Below is a listing of the latest news on legislative issues and anti-smoking movements affecting your personal freedom and rights to enjoy cigars. Get Involved, Learn about the Issues, and Take Action!
Savannah's smoking rules may tighten
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| June 28th, 2010, 02:11 PM | Georgia |
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Smoke-filled bars and the cigar-laden air in private clubs could vanish into cleaner air if a new ordinance endorsed by Mayor Otis Johnson passes.
Johnson is supporting an initiative from Healthy Savannah, the American Lung Association and other organizations that would close loopholes in the 2005 Georgia Clean Air Law.
The Savannah proposal would eliminate smoking in all bars and restaurants, private clubs, retail tobacco stores and long-term care facilities. It also would prohibit smoking within 15 feet of the entrance of any public building.
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Roswell close to ban on smoking in parks
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| May 18th, 2010, 02:11 PM | Georgia |
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The Roswell City Council changed direction Monday night and approved a total ban on smoking in city parks.
The council voted for the ban after considering different ways to limit park smoking, such as requiring people to light up in parking lots or inside their cars with the windows rolled up. The city's Recreation Commission urged a total ban.
In November, the City Council voted to limit smoking to designated spots in the city’s 18 parks. Supporters of the idea said they didn't want to drive people -- even smokers -- out of the parks.
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Anti-smoking groups say Georgians back a tobacco tax increase
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| March 2nd, 2010, 01:11 PM | Georgia |
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Anti-smoking activists claimed strong support Tuesday for increasing the state's tobacco tax by $1 to help fill a gaping hole in the state budget.
As evidence, they cited a new poll they released showing nearly three-quarters of Georgians support such a tax.
The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of a coalition of anti-smoking groups, shows a broad spectrum of voters backing the tax increase, which estimates show would raise more than $350 million a year in revenue.
The poll of 500 likely voters was taken Feb. 23-25 and has a margin of error of 4.38 percent with 95 percent confidence.
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Outdoor smoking ban? No
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| December 27th, 2009, 01:11 PM | Georgia |
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Athens-Clarke officials have no plans to revive talk of an outdoor smoking ban in spite of a recent University of Georgia study that found secondhand smoke is dangerous outside as well as inside.
The Athens-Clarke Commission passed a partial indoor smoking ban in 2004 and a total ban in 2005. But current commissioners said they would not support an outdoor ban or are waiting for more evidence before tackling the issue.
"Somewhere down the road, if the results keep replicating themselves, we may be looking at that," said Commissioner Alice Kinman, who voted in favor of the indoor ban.
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Smoking ban back to drawing board
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| October 28th, 2009, 02:11 PM | Georgia |
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Smokers got a reprieve to continue smoking in Roswell's city parks.
The Roswell City Council voted unanimously a couple of weeks ago to ban smoking in the city parks, but now they can't agree whether to let folks smoke in their cars, in the parking lot or just a total ban.
One difficulty arose over what is the definition of a vehicle - could that include a motorcycle or a bicycle? Councilwoman Becky Wynn wanted "to nail that down."
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