Smoking ban relaxed – for the time being

Patrons of a handful of bars and private clubs in Casper, Wyoming, USA, will once again be allowed to light up cigarettes inside these establishments following the loosening of Casper’s smoking ban, according to stories by the Casper Star-Tribune and Associated Press.

But their freedoms might be short-lived. Smoke-free advocates are starting to collect signatures for a referendum to overturn the change.

Casper’s city council voted 5-4 earlier this month to repeal part of an indoor smoking ban in effect since September. The vote lifted the ban for bars, but kept it in place for restaurants.

Bar owners had complained they were losing business to competitors in two nearby towns that allowed smoking. Repeal supporters also said it was an example of government getting too involved in civic life, citing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s efforts to ban super-sized soft drinks.

“Just like what Mayor Bloomberg has done, or tried to do, with sugared drinks,” said Pat Sweeney, owner of a hotel with a bar currently smoke-free because of the ban. “It’s just not going to stop unless somebody stands up and says, ‘Wait a minute,’ and ’Let’s use some common sense here,’” he said.