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Columbus to Consider 'Hybrid' Smoking Ban  

Officials say the City Council could decide as early as its meeting Tuesday to adopt an ordinance based on a Tennessee state law that bans smoking in all public buildings except for those that exclude customers who are under 21. The age provision is targeted at businesses that are almost strictly bars or taverns and seldom have underage customers anyway.

Bars and restaurants could allow smoking in open air patios and decks or in areas that have open ventilation where smoke doesn't go inside the main building. Chili's in Columbus has a patio that could meet the requirement.

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