Indy Councilwoman To Propose Restaurant Smoking Ban

INDIANAPOLIS -- City-county Councilwoman Beulah Coughenour says she plans to propose an ordinance that effectively would ban smoking in Marion County restaurants.

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Indy Councilwoman To Propose Restaurant Smoking Ban Vote: Support Smoking Ban? Discussion: Light Up Or Not?

Coughenour (picutred, left) said she hasn't worked out the specifics, but she plans to introduce the proposal in February.

She said her plan is a matter of health.

"Indiana has one of the highest rates of lung cancer," Coughenour said. "I don't think Indy wants to be behind every major city in this country in doing what seems to be a positive thing in cutting down secondhand smoke deaths."

Such a ban would not be new for Indiana. Fort Wayne bans smoking in restaurants. In Bloomington, smoking has been banned in all new restaurants, bars and public buildings since 1993.

John Livengood, head of the Restaurant and Hospitality Association of Indiana, said a smoking ban in Indianapolis is not needed. He said the city has hundreds of restaurants, some of which voluntarily prohibit smoking. He said people have ample opportunities to choose between restaurants that allow smoking and those that don't.

A couple of smokers told RTV6's Derrik Thomas Monday that they wouldn't look forward to a restaurant smoking ban.

Deborah Chancellor said a ban would stop her from eating at city restaurants.

"I go out to eat every night, and I go out and eat each lunch every day because I work downtown. I'm a smoker, and I wouldn't be happy about (a ban)," Chancellor said. "I would resort to taking my lunch and staying home for dinner."

A ban also wouldn't be good news for Maureen Gaddy, who was at a downtown restaurant Monday.

"Yes, I would be angry, and I probably wouldn't go out to eat as often. But would it stop me from going to restaurants? No," Gaddy said.

A man who owns a smoke-free restaurant in Indianapolis told Thomas that people should be able to eat in an environment where they don't have to worry about secondhand smoke.

"If you can't get through breakfast or lunch without smoking, you should go somewhere else to dine," said Glen Shaffer, who owns HamBones downtown. "There are restaurants that allow smoking in all areas of their establishments.

"I just don't think it can be done effectively and not subject someone to secondhand smoke."