Indiana to enforce statewide smoke-free law in July

Publication Date: 2012-04-08

• Author:Times Staff Report
• Publication:The Brazil (IN) Times

On July 1, 2012, the statewide smoke-free law goes into effect. Smoking is prohibited in place of employment, public places and restaurants.

Smoking is permitted in bars and taverns, cigar bars, Hookah bars, state and licensed gaming facilities and licensed horse track facilities. Smoking in cars is permitted as well.

If minors under the age of 21, who are not employees of the establishment, are permitted into any portion of the establishment at any time, restaurants must be smoke free. If the entire establishment is 21 and over, the establishment may allow smoking. Restaurants that only allow individuals 21 and up to enter the establishment can allow smoking.

Most workplaces, except for bars, taverns, membership clubs, tobacco retail shops, cigar bars, hookah bars, casinos and satellite or off track betting facilities, will be smoke-free by July 1, 2012...

The new law is enforced by The Alcohol & Tobacco Commission, The State Department of Health, Local Health Departments, A Health & Hospital Corporation (Marion County), The Division of Fire and Building Safety established with the Department of Security and law enforcement officers...

"Greencastle and Terre Haute both have city ordinances that are more effective than the State's policy.

Those city policies will supersede the State's law.

Although under the state law, bars are permitted to allow smoking, the bars in Terre Haute and Greencastle are not exempt from the local policies and smoking is prohibited", says Alia Hazel, Director of the Terre Haute Tobacco Prevention and Cessation.

Also, if a local law does not cover as many workplaces or is less restrictive than the state law, the state law controls. It is in the power of the local community to adopt a stronger smoke-free law than the state smoke free law.

Kandace Brown, director of the Clay County Tobacco Coalition and Cessation, states she is glad to know workers in restaurants will soon be protected from second-hand smoke.

"This is not the comprehensive ordinance the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency had worked toward in hope of obtaining protection for all workers. In fact, it is a weak smoke-free workplace law compared to our neighboring states...