Tobacco.org

Clearing the air Smokers must resist urge in public bars, eateries 

A turning point in North Carolina's long tobacco history has arrived: Today is the first day of a strict new law that bans smoking in restaurants and bars.

The ban was a long time coming. About 20 other states have similar restrictions on public indoor smoking, and state Rep. Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, fought for years to pass a smoking ban in North Carolina.

He and other legislators finally succeeded last spring, striking a compromise to get enough votes to pass the law. They argued that employees and members of the public should not have to be exposed to secondhand smoke, which can cause cancer.

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