Group pushes repeal of restaurant smoking ban

By JASMINE WATTS
Capital News Service
LANSING—A group of Michigan residents and businesses is pushing to repeal a state law forbidding smoking in restaurants. Nearly 90 percent of Michigan residents in an online poll want to allow business owners to decide if they want to allow smoking, according to the group that is pushing to repeal the 2010 prohibition on smoking in restaurants, bars and veteran halls, including outdoor eating areas. Ban the Ban Michigan recently polled about 40,000 residents about the issue, said Sheri Woody, a representative of the group. Ban the Ban Michigan has more than 5,000 volunteers who oppose the smoking ban, Woody said. The group has proposed that owners of private businesses be allowed to decide whether to allow smoking in outdoor areas on their property and indoor areas for people ages 21 and up.