Expanded smoking ban will take effect Nov. 10

Publication Date: 2010-11-03

• Author:Emilie Rusch
• Publication:Rapid City (SD) Journal

South Dakotans snuffed out smoking in all bars, restaurants, video lottery establishments and Deadwood casinos by a resounding margin Tuesday.

With 83 percent of precincts reporting, voters approved Referred Law 12 64.9 percent to 35.1 percent to expand the state's smoking ban to all public places. With Tuesday's vote, only designated hotel rooms, tobacco shops and existing cigar bars will be exempt from the ban.

The statewide smoking ban, which was first passed by the state Legislature in 2009, will now go into effect Nov. 10. South Dakota is the 28th state to enact a comprehensive smoking law. Smoking has not been allowed indoors in public facilities and private workplaces without alcohol licenses since 2002.

"This is a wonderful day for public health in South Dakota," said Dr. Allen Nord of Rapid City, chairman of the South Dakota Tobacco-Free Kids Network. "People are going to be healthier because of this law."