No Butts About It: Eugene Bans Smoking
09/26/00
The city of Eugene is going smoke-free after the adoption of new anti-smoking ordinances.
The City Council voted Monday night to ban smoking from Eugene workplaces, KOIN 6 News reports.
For now, smoking is allowed only in bars, taverns and bingo halls. Owners feared that the ban would drive customers to nearby towns such as Springfield, Ore. The council has put the decision to ban smoking from those select places on hold until Nov. 13, according to the television station.
Some council members have suggested letting voters decide whether to ban smoking from bars, taverns and bingo halls.
The council also established a license fee for businesses that sell tobacco. New rules require cigarettes to be locked up or displayed behind a counter, and a store clerk must assist with all sales.