Olive Branch to decide on smoking law

Olive Branch citizens may not be able to smoke in restaurants after tonight's board of aldermen meeting but they may be able to smoke after 9 p.m.

Aldermen will vote on one of two smoking ordinances that are less comprehensive than the ordinance previously voted down by the city officials.

Olive Branch Aldermen voted 5-2 against a comprehensive ban that would ban smoking in all Olive Branch businesses except bars.
The two laws aldermen will choose from tonight focus only on city facilities and restaurants.

The first proposed law will ban smoking in city facilities and restaurants but will allow restaurants where alcohol is served to choose if they want to allow smoking from 9 p.m. until midnight.

The second proposed law will ban smoking in city facilities and restaurants completely.

Both ordinances will allow bars restricted to anyone under 21 years of age to permit smoking.

Both ordinances ban smoking within 25 feet of an entrance or exit of an area where smoking is prohibited.

The main concern of the opposing aldermen at the previous meeting was the restrictions a comprehensive law put on businesses, especially small business owners and manufacturing facilities.

Alderman George Collins said his main concern is pushing the ban on manufacturers whose workers would have to leave the facility instead of smoking in an on site break room.

Alderman David Wallace read a prepared statement saying businesses should have the right to choose whether or not to ban smoking.

Alderman Harold Henderson said he has quit smoking but can't tell someone else if they can or can't smoke.

Alderman Dale Dickerson said he would be willing to look at a less restrictive rule.

"All the talk I have heard about smoking bans concerns restaurants," Dickerson said. "It took away every smoking area except outside, bars that allowed on people over 21 or your home. It took away every other spot left to smoke."