Kentucky - more cities going smoke free..

August 13, 2009 - Lexington approved the first indoor smoking ban in Kentucky in 2003. Since then, there have been more than 20 other cities, counties and health departments to pass rules limiting indoor smoking in public places.

The Prestonburg KY city council approved a relatively strong ban on smoking in public places Monday night, August 10th. After rejecting an exemption for businesses with patrons 18 and older, such as bars, council members voted 5-2 in favor of the ordinance, which will allow smoking in outdoor areas of restaurants and in private clubs. The smoking ban takes effect November 1, 2009.

Scott Lockard, vice president of the Kentucky Public Health Association and director of the Clark County health department, said during the meeting that some bingo games, including those in Clark County, have enjoyed increased revenues because people buy more concessions when they're not smoking. Prestonsburg's ban will be among the stronger ordinances in the state, Lockard said.

The bans in Campbellsville and London were the first in the southern region of the state. Campbellsville Mayor Brenda Allen says that city approved an indoor smoking ban in June, which will take effect in September. London city attorney Larry Bryson says the ban will become effective when the ordinance is published and employers will have up to 60 days to put it in place.

The city commission in Bowling Green voted down a proposed indoor smoking ban, and the board of the 10-county Lake Cumberland District Health Department last year refused to pass a resolution supporting efforts to ban smoking in public places. (London, Campbellsville approve smoking bans by Bill Estep, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., 8/4/2009)

Reference: South-central Ky. city passes smoking ban, KBIR.com - Knoxville, TN, 8/5/2009; Prestonsburg council approves smoking ban by Dori Hjalmarson, Lexington Herald-Leader, 8/11/2009.