S.C. Smoking Ban Expands

Bars and restaurants in the city of Greenville and Beaufort County are a step closer to becoming smoke free.

Council members in both governments gave initial approval Monday to proposed smoking bans in public places.

Greenville City Council voted unanimously in the first of two votes needed to enact the ban, while Beaufort County Council voted 9-1 in the first of three necessary votes. The votes come less than a week after Columbia City Council gave initial approval of a workplace smoking ban.

Greenville’s proposed ordinance would prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars and private clubs and extend 10 feet from entrances. Smokers could be fined $50 for lighting up, while businesses that allow them to do so could be fined $100 for the first offense and $200 for each one after. The ordinance would also allow the city manager to restrict smoking at outdoor events, such as parades.

Beaufort County officials discussed gathering more public input before a second vote.

Earlier this year, Sullivans Island became the first government in South Carolina to ban smoking in public buildings.

Latest Comments

• November 6, 2006 at 12:36 pm

  Lisa P. Turner says:

  The American Heart Association is an active member in the fight to limit involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke in order to protect public health. Our organization and our p... read more
• October 27, 2006 at 1:10 am

  Jack J Maniscalco says:

  It won\'t be long before the government invades your house, too. Private clubs! What part of \"private\" doesn\'t the government understand?