http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/exceptions.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://portsmouth-dailytimes.com/articles/2008/11/17/news/6news_smoking.txt http://tobacco.org/news/274612.html Groups that once fought on opposite sides of a proposed statewide smoking ban have united to oppose proposed changes to that ban. Restaurant owners and anti-smoking groups, including the American Cancer Society, are fighting legislation in the Ohio House and Senate that allow smoking at certain family-owned businesses and private clubs, and a House bill which would also exempt stand-alone bars from the ban. The Ohio Restaurant Association opposes the bill, saying it wants a level playing field for all businesses, and cancer society lobbyist John Hoctor also opposes the bill because, if passed, it would open up smoking in thousands of businesses. In New Boston, Lenora "Sugg" Hickman said the ban has actually helped business at Hickie's Hamburger Inn. "I've had several customers come and say 'We couldn't go there before because of the smoking,' but I've got six or eight people that come in with oxygen tanks now, so they can come in now and eat," Hickman said. Portsmouth Daily Times Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/opinion/18tue4.html?_r=1 http://tobacco.org/news/274575.html Asked to choose between the casinos and the health of the people who work in them, Atlantic City has sided with the casinos. The City Council voted in October to allow smoking in the city's gambling parlors for at least another year -- a complete cave-in to the industry and a cruel insult to hundreds of dealers, waiters and other casino workers who will continue to be exposed to the demonstrable risks of secondhand smoke. . . . The eventual outcome is unclear. One councilman, John Schultz, had this to say after voting to suspend a ban that he had originally supported: "Gaming is about smoking, drinking and gambling. It all goes together. It's all sin." Perhaps, but it seems the greater sin is to threaten the health and, indeed, the lives of the people who work in the casinos. New York Times Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/16/NoSmoke.ART_ART_11-16-08_B3_M4BTCUQ.html?sid=101 http://tobacco.org/news/274555.html Two years after locking horns in a bitter fight over a statewide indoor smoking ban, the Ohio Restaurant Association and anti-smoking groups are now on the same side, fighting proposed exemptions to the law. Voters overwhelmingly approved the smoking ban in 2006, and since then some veterans groups, bar owners and others have called for the legislature to carve out exceptions to the law. Thirteen senators have signed onto Senate Bill 346, which would allow smoking at certain family-owned businesses and private clubs. Meanwhile, House Bill 592 would exempt stand-alone bars from the ban. Restaurant owners and anti-smoking groups have reignited their efforts as the legislature kicks off another lame-duck session -- the often frantic two-month period before the start of a new General Assembly. The Ohio Restaurant Association is concerned about fairness, and recently sent letters to a number of legislators. Meanwhile, the anti-smoking coalition SmokeFreeOhio is using radio ads to highlight the health dangers of weakening the ban. Columbus Dispatch jsiegel@dispatch.com (Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH ) Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08313/926400-85.stm http://tobacco.org/news/274197.html The state Department of Health has exempted 361 taverns in Allegheny County from the state smoking ban, and officials say the number is not excessive. "I expected 20 percent and it's only 16 percent of total liquor licenses in Allegheny County," said Cindy Thomas, executive director of Tobacco Free Allegheny. That means 6.5 percent of the 5,500 businesses in the hospitality sector of Allegheny County can permit smoking. The health department said 1,727 taverns qualified for an "exception" from the state Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking in public places and retail establishments including restaurants, effective Sept. 11. Exceptions are listed on the health department Web site at www.health.state.pa.us. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dtempleton@post-gazette.com (David Templeton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://webserver.health.state.pa.us/health/custom/ciaaapprovals.asp?COUNTY=Allegheny http://tobacco.org/news/274184.html Jay's Other Place 3888 William Flynn Hwy Allison Park, PA Lakeside Pub 895 E Ingomar Rd Allisonrk, PA Pennsylvania Department of Health Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://kdka.com/local/Smoking.Ban.exempt.2.859437.html http://tobacco.org/news/274183.html Two months after Pennsylvania imposed a statewide smoking ban, the ban appears to be just a smoke screen. In Allegheny County alone, 350 bars and restaurants can now let their customers light up. One bar owner who must follow the ban tells KDKA his business is off by 60 percent, which is why he has decided to let his customers light up anyway. KDKA-TV http://kdka.com/video?id=48625@kdka.dayport.com (Area) Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.phillymag.com/philly/smoking_bars_in_philadelphia/ http://tobacco.org/news/274182.html The Daily Examiner's guide to Philadelphia bars and clubs that have been granted smoking-ban exemptions by the city's Department of Public Health. In other words, you can smoke here. Click on the colored dots for more information on each establishment. 