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State sues 2 bars for allowing smoking

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer 5:34 PM Friday, August 14, 2009

Bars in Cincinnati and Columbus were named Friday, Aug. 14, in the state’s first lawsuits alleging violations of the Smoke-free Workplace Act.

O’Neal’s Tavern, 7466 Beechmont Ave., in Anderson Twp. in suburban Cincinnati and Zeno’s in Columbus have been cited for multiple violations and assessed fines upward of $20,000 in the last two years, according to Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Alvin D. Jackson.

“The issue at hand is clear disregard for Ohio law,” Cordray said in a statement. “These establishments have been warned and fined repeatedly over a two-year period to no avail. They continuously push the limits and have given us no alternative but to seek the court’s intervention.”

O’Neal’s Tavern has been cited for 12 violations and accrued fines of more than $21,000. Zeno’s has been cited for nine violations and fined more than $28,000, according to court documents.

The lawsuits seek a court order requiring the bars to comply with the state smoking ban.

In November 2006, Ohio became the 12 state to ban smoking in public places. Enforcement began May 3, 2007.

Since then, more than 44,000 allegations have been called in to Ohio’s toll-free enforcement number, (866) 559-6446.

Jackson said most businesses — more than 280,000 statewide — comply with the law.

But ODH and local health departments have issued more than 3,100 warning letters to violators and assessed more than 1,800 fines.

“We take our commitment to enforcing the will of Ohio’s voters seriously and these filings illustrate that,” Jackson wrote in a press release. “Businesses must comply with the Ohio Smoke-free Workplace Act by prohibiting smoking, removing ashtrays and posting no-smoking signs with Ohio’s toll-free enforcement number.”

Calls to O’Neal’s had not been returned before publication.

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Have you been drinking again angrydog? Your spelling sure reflects it if you have been. If you haven't been maybe you could spend some of your energy and pick up a few of those butts that smokers throw out the car windows. Does freedom give smokers the right to litter?

pw
9:04 AM, 8/16/2009

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TO PW, Hey due, while your sucking your drinks down start thinking about peoples rights. You dont have to go to a bar that allows smoking. I bet your one of those that drive home drunk. I say lock your big butt up!!!! Know I dont smoke but I use to. I am all for redome not taxing. The fine are not to help people. THEY ARE THE MANS WAY OF BELKING MORE MONEY FROM PEOPLE!!! Yes its to pay their big fat cat salaries. They could give a witt about us.

angrydog
11:19 PM, 8/15/2009

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This is by far the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard of. This is the United States of America (THE LAND OF THE FREE). I understand tobacco being put to an end in restaurants and family related places. A bar is not a family related place of business. The economy is not going so well anymore as you may know. Banning smoking from bars will eventually cause them to shut down. This means people loosing more jobs. Why cause this problem? Life is hard enough now, more chaos.

big t
10:54 PM, 8/15/2009

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All smokers are inconsiderate of non-smokers rights not to have to breath the toxins your filthy habit produces. That being said, why is that you smokers continually litter our streets and parks with your nasty butts? Stop at any corner and you'll see hundreds of butts on the ground. See what I mean about being inconsiderate? Silly me! If you don't care about other's rights to clean air I guess asking you to care about the environment goes way above what you are capable of.

pw
8:10 PM, 8/15/2009

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You live in middletown right? what are you talking about clean air. You are silly dude, AK and traffic puts way more pollution in the air than smokers, sitting inside your car in the mcdonalds drive thru line is more dangerous for you than sitting near a smoker in a bar, get informed, don't let someone else do your research for you

yea right
7:07 PM, 8/15/2009

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