Smoking ban goes before council Monday

A smoking ban in Marion County could become reality on Monday. That's when the full City-County Council votes on the plan.

Meantime, the proposal got a big boost Sunday. It's called Proposal 371 and it would make workplaces including bars, clubs and even bowling alleys off limits to smokers.

"Whether you work in an office or a factory or a restaurant or a bar or a bowling alley, you should have the same law applying to you so that people don't have to choose between their health and a paycheck," said Smoke Free Indy Spokesman Tim Filler.

Now, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the plan; something that has Smoke Free Indy breathing a sigh of relief.

"We already know that 70-percent of the public supports the law, but it's really nice that this past week, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce also endorsed this," Filler said.

The current smoking ban covers businesses that serve those under the age of 18, but Proposal 371 bans smoking in most every business countywide.

"There's a health win in terms of improving the health of the workers, there's a business win in terms of the economic viability, there's a huge public support, so it's wildly popular," Filler told 24-Hour News 8.

Finally, Proposal 371 also calls for 25-foot smoke free spaces beyond the entrances and exits of smoke free establishments.

"They have in their hands something that will not only improve the health of the workers, but also will improve the economic viability of the city and improve quality of life so that Indianapolis can be the life sciences capital that it wants to be," Filler said.

The only exemptions under Proposal 371 are cigar bars that have a sizable portion of their revenue from cigar or specialty tobacco sales.

The council meets Monday night at 7 o'clock.

Right now, Bloomington, Cumberland, Greencastle, Zionsville and Plainfield all have smoking bans in all bars and restaurants. Several other locations have partial bans.