Subscribe to Cigar Rights of America RSS feeds and get the most up-to-date cigar-related legislative news for Georgia. http://www.cigarrights.org/xml/news/news_GA.xml http://www.cigarrights.org/favicon.ico http://www.cigarrights.org/images/CRA08small.jpg en-us 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." http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-c-2009-10-28-180262.114126-sub_Smoking_ban_back_to_drawing_board.html 28 Oct 2009 11:11 -0800 Georgia 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. http://www.cigarrights.org/stateclubs_GA.htm 27 Dec 2009 11:11 -0800 Georgia 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. http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/anti-smoking-groups-say-341953.html 2 Mar 2010 11:11 -0800 Georgia 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. http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/roswell-close-to-ban-529966.html 18 May 2010 11:11 -0800 Georgia 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. http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-06-28/savannahs-smoking-rules-may-tighten 28 Jun 2010 11:11 -0800 Georgia They are out there, hunching their shoulders against a steady wind and near-freezing temperatures. At noon Saturday, expect to see many more smokers stepping into weather of all degrees when the city's new smoking ordinance takes effect. It bans smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and even electronic cigarettes in a bevy of locations that had been exempted under the 2005 Georgia Smokefree Air Act, including bars, bowling alleys, outdoor stadiums, private clubs and even when standing outdoors in a service line. http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-12-27/new-year-no-smoke-once-city-ordinance-takes-effect 27 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 Georgia Savannah's new smoking ordinance has some bar patrons finding creative ways to enjoy a night out at their favorite hangout. Dale Holly and his friends have set up chairs and a little table outside of Pinkie Masters. "I am sitting out here because I want to comply. So I am sitting here drinking beer and smoking." That is until Metro Police showed up in reference to a complaint. http://www.thecoastalsource.com/news/local/story/Bar-Patrons-Say-Smoking-Ordinance-Enforcement-Take/QHnKZNmcxUewi1xzma2niw.cspx 22 Feb 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Posters are going up in Savannah to make sure St. Patrick's Day visitors know something's changed since last year - lighting up a cigarette is no longer allowed in the city's bars and pubs. A city ordinance banning smoking in bars took effect Jan. 1. The new law will get a big test Thursday, when hundreds of thousands from across the country are expected to line up for beers in Savannah during its sprawling St. Patrick's Day parade. http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14260220 16 Mar 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia ATLANTA — By 2020, every state may have bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and the workplace, federal health officials predicted Thursday, based on the current pace of adopting anti-smoking laws. The number of states with comprehensive indoor smoking bans went from zero in 2000 to 25 in 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/21/cdc-predicts-every-us-wil_n_852125.html?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-w%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk3%7C210514 21 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Small business owners have tough questions for county officials about a newly proposed smoking ban for all of DeKalb County. Mr. Cue's Billiards has been open for nearly 13 years at its Chamblee-Dunwoody Road location. The business has even spent almost $100,000 on air filtration for all the smoke their customers exhale. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/27644176/detail.html 22 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia Macon’s tighter rules on smoking are going back to the drawing board, sent there by a mayoral veto Thursday. Macon Mayor Robert Reichert said he thinks the measure was passed without sufficient public input. http://www.macon.com/2011/04/29/1542362/reichert-vetoes-ordinance-tightening.html 29 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia Two weeks after getting stubbed out on the floor of Macon City Council chambers, an ordinance to further tighten anti-smoking rules is ready to ignite again -- with some changes and possible cooperation with Bibb County. http://www.macon.com/2011/05/20/1566731/smoking-rules-make-comeback.html 20 May 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia The Augusta Commission is moving forward with drafting a potentially tougher smoking ordinance, but the public will get its say first. The Public Service Committee of the commission voted 3-0 on Monday to have City Administrator Fred Russell work with the Richmond County Board of Health, which is backing a push for a stronger smoking ban, on drafting a proposed ordinance. http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/2011-07-25/augusta-commission-moves-toward-tougher-smoking-rules 25 Jul 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia DECATUR, GA (CBS ATLANTA) - Smoking could soon be snuffed out in many parts of DeKalb County. Commissioners Tuesday morning will decide whether smokers will be allowed to light up in public places. Commissioners are expected to vote this morning on a possible smoking ban. The crackdown would block smokers from lighting up at DeKalb County bars, outdoor restaurants, parks, ATMs and strip clubs. