Ventura Council Approves Ban on Smoking

The Ventura City Council on Monday gave final approval to a sweeping law that bans smoking at all businesses and restaurants except bars.

The law would take effect in three months for most businesses.

But under the ordinance law, restaurant owners with bars will have a year to wall off their bars and provide a separate ventilation system if they want to permit smoking at their bars. City officials decided to give restaurants with bars until February, 1995, to comply because of the time involved in permitting and construction.

The approval of the smoking ban was delayed because restaurateurs launched a last-minute lobbying effort after the ban received preliminary approval in December. In hours of public testimony, restaurateurs argued that the ban will drive away customers. They also submitted a petition with more than 4,300 signatures.

But the council sided with anti-smoking activists, saying the health hazards of secondhand smoke have been well-documented.

By adopting the ban, Ventura joins Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Ojai and the county, which have passed similar laws.