .
A vote to loosen Decatur’s ban on smoking in public places has been delayed again. During a work session Monday, Councilman Gary Hammon said he is removing from the council’s next agenda . . .
One Decatur city councilman says he only has business owners' best interests at stake. . . .
Councilman Gary Hammon believes it's time to consider changing the rules.
Decatur city council members decided today to appoint a committee to do research, and then determine if there is enough interest within the city to change the smoking ordinance.
Almost exactly two years after Decatur banned smoking completely, a new smoking ordinance is on the table. This one gives restaurant and bar owners the choice of whether or not to allow patrons to smoke.
At Tony's Country Cooking Restaurant you'll find a smile with your service, but you won't find an ashtray, at least not right now.
Larry Daly enjoys smoking outside Tony's Country Cooking on days like this one.
"If it were winter time, I wouldn't come out here," said Daly. "I would stay at home. That's how people are losing revenue. I'd stay at home, or I'd go elsewhere. Because if the weather's bad, I'm not going to sit out here and smoke."
Daly hopes the Decatur City Council has a change of heart and approves a new smoking ordinance.
Decatur's current smoking ordinance went into effect about two years ago. Now one councilman is looking to loosen some of those restrictions.
Micky Brown is not happy that he must go outside at Tony's to smoke. He said Decatur's smoking ordinance is unjust.
"I think if you get out here and go to all the trouble and expense of making a business, you ought to have the right to do what you want to with it," he said.
"The smoking ordinance has been in effect for two years now October first, and it's hurt our business 65% to 70%, losing our smokers," Tony's co-owner, Felicia Moody, agrees.
City councilman Gary Hammon said he will bring up the matter during Monday's 10:00AM council meeting.
In an unexpected turn, the Decatur City Council discussed Monday lifting portions of the city's controversial ban on smoking in public places.
Council President Greg Reeves says the governing body will consider the change during its next meeting at 10 a.m. Monday.
Proposed by District 3 Councilman Gary Hammon, the amendments would lift the ban on smoking for bars and restaurants and remove a rule that hotels cannot designate more than 25 percent of their rooms as smoking rooms.
It would require businesses that allow smoking to post signs saying so that are visible from the road.