The Berkeley County (WV) Board of Health has been petitioned to expand the existing smoking ban to prohibit lighting up in bars, private clubs, parks and fairs and similar events. A group called A Tobacco Awareness Coalition submitted the request, with county health officer Dr. Diana Gaviria, who is also a member of the coalition, telling Journal-News.net that their proposal would make the smoking ban more comprehensive by covering all work places’ employees as well as public spaces. The board received the formal proposal at their February 18 meeting and could decide how to proceed with it at their next meeting, currently scheduled for March 18. One of the first steps would be to put it out for public comment. While the county’s original ordinance was enacted in 2001, an exemption was created for retail tobacconists in 2010.
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