Pennsylvania finally sort of joins neighboring Delaware, New York, and New Jersey in banning indoor smoking.

Unfortunately, the law contains a few exceptions:

The new law exempts taverns and bars where food accounts for less than 20% of sales and alcohol accounts for more than 80% of sales, established private clubs where the officers vote to allow it, and on 25% of gambling floor space at casinos; the bill passed also would not allow for more stringent regulation by county and municipal governments.

Philadelphia’s stronger ban is untouched (good), but other local governments are barred from passing stronger bans (bad). And the “food accounts for less than 20% of sales” exemption is less strict than Philly’s, which sets the limit at 10% sales from food.

No matter what, it’s better than nothing. The ever-present cloud of smoke in local bars pushed me to make the trip to Philly more often than not, and it’s nice to know at least some of my neighborhood bars are smoke-free.

# 2008 Sep 11