NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER TOTAL CASINO SMOKING BAN
Anti-smoking advocates are hoping the third time is a charm as
lawmakers try again to enact a smoking ban that includes
Atlantic City casinos.
A Senate health panel on Monday is to consider amending the
statewide smoking ban that exempts Atlantic City's 11 casino.
That ban, which took effect last April, bars cigarette and cigar
smoke in bars, restaurants, malls and most other public places.
"The time was right a year ago" to pass a comprehensive smoking
ban, said Sen. Joseph Vitale, who chairs the committee that will
hear testimony on the proposal to expand the ban. "There were
political obstacles and not enough votes to pass a statewide ban
that included casino floors. So the state is 99 percent
smoke-free."
"We have given casinos enough time to contemplate the
unavoidable," added Vitale, who is co-sponsoring the measure.
"Secondhand smoke is as deadly in casinos as anywhere else."
