Tobacco.org

MT indoor smoking ban creates confusion over "smoking shacks" 

Now that the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act is fully implemented, some business owners are employing new ways to accommodate smoking guests - but many proprietors may not know what the state requires when it comes to building "smoking shacks."

Because the law is so new, there's still a lot to learn, so what officials are doing is looking at what state law defines as an "enclosed room" and working from there.

By definition of the law, an enclosed room has a door and walls that reach from floor to ceiling, so an area for smokers outside of a bar or casino needs to be completely open with no door, but officials will need to evaluate each area on a case by case basis.

Alicia Thompson, executive director of the City-County Health Department, noted, "There isn't a real straight, clean answer at this time because there are so many unknowns as to how it's going to be implemented, and we do have to coordinate with the liquor boards and everyone else."

Jump to full article »