Mobile City Council to discuss public smoking ban

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Smokers in Mobile may soon be facing new restrictions on where they can light up. 

Two new proposed smoking ordinances are on this weeks city council agenda. The crackdown on smoking in Mobile could get tighter if the city council approves two new proposed ordinances.

Council members Gina Gregory and William Carroll are behind an ordinance that would ban smoking in bars that serve food. The proposed ordinances will be discussed at Tuesday's city council meeting.

Smoker Jared Bailey he's not opposed the new restriction.

"Who wants to eat around smoke?  It's nasty, it stinks.  It's not a good habit to have.  I'm trying to kick it myself," Bailey said.

Local bartender Rachael Norris doesn't think it's a good idea to target bars with a smoking ban.

"In Mobile I don't think it's a good idea just because most of our main bars are on Dauphin Street, and any given Saturday night it's so busy you don't need to put the smokers outside and then having to face the traffic," Norris said.

The second ordinance is proposed by Council member Fred Richardson.  It would allow owners of private clubs to decide if they want to allow smoking.  If they do, the smokers must be at least 21 years old. 

An ordinance went into effect in 2010 discouraging restaurants from allowing smoking.  As a result many restaurants went smoke-free.

Carly Crider said even if the new ordinances pass she doesn't see how the city will enforce them.

"Private memberships, like Soul Kitchen with their 18 and up shows, I just, I don't think it will work.  If it passes, cool, but I don't think anybody will be able to enforce it really," Crider said.