Columbus voters have once again ratified the city's smoking ban.
They turned down a move to allow smoking in bars and taverns.
They rejected an amended ban that would have permitted smoking any business that earned two thirds of its revenue from alcohol sales.
The air Gary's Place in far northern Columbus was thick with cigarette smoke and disappointment. Supporters of the amended ban openly smoked cigarettes in defiance of the ban for what could be the last time.
Columbus Voters by a 56 to 44 percent margin shot down a move to exempt bars and taverns from the ban.
Ian James speaks for the bar owners group that fought for the exemption, he said the voters have spoken and its time for bars that are still allowing smoking to put the cigarettes out.
Bar owners argued that they and their customers should have the right to choose whether or not to allow smoking. Bar owners argue they are losing customers because of the ban.
Health advocates say smoking bans do not hurt businesses. They argue the ban will save lives of bar employees, who have to breathe second hand smoke, Across the bar, Angela Wedderspoon wore a shirt that read save my job. She's a smoker and employee of another bar. She says the ban will hurt her boss's business.
At a German village restaurant, the air was clear and the mood more jubilant as smoking ban supporters celebrated their second victory in six months. Columbus city councilwoman Charleta Tavares, the political leader of the push for the ban said she was pleased by the result, "The voters have chosen clean air."
A coalition of medical professionals and organizations like the cancer society and lung association ran the campaign to maintain the complete ban. Having won again in Columbus they will look statewide.
Doctor Marie Collart of the Central Ohio Breathing Association says the Columbus victory will build momentum for a smoking ban across Ohio.
Ian James of the bar owners group agrees the next fight will be on a statewide level. He says ban opponents have to do a better job of getting their message across the voters.
