Alternative to Smoking Ban

Columbia group proposes new plan to allow for choice

Posted on Wed Dec 19, 2007

    An organization set up to fight Columbia's smoking ban has a new proposal for the city council. 

     The Boone Liberty Coalition is calling for the council to repeal the ban.

     Instead a business would have to clearly designate itself with a sign at the door as smoke-free, smoke restricted or smoking.

     John Dupuy with the coalition says that way customers will know what to expect before they even walk into the business, but it will also help those restaurants that are struggling now because they catered to smokers.

      Dupuy says the request is in response to recent restaurants calling it quits, revenue shortfalls of $60,000 and a 5% decline in Columbia's dining tax revenue, statistics that were reported a week ago by the Federal Reserve.