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Ohio smoking ban 10 years later

Photo by Janelle Patterson Tyler Morris, 21, of Marietta, blows vapor at Freedom Vapor.

MARIETTA — When voters banned indoor smoking in Ohio in 2006, local business owners and patrons to many bars and social clubs had to make adjustments to their social practices.

“I was opposed to it at first because it almost put me out of business,” said Kevin Whitby, owner of the Harmar Tavern. “The customers were down on me for not having ashtrays back then, but now 10 years later it’s not an issue and I appreciate that my clothes don’t smell like smoke when I go home anymore and that families come in now. Nowadays everyone would be offended if people would light up inside.”

According to the Ohio Department of Health, 241 investigations have occurred in Washington County in the 10 years since the ban. Not only restaurants and bars have been under scrutiny, but also shopping centers, private clubs, grocery stores, city and county departments, law offices, hospitals, industrial companies, fire departments, hotels, pharmacies and gas stations.

In 2016, six violations have been reported, with three warnings issued and three remaining under investigation.

“Mom and pop taverns and private fraternal organizations really suffered because of it,” said Bernie Cleveland, 67, of Marietta, commander of the VFW Post 5108. “A lot of times beer and smoking go together, it’s part of the community and the camaraderie. The VFW lost some business because of it.”

But for most local businesses, the adjustment has become merely a force of habit.

“We allow smoking outside now in a designated space,” said Steve McCarthy of RealLiving McCarthy Real Estate. “Most people expect to not be able to smoke inside now, it’s changed the culture.”

With the evolution of culture also came alternatives to smoking cigarettes indoors. Vaping became an option for those both wishing to continue their tobacco use and for those wishing to quit.

“Vaping developed from people who were trying to quit smoking,” explained Tyler Morris, a sales associate at Freedom Vapor in Lafayette Plaza. “It blossomed from there in the early 2000s and we’ve had stores around the area since 2010.”

Morris said his main market at the Marietta vape shop is older generations, rather than young adults, as many would expect.

“That’s about 90 percent of our business, some come in to get the oils without tobacco, others come in to have the added flavors with theirs,” he said.

The Ohio smoking ban currently does not extend to vaping indoors, though within the past two years some city councils and state universities have banned the practice in their smoke-free zones.

“But around here bars and restaurants seem to treat it the same now,” said Morris.

Jodi Boice, owner of Simply Seconds Thrift and Consignment Shop on Putnam Street, said that while she smokes, she understands why businesses wouldn’t want either vaping or smoking indoors.

“We moved into this space after it was used as a vaping shop,” said Boice. “It took us nine cleanings on the windows before we were able to get all of that oil off.”

To file a complaint with to the Ohio Department of Health call 1-866-559-OHIO (6446) or email   NoSmoke@odh.ohio.gov.

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