Los Angeles Municipal Council passed an ordinance to prohibit lighting up in all outdoor establishments that sell and serve food and alcohol across the city.
In conformity with the regulation, smoking would be banned in outdoor patios of bars and restaurants, and 10 feet within these establishments, and also within 30 feet of all food-selling areas like farmers markets, food kiosks and mobile fruit trucks.
Nevertheless, there would be several places would be exempted from the ban, such as outdoor zones near bars, private clubs, and nightclubs, which permit entrance only to individuals from 18 years and older.
Councilman Charles Howard, who introduced the proposal, said that he was delighted with its approval and pleased with the fact that council members understood how important it was to satisfy the appeals of the residents and guests of Los Angeles to enjoy having a drink without being concerned about the exposure to second-hand smoke.
The Los Angeles Municipal Council chairman Tom LaBonge, declared he is going to visit many eating and drinking entities that would be included in the list of places where smoking would be prohibited even before the ordinance came into force, accompanied with several municipal officials, including city attorney, head of enforcement agency and others, to speak with both supporters and opponents of the ban and make certain that the ban would be enforced in a proper manner.
Isabella Fernandez, vice chairman of the Partnership for Smoke Free Air, praised the bill, declaring at the council meeting that if approved the ordinance would protect customers from the hazards of passive smoking and eateries’ waiters who won’t be obliged to inhale tobacco smoke in order to earn a living. The ordinance would also let people who suffer from chronic diseases like asthma to live life to the full by enjoying nice weather on outdoor patios.
However, Bernard Tomba, chairman of Tobacco Rights of America, association of cigarette retailers argued, saying that it became fashionable to throw all the issues on smoking. He said that nobody considered smoking safe, however Municipal County should also think of banning vehicles since they pollute the air with carbon dioxide or prohibit genetically modified food since it causes cancer, but nobody considers it hazardous.
California is home to America’s most rigorous anti-smoking laws, implementing the ban on smoking in indoor public places back in 1995. Smoking was as well prohibited in vehicles when minors are present, LA parks, beaches, outdoor areas near public buildings and many other places.
Tobacco is an annual or bi-annual growing 1-3 meters tall with large sticky leaves that contain nicotine. Native to the Americas, tobacco has a long history of use as a shamanic inebriant and stimulant. It is extremely popular and well-known for its addictive potential.
Nicotiana rustica leaves.
Nicotiana rustica leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) leaves contain about 1 to 3%
A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco which is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Philippines, and the Eastern United States.
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines. In consumption it may be in the form of cigarettes smoking, snuffing, chewing, dipping tobacco, or snus.
