Politics & Government

Maplewood, Brentwood Councilman Supports Countywide Smoking Ban, No Exemptions

County District 5 Councilman Pat Dolan, representng Maplewood and Brentwood, expects to support new legislation that would remove exemptions from the smoking ban.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis County Councilman Mike O’Mara plans to introduce legislation Tuesday to apply the St. Louis County smoking ban to all bars and restaurants equally, including the county casinos.

O'Mara cited the health issue of smoke and was also quoted making the following statement in the Post-Dispatch article.

“My goal is to get this ordinance cleaned up so that everyone in the county is on a level playing field,” O’Mara, D-Florissant, said Friday. “I’ve heard from too many owners of bars and restaurants who have convinced me that it is unfair that some businesses have the exemption while others, sometimes located right up the street, don’t.”

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St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley reportedly supports eliminating the exemptions to the smoking ban.

According to the report, O’Mara plans to address the issue at Tuesday's St. Louis County Council meeting.

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There are reportedly 135 establishments in the county that have exemptions from the smoking ban.

Bowling alleys, such as the Saratoga in Maplewood, are currently exempted from the ban.

Brentwood has already banned smoking in all bars and restaurants. Read more:

  • American Legion Seeks Smoking Ban Exemption
  • Brentwood Goes Smoke-Free; Local Bar Owners Unhappy
  • Aldermen Still Undecided on Smoking Ban Exemption
  • Brentwood Committee Will Discuss Smoking Ban Exemption


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