Anti-Smoking Ordinance Receives Preliminary OK

Whittier has joined the growing list of cities that have passed an ordinance banning smoking in most public places.

The Whittier ordinance, given preliminary City Council approval Tuesday, would ban smoking as of July, 1992, in all enclosed areas except private residences, pool halls, bars and parts of bowling alleys. The ordinance also states that employees must be provided a smoke-free workplace and limits cigarette vending machines to adult-only businesses. Hotels must designate half of their rooms as permanently nonsmoking. Restaurants must phase in a smoking ban by July, 1993.

A small but vocal group of restaurant owners and smokers has opposed the ban, saying it interferes with personal freedoms and will hurt business. Local merchant associations, however, report few objections from among their members. City officials said they enacted the ban in response to overwhelming evidence about the dangers of secondhand smoke.