Smoking-Ban Proposal Prompts Fiery Debate

INDIANAPOLIS -- The majority of speakers at a public hearing Tuesday were in favor of a proposed smoking ban in Marion County's public buildings, RTV6's Ericka Flye reported.

Video

Councilwoman Coughenour Sponsored The Ordinance Bar Owner: Ban Would 'Kill Our Business' Smoking Ban In Marion County's Public Buildings? Discussion: Light Up Or Not?

The city-county council is expected to vote next month on an ordinance that would prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and most workplaces in Marion County.

Opponents of the plan maintain that it would hurt businesses that offer customers a place to unwind, while supporters say it would protect the health of people visiting or working in Indianapolis.

One female speaker at the hearing, whom RTV6 did not identify, said she was diagnosed with lung cancer despite being a nonsmoker. She blames working at a business where smoking was allowed.

"I may not have physically held a cigerette to my mouth, but I was breathing in the same carcinigions, just like many nonsmokers right now that are working in smoke filled workplaces," she said.

Some people involved in the restaurant and bar industries oppose the proposed ban. Marty Bacon, general manager of the Slippery Noodle Inn, said making the entire bar smoke-free would "kill our business."

"I think it will hurt us terribly," Bacon told Flye during an interview at the business Tuesday. "I think there are other bars in Greenwood, just across the county line, that will pick up the slack."

Among the places that would be exempt from the ban are: hotel rooms; retail stores that deal exclusively in the sale of tobacco products; conference rooms while being used exclusively for private functions; private rooms in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, as long as all of a room's occupants agree to permit smoking; and private clubs and recreation facilities.

The Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights says Indianapolis would join about 70 cities nationwide that prohibit smoking in the workplace.

The city-county council will not vote on the ban until next month. Mayor Bart Peterson says he will accept the council's decision.

RTV6's Kristi Tedesco spoke with workers and customers at a downtown eatery called the Legal Beagle, where smoking is allowed.

Workers said they noticed an increase in business at the restaurant when smoking was banned at City Market.

"I often will avoid going to dinner at places where I know I can't smoke. If I can't linger over a smoke and after-dinner drink," bartender Becky Shupe said.

City-County Councilwoman Beulah Coughenour is sponsoring the proposal. She said Fort Wayne passed a similar ordinance and businesses saw no significant impact.

"I hear the government shouldn't do this, but who else can do it? Who else prevents drunk driving? Who else gets seat belts? Who else asks you to inspect food? These are things people do for the health and welfare of the people," Coughenour said.