Photo: Lago A. R. (Flickr)
The ban goes into effect July 1, along with Terre Haute and the state's smoking bans.
The Vigo County Commissioners voted this morning (Tuesday) to extend a county smoking ban to include private clubs and bars. The new law, which goes into effect July 1st, mirrors the ban Terre Haute has enacted.
According to County Commissioner Judy Anderson, the purpose of the ordinance is to keep an even playing field between city and county businesses.
“We only had six or seven organization within in the county that fell out of the city (ordinance),” she says. “We passed this ordinance so everybody’s the same now.”
However, some local tavern owners are not pleased with the ban. Kenny Lamb owns Snacks Café in West Terre Haute.
“Every bit of 80-percent of my customers smoke.” He says. “This is just a little neighborhood bar, and they have no business, no right to tell me what I can do in my own place of business that’s not illegal. Cigarettes are not illegal.”
Vigo County’s original smoking ban, enacted in 2007, exempted bars and clubs though 2012. Tuesday’s vote ensures the exemption will not continue.
