Posted on 12/16/2003 8:40:07 PM PST by xrp
Gwinnett County on Tuesday enacted the toughest smoking restrictions in Georgia.
The County Commission, in a 4-0 vote with one abstention, approved a far-reaching ban covering virtually every business and public building in unincorporated Gwinnett.
"I think it was a great thing they did," said Dr. Richard Loyd, a Lawrenceville oncologist. "They set the standard for the state. I think it was a courageous thing to do in a political world."
The ordinance, which takes effect April 1, bans smoking in all buildings, except for private residences, smoke shops and designated smoking rooms in motels and inns. It makes no exceptions for restaurants or bars.
Andy Lord, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society, said Gwinnett's regulations have fewer exceptions than any other ordinance in Georgia.
Gwinnett joins DeKalb and Fulton counties and the cities of Grayson, Loganville and Albany in curbing smoking in public places. Almost a year ago to the day, DeKalb County commissioners prohibited smoking in restaurants, office buildings and county offices, but exempted bars.
Fulton County, which adopted its ordinance in 1993, requires at least 50 percent of seating in restaurants to be in nonsmoking sections.
None of the county governments' smoking restrictions apply to the cities within the counties.
County Commission Chairman Wayne Hill and Commissioner Bert Nasuti pushed for the ordinance after both visited Florida, which recently adopted a state law restricting smoking.
Commissioners Kevin Kenerly and John Dunn also voted for the Gwinnett ordinance.
Health issues paramount
Commissioner Marcia Neaton, who vigorously objected to the ban, abstained in Tuesday's vote. She said the county should wait until after the Georgia Legislature takes up a proposed statewide smoking ban. Neaton also argued the ban would hurt unincorporated Gwinnett restaurants that border cities that allow smoking.
Hill said health issues trumped all other considerations. "Second-hand smoke is as bad as smoking," he said. "It's unreal what it's costing in health costs.
"I understand people saying government is getting in their business, but we've got to do what we believe is right. Should we take speed limits off so people have a choice about that? Sometimes, you've got to do certain things to protect people, and this is one of them."
The ordinance specifies a $50 fine for the first violation, $75 for a second and $100 for each subsequent violation within one year.
Nightclub owner protests
The smoking ban came as a blow to Wild Bill's, metro Atlanta's largest nightclub, which opened in Gwinnett County this year.
Owner Bill Gentry installed a $1 million air filtration system in the Western-themed club, which has a smoking section. The smoking ban makes the system worthless, he said.
An early draft of the ban exempted his 72,000-square-foot establishment and the Arena at Gwinnett Center. But when the ordinance was adopted Tuesday, only the Arena's smoking sections were exempt.
"We were very surprised today. That's wrong, wrong, wrong," Gentry said. "I'm hoping they'll come to an agreement that we handle smoke properly. I don't think they were properly informed about our filtration system."
Not done yet, activist says
Michael Palko, manager of Foghorn Grill near Duluth, said the ordinance will hurt business. "I can't see anything positive coming out of it for us," said Palko, a lifelong smoker. "The bar is dominated by smokers, and that's our biggest source of profit."
Steve Coldiron of the Smoke-free Gwinnett Coalition told commissioners the smoking ban will save lives.
"In fact, it will save more lives than any other proposal that will ever come before you," he said. "As a lymphoma and Hodgkins cancer survivor, I thank you in advance for doing what you can to limit my exposure to the dangerous poisons in second-hand smoke while I am in public places in the county."
Later, he said he's not done.
Steve Coldiron of the Smoke-free Gwinnett Coalition told commissioners the smoking ban will save lives.
Banning cars would save lives.
Banning aspirin would save lives.
Banning water would save lives (drowning).
Banning stairways in houses would save lives.
Banning knives would save lives.
Banning fast food would save lives.
Anyone else care to add to the list?
Show me the data, you lying, fascist fink!
It'll work out. They'll just eat more and contribute to the obesity epidemic. There'll eventually be revenue from fast food taxes and suing Big Food.
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