Published on July 31, 2008
Irmo is a town and a suburb of Columbia located in Lexington and Richland in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Town Council said that bars, eateries and restaurants might remain a harbor for a smoker, that’s why they didn’t banned smoking in these places.
"We become the smokers’ capital in this area," Town Councilman Barry A. Walker said.
Town Councilman Harvey Hoots added that smoking is a health hazard beyond the shadow of a doubt and ought to be restricted in most private as well as public settings.
But three town leaders, Mayor John Gibbons and council members Kathy Condom and Hardy King, said that smoking control is best left to bar and restaurant owners to decide.
Hardy King sustained that instead of smoking ban or signs should be required at the entrance of bars and restaurants notifying would be customers whether smoking is allowed inside.
Mr. Walker has another opinion - he considers that any ban in Irmo should include bars as well as restaurants. His restaurant and bar in downtown Columbia went smoke-free before it is required to do so Oct. 1.
Irmo is going against the trend as local communities increasingly favor smoking bans in bars and restaurants. Its decision came as town leaders discussed whether to go forward with a ban locally.
