Smoking Continues In Area Bars - 23,000 complaints (people just ignore bans)

Smoking Continues In Area Bars; Search Database Of ALL Complaints


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The majority of Ohio voters wanted smoke-free bars and restaurants, but not all local businesses are complying with the state's smoking ban -- and they're getting caught.

Lighting up a cigarette inside local bars and restaurants has been illegal since 2006.

But since enforcement began in May, the state has received more than 23,000 smoking complaints, with more than 1,500 warnings issued and 369 fines handed out, NBC 4's Patrick Preston reported.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Search Database of All Smoking Violation Complaints

Among those businesses hit hardest is Zeno's Victorian Village Bar on Third Avenue -- the subject of 32 smoking complaints.

In Franklin County, Zeno's ranks third in complaints behind the Loyal Order of Moose on Schrock Road, and the Elks Lodge on Sandalwood Boulevard.

http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-01-25-0030.html

Bars ain't losing money after the ban because people just ignore it :)

If the restaurant owner doesn't mind,of course.

it's up to the owner of the establishment, not the anti-smoking lobby.

smoking has been banned for over a year now.