32 Degrees Lounge 16 S. 2nd St Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Magazine Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://mealticket.blogs.citypaper.net/blogs/mu/2008/11/07/bartender-a-round-of-gas-masks-smoking-pubs/ http://tobacco.org/news/274181.html The lonely lament: the best dives in the city, the truly lowbrow booze dens where the whiskey is cheap and the company cheaper, are now all but impenetrable for the fug of smoke. The cloud that hangs over McGlinchey's is enough to suffocate the staunchest drinker; Oscar's, The Dive, Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, RUBA, Locust Bar and The Pen & Pencil are owned by chain-smoking, lager-swilling nicotine fiends. These are their places, and they puff fast and furiously, intent on asserting their Rights, driving out the eye-reddened, lung-inflamed non-smokers who attempt to colonize their smoky shores. The Glinch, and Ray's, and Oscar's were always gritty dives where Bukowski and Nancy Spungen would have felt at home. They were always hazy and a little melancholy, at least until the jukebox really got going and the booze-fueled conviviality picked up momentum. Barred from every other pub in the city-and now the state- die hard tavern smokers, those turgid souls who will NEVER go outside to smoke, have congregated in leprous colonies in the last remaining smoking bars. Philadelphia City Paper Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1475004.htm http://tobacco.org/news/274180.html Ban the bans. That's what the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association has been urging since the Pennsylvania smoking ban became law on Sept. 11 and the Philadelphia ban was enacted two years earlier. The state law forbids smoking in most indoor workplaces and public spaces. At the same time, it currently allows a variety of exemptions that some legislators want to eliminate with an amendment in January. Philadelphia's even more stringent ban remains in effect. "The smoking bans should be eliminated, not the exemptions. The bans violate the constitutional rights of private business owners and individual citizens and are based on false information regarding secondhand smoke. Even the Surgeon General's 2006 report says the evidence regarding secondhand smoke is 'insufficient' to draw any conclusions regarding its effect on the health of non-smokers," said Chris McCalla, legislative director of IPCPR which represents more than 70 cigar store owners - largely family-owned businesses - throughout the state. "In addition to the Surgeon General stating that the evidence is inconclusive regarding the health aspects of secondhand smoke, OSHA - the Occupational Safety and Health Administration - doesn't regard secondhand smoke as an occupational or environmental hazard either," McCalla said. PR Web tony@tortoricipr.com Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_597487.html http://tobacco.org/news/274179.html The state Department of Health granted more than 1,700 exceptions to the statewide ban that took effect Sept. 11, and more than 350 establishments in Allegheny County are among them. More than 200 bars and restaurants with Pittsburgh addresses are exempt, including 14 on East Carson Street in the South Side, according to state records posted online early Friday. "The law provided for a variety of exceptions; it wasn't comprehensive," said Cindy Thomas, executive director of Tobacco Free Allegheny. "We were looking for a more comprehensive ban." . . . The list of exempt bars includes only "type-1" applicants, which are bars and taverns, state Health Department spokeswoman Holli Senior said. The department is working to approve "type-2" applications from mostly bar-restaurant establishments Pittsburgh Tribune-Review abrandolph@tribweb.com (Adam Brandolph TRIBUNE-REVIEW ) Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://webserver.health.state.pa.us/health/custom/ciaaapprovals.asp?county=Adams http://tobacco.org/news/274177.html Dylans' 321 Harrisburg St East Berlin, PA Lloyds Smokehouse 6726 Carlisle Pike East Berlin, PA Bonneauville Inn 17 Locust St Gettysburg, PA Earles Inn 2806 York Rd Gettysburg, PA Eastside Lounge and Restaurant 1063-A York Rd Gettysburg, PA Flying Bull Saloon 28 Carlisle St Gettysburg, PA Garryowen Irish Pub 126 Chambersburg St Gettysburg, PA Rodney and Moes Dead Dog Saloon 55 E Hanover St Gettysburg, PA Midway Tavern 317 3rd St Hanover, PA Naughty Nunny's 209 Linden Ave Hanover, PA Rendezvous Lounge 907 Elm Avenue Hanover, PA My Spot At Two Mile Inn 4644 Baltimore Pike Littlestown, PA Sensations Bar and Grill 880 Hanover Pike Littlestown, PA The Pub 217 217-219 S Queen St Littlestown, PA North Street Tavern 218 North St Mcsherrystown, PA The Goalpost 5413 Carlisle Pk New Oxford, PA Pennsylvania Department of Health Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=174&Q=251758 http://tobacco.org/news/274176.html Pennsylvania Department of Health ra-dh-dsfadmin@state.pa.us Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wpxi.com/pcnc/17932410/detail.html http://tobacco.org/news/274175.html Patrons will once again be able to light up in many of their favorite bars and restaurants according to an article posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Web site Friday. More than 1,700 exemptions to the statewide smoking ban that went into effect Sept. 11 have been approved. The total includes more than 350 establishments in Allegheny County. More than a dozen South Side bars are on the list, including St. James Place Tavern and Jekyl and Hyde. Other popular area bars that will now allow smoking include Shenanigan's, Peter's Pub, Deja Vu and Rhythm House Cafe. WPXI burgnews@wpxi.com Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/583680.html http://tobacco.org/news/274141.html Starting Friday, Blue Grass Airport, bingo halls, public transportation and all workplaces, not just the ones open to the public, join the list of places in which smoking is prohibited in Lexington. The new restrictions are part of a host of changes to the city's 4-year-old smoke-free law that were approved by the Urban County Council on Thursday. Councilman David Stevens, the sponsor of the changes, said he was "gratified" and "thankful" the council unanimously approved the revision. "It represents what the people in our community want," Stevens said. The changes close loopholes that exempted some workplaces and private organizations and extend the ban to all public transportation and transportation waiting areas. They also tighten the exemption for retail tobacco stores by increasing the minimum sales needed to allow smoking inside. And private clubs are redefined so that booster clubs cannot be considered private clubs that can allow smoking. Lexington Herald-Leader mku@herald-leader.com (Michelle Ku) Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/06/Dutch_party_wants_smoking_ban_exceptions/UPI-95601225950745/ http://tobacco.org/news/274104.html Members of the Dutch Christian Democratic party are calling for exceptions to the country's ban on smoking in bars, claiming the law hurts business. Leaders of the party, which is the largest in the Dutch coalition Cabinet, said they are asking Health Minister Ab Klink to lift the smoking ban for small bars near the borders with Germany and Belgium UPI Netherlands Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT