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Seventy Percent of Voters OK Smoking Ban
Liberty Tribune (Liberty, MO)
11/12/2009
Under a new smoking ban approved by 70 percent of Liberty voters Nov. 3, smokers will have until Monday, Nov. 23, to snuff out their cigarettes. In official totals, the issue passed 2,684 yes votes to 1,127 no votes, with a voter turnout of 17.8 percent.
City Administrator Curt Wenson said as soon as the results of the election were certified, the new wording would replace an existing ordinance, which allowed smoking in bars that grossed less than 10 percent of their income from the sale of food, restaurants that seated fewer than 50 people and in the bowling alley.
“It goes into effect in 10 days after the election but because the council won’t certify the results until Nov. 23, the smokers get a little reprieve,” Wenson said.
The new ordinance prohibits smoking in almost all enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants. Under the new rules smoking is allowed on outdoor patios, in 25 percent of hotel and motel rooms and in designated areas in city parks.
Megan Garrison, a bartender at the Corner Bar just off Liberty Square, said they were uncertain how the ban would affect their business.
“We’ll just see how it goes,” she said. “We’ll just do the best we can. I think we’ll be okay. It affects everybody.”
Clay Lozier, chairman of the Smoke Free Liberty campaign, said he was thrilled with the outcome.
“I think the margin of victory gives a clear mandate that the people of Liberty want a smoke free and healthy town,” Lozier said.
Theresa Ruiz, a representative of the American Cancer Society, called the Liberty election an “exceptional win” in protecting people from exposure to secondhand smoke.
“Now we’ll move on to the next battle ground — Kansas,” she said.
Ruiz said Missouri was lagging behind other states that had already banned smoking statewide, including 14 states that had casinos. She said about 27 percent of cities in Missouri had passed smoking bans but that percentage would increase with the passage of bans in Kirkwood and St. Louis County on Nov. 3.
Once the percentage of cities passing smoking restrictions increased to around 50 percent, Ruiz said, pressure would be put on Missouri legislators to approve a statewide ban.
“Missouri still has a ways to go,” Ruiz said.
According to Ruiz, 24 states have passed smoking bans and 14 other states are considering it.
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