Governor Ed Rendell is expected to sign the bill banning smoking in most private businesses and public places into law today at noon. This will make Pennsylvania the 33rd state to ban smoking.
There are some exceptions including bars that have minimal food sales, some clubs, tobacco shops and sections of slots casinos.
Another exception is nursing homes, where officials say elderly residents who have smoked all their lives may be too frail to walk outside.
Earlier this week, the state Senate passed the bill, and last week it was approved by the House.
Supporters say it would protect people from second-hand smoke. But opponents say it will hurt bars and restaurants.
These smoking bans have not harmed business in other states. Most of them are doing as well or better than businesses in Pennsylvania are doing now. What’s really unfortunate is that there are so many businesses where the laws protecting non-smokers from secondhand smoke will not apply. I would hope that it will not be long before the legislature revisits this issue and does away with most or all of the exemptions.
I agree Pete. There were way too many lobbying groups — the casino lobby, the bar & restaurants, the convention people — to get rid of those exceptions right now. I’m also disappointed that they nixed Pittsburgh/Allegheny County’s ability to reinstate its tougher smoking ban, even though they allowed it for Philadelphia. Rendell did say that he’d welcome more restrictions in the future.
I also agree that PA businesses would be better off without smoking. I know that my favorite bar/restaurant has no smoking, and it’s way more popular than other establishments in the area. It attracts a lot of younger people who didn’t grow up with quite the smoking culture of their parents/grandparents.