Indianapolis Council Passes Smoking Ban, Mayor Vows Veto

Andrew Nagy
Posted: January 31, 2012

While the Indianapolis City-Council passed a more stringent smoking ban Monday night, but it appears the mayor will veto the measure before it can become law.

According to the Indianapolis Star, council members passed the smoking ban proposal, which expands the city’s 2005 ordinance to include bowling alleys, hotel rooms and bars where food is served, by a vote of 19-9. (The ban exempts cigar bars, tobacco shops, hookah bars and some private fraternal organizations.)

The council’s 19 yea votes, which took place less than a week before Indianapolis plays host to Super Bowl XLVI, fall one short of the 20 needed to protect the measure from being vetoed by Mayor Greg Ballard. Ballard previously stated he will veto the smoking ban because he views the measure’s language pertaining to nonprofit private clubs and veterans halls as unfair.

As Indianapolis prepares for the this weekend's game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, some of the city’s bars are not waiting for a ban to take effect and have decided on their own accord to go smoke-free.

According to an article from the Indianapolis Star, the owners of Claddagh Irish Pub and the Slippery Noodle Inn have been smoke-free since 2012 began. Both of the owners said they decided to go smoke-free in order to attract the tourists who will be visiting the city for the Super Bowl.

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