Will D.C. Be Smoked Out?

New legislation could add the nation's capital to the growing list of cities banning public smoking.

1 minute read

March 20, 2005, 7:00 AM PST

By David Gest


"Current [D.C.] law allows smoking in office buildings, health care facilities and day-care centers as well as in bars and restaurants. The new law would ban smoking in those places, while exempting outdoor dining areas, cigar bars and tobacco shops. Proponents say the restrictions would be similar to bans in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities...The American Cancer Society cited studies that showed bar and restaurant receipts went up by 8.7 percent in New York in the first year of the city's ban." Opponents of the legislation want to preserve consumer choice in restaurants, one of the city's main industries.

Thanks to David Gest

Friday, March 18, 2005 in The Washington Post

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