Ban on smoking in bars now in effect

Publication Date: 2017-01-06

• Author:Shawn Raymundo
• Publication:Pacific Daily News

A new law that went into effect at the start of the month prohibits anyone from smoking inside of a bar on island.

As of Jan. 1, a provision in Public Law 33-121 has been imposed, banning smokers from lighting up inside a bar.

It's been nearly a year since lawmakers unanimously passed the bill, which strengthens and expands provisions of the Natasha Smoking Act of 2005. Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr., D-Dededo, sponsored the measure.

The measure, which Gov. Eddie Calvo let lapse into law, removed bars from the list of establishments where smoking indoors is allowed. The only places now exempt from the indoor-smoking ban are private residences and homes, hotel rooms, retail tobacco stores and private office spaces...