Pa. considers expanding smoking ban to private clubs, all bars

If you’ve been waiting for the smoke to clear in Pennsylvania, a proposal from the state House just may do the trick.

Pennsylvania’s 7-year-old indoor smoking ban has several exemptions, which helped grease the wheels for legislative approval in 2008.

But now, some lawmakers want to see the smoking ban apply to more establishments – including all bars, hotel rooms and private clubs.

Stephen Kalinowski, manager of the North Penn VFW in Montgomery County, said he can get on board because his customers’ attitudes toward smoking inside have changed.

“Today, members expect a non-smoking environment. It is what they know and have grown up with,” he said.

And the time is right, he added.

“I can tell you, I was at the VFW for nine years. We weren’t ready to go nonsmoking nine years ago. But today we are,” he said. “And today we have, and it has improved business for me.

The new ban would also apply to vaping, treating e-cigarettes no differently from regular cigarettes.

Backers say the chemicals in e-cigarettes make their vapor harmful.

Vaping advocates dispute that, saying the products shouldn’t be restricted because they’re helping people quit or cut down on their smoking.