A smoking ban is proposed in Sheffield

Sheffield City Council member Steve Stanley has suggested that Sheffield enact a smoke free ordinance in public places. The ban would affect smoking in public places like restaurants, bars, and lounges, and would be modeled after the anti-smoking ordinance adopted by the Florence City Council in 2009. The council showed interest in the idea, but do want to take the time to study the idea before seriously talking about how it would be implemented. Mayor Ian Sanford said he did not want to deliver an ultimatum to restaurants to choose to allow or prohibit smoking. Currently, more than 100 cities in Alabama have enacted anti-smoking ordinances, and the Sheffield City Council will hold a public hearing before any action is taken on the matter.