In November 2006, Ohio voters approved a new Ohio smoking ban. This Ohio smoking ban just went into effect on May 3, 2007. Just like in any other state which has imposed smoking bans, there have been some supporters and detractors to this smoking ban in Ohio. The official word on the Ohio smoking ban law is that public places and places of employment are the primary targets for the ban.

This Ohio public smoking ban has been met with mixed reviews, mostly by the smoking population of course. Opinions on the Ohio smoking ban are being voiced in a number of places like the association which regulates beverage licensing as well as an advocate group about free choices for consumers.

Some people are calling for an Ohio smoking ban revision or revising codes for the Ohio smoking ban. There are no real non-biased opinions on the smoking ban in Ohio so the stance has been more of a “he said, she said” type of mentality. Those against the public smoking ban in Ohio claim that since it has been instituted, business in some restaurants and bars have dropped considerably. Is this an exaggeration or the truth? No one can definitively say.

Some say that the effect of the smoking ban on restaurants in Ohio is detrimental while others say that there really has not been much of an effect. Who is right and who is wrong? Only the owners of these establishments can say. The fact of the matter is that this Ohio smoking ban is a done deal. Only if the naysayer contingency makes a huge fuss will there be any revisiting of this smoking ban in Ohio.

So where can people smoke that is not covered by the Ohio smoking ban? Well, of course, private residences are ok. You can smoke outside as long as you are not near an entrance to a public facility. No one wants the smoke to blow into the building. You can smoke in a cab believe it or not. Some hotels will have designated smoking rooms which are in compliance with the Ohio smoking ban. Retail stores that specifically sell tobacco products are places you can light up too. Even some nursing homes will provide designated areas for their resident smokers.

Venues that are outdoors are still acceptable as long as the smoke does not infringe on the non-smoker areas. You can check out the state website for information on the Ohio smoking ban. In addition, you can also read up on past news on the internet about the facts on the Ohio smoking ban as well as the different opinions that people have on it so that you can make your own decisions.