RALEIGH
Supporters of a ban on smoking in indoor workplaces in North Carolina are trying to restore a provision that would include adult-only businesses under the ban.
The smoking ban was approved by the N.C. House earlier this month -- but only after the bill was amended to exempt bars and other places that are not open to people younger than 18.
The bill is now before the N.C. Senate.
The Senate Health Committee will take up a substitute bill that will eliminate the exemption and restore the ban to its more restrictive form, according to the chairman of the health committee, Sen. William Purcell.
The health committee had planned to consider the bill yesterday, but the topic was postponed at the last minute because of a concern from the Wilmington film industry that the bill would not allow actors to smoke while being filmed for a movie.
"I don't really like promoting smoking in movies, but on the other hand, the movie industry is very important to the state," said Purcell, D-Scotland.
Legislators will rewrite the bill to deal with the issue of smoking on screen, and then the health committee will hold a hearing on the bill next week, Purcell said.
The holdup demonstrates how far-reaching the proposed smoking ban is -- and how it has rattled many interest groups and employers. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, would outlaw smoking in nearly all buildings where people are employed or the public is invited.
The exemption for adult-only businesses is particularly controversial because restaurant owners worry that it would create an uneven playing field. If the exemption stands, family restaurants that also have bars would be forced to ban smoking throughout their buildings, while adult-only bars could continue to allow smoking.
Democratic leaders in both the House and the Senate prefer a smoking ban without the adult-only exemption.
But the exemption makes the bill more palatable for some moderate Democrats, especially ones from tobacco-producing districts.
Most Republicans oppose the bill.
If the Senate approves the more-restrictive version of the bill, without the adult-only exemption, it will return to the House. Holliman said yesterday that he believes that if that happened, the more-restrictive version could get enough votes to pass in the House.
Supporters argue that all businesses should be subject to the ban in order to protect all employees from the health hazards of second-hand smoke.
■ James Romoser can be reached at 919-210-6794 or at jromoser@wsjournal.com.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement