Columbus voters uphold smoking ban

5/4/2005

COLUMBUS - For the second time in the last year, Columbus voters stubbed out smoking in the city's public places.

A group of bar owners wanted a citywide smoking ban lifted for their establishments, claiming their sales were down. But voters defeated the measure Tuesday, 56 percent to 44 percent.

Passage of Issue 2 would have allowed smoking in establishments where alcohol accounts for 65 percent of sales.

Columbus' smoking ordinance took effect Jan. 31. The ban, which council approved in June and voters passed in November, prohibits smoking in public places. That means all workplaces, including bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and bingo parlors.

Toledo voters decided in November to exempt bars from that city's smoking ban.