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Bill could strengthen Oklahoma's smoking ban


Last Update: 10/29 10:04 pm

Anti-smoking advocates are meeting with state lawmakers to ask them to close loopholes in the state's smoking ban.

The 2003 law allows restaurants and bars to keep smoking sections, if they install separate ventilation systems.

Paula James-Warlick with the American Cancer Society tells 2NEWS, "The only way you can have a safe, healthy environment is to have it 100 percent smoke free. No ventilated rooms. Those rooms need to go away."

If the new law passes, even businesses who took those measures would have to become smoke-free.

Business owners say it's unfair to totally ban smoking after they spent thousands of dollars to comply with the law.

Brad Ernest is Managing Partner of "Fox and Hound Pub and Grille" in Broken Arrow. He tells 2NEWS "I've always felt it should be the guest and the operator's choice for that, rather than government regulation."

Separate ventilation systems were installed at the pub during construction, because the 2003 smoke free legislation was looming.

Ernest says it's unfair for lawmakers to totally ban smoking after Oklahoma businesses spent a great deal of money to comply. "For us, since we were ahead of the curve, it wasn't near the expense of other establishments. I do know other establishments and other people that spent upwards of 70 to 100-thousand dollars to enclose their smoking areas and put in separate ventilation."

Since Oklahoma passed its smoke free law, 27 other states have adopted similar legislation.






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