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/15311173/proposed 23 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia DECATUR, GA (CBS ATLANTA)- Smoking could soon be snuffed out in many parts of DeKalb County. Commissioners Tuesday morning will decide whether smokers will be allowed to light up in public places. Commissioners are expected to vote this morning on a possible smoking ban. The crackdown would block smokers from lighting up at DeKalb County bars, outdoor restaurants, parks, ATMs and strip clubs. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/15311173/proposed 23 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia In a widely watched vote on an issue that drew passionate pleas from both sides in the last few months, DeKalb County's board of commissioners voted against expanding a proposed smoking ban that would have made bars, strip clubs and public places smoke-free. The vote – deferred from the commissioners' Aug. 23 meeting — was 4-2, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. http://eastatlanta.patch.com/articles/dekalb-county-commissioners-vote-against-smoking-in-bars-ban#photo-7660937 13 Sep 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia DECATUR, Ga. - DeKalb County County commissioners voted down an amendment aimed at expanding the county's current smoking ban on Tuesday. There was little debate on the measure with the commissioners voting it down on a 4-2 vote. Reaction was mixed after the vote. http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/DeKalb-County-Nixes-Smoking-Ban-Expansion-20110913-pm-sd 13 Sep 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia About 10 business owners attended a meeting Monday to discuss how to combat a proposed smoking ban by the city of Macon. “We do have a voice -- it’s time to stand up and exercise it,” said Tim Obelgoner, general manager of the Hummingbird Stage and Taproom in downtown Macon, where the meeting was held. “(The smoking ban) would be detrimental to our business at a time we don’t need it to be. We are struggling for every dollar we can make. We are struggling for every job we can create.” http://www.macon.com/2011/10/04/1729991/macon-business-owners-meet-decry.html 4 Oct 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia Jennifer Losgar was working at a bar in Augusta to help pay bills and put herself through school when she found one night that she could not breathe. She had developed reactive airway disease and lost 25 percent of her lung capacity, and so had to find another job. That is why she showed up Thursday at a public hearing in support of a stronger smoke-free ordinance for Augusta. http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/health/2011-10-13/smoke-free-advocates-opponents-air-opinions-hearing-proposed-augusta 13 Oct 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta's push to ban smoking in public places like bars and clubs is now getting push-back from state interest groups. The added heat has some city leaders looking to exempt bars. http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Augusta_mayor_pro_tem_floats_exempting_bars_from_smoking_ban_132590208.html 25 Oct 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia Manager Jeff Miles stood outside Pour Larry’s in City Market smoking a cigarette before the after-work crowd arrived. Lighting up indoors is off-limits for him and his customers since Savannah’s ban on smoking in all workplaces went into effect Jan. 1. Miles said the ban has hurt business. Customers are still coming, but they don’t stay as long because when they go outside to smoke they often wander to another watering hole, he said. http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-12-12/chatham-considers-smoking-ban-similar-savannahs 12 Dec 2011 11:11 -0800 Georgia Friday was not Jack Butler’s lucky day. The planner for the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission was at the Chatham County Commission meeting for an innocuous resolution concerning local planning, but his agenda item was one of the last to be considered during a four-and-a-half-hour meeting Friday. A couple of controversial proposals that have boosted attendance and blood pressure at recent meetings had to be considered first. http://savannahnow.com/news/2012-01-14/chatham-guts-smoking-ban-oks-hotel-support 14 Jan 2012 11:11 -0800 Georgia