By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – The Birmingham City Council will vote in late March on an ordinance that would ban smoking in 18 types of public places, including restaurants, polling places and sports arenas. If passed, the resolution would still allow smoking in bars and lounges, but it would be banned in any establishment that primarily serves food. A committee proposed the measure Wednesday. Birmingham attorney Barry Marks told the committee that smoking in public is bad for the city's image. But Five Points Grill service manager Edward Cole says restaurant owners are concerned because the ban would not apply to businesses throughout the Birmingham metropolitan area.