Smoking Ban in St. Louis County Casinos?

There's reportedly a push to make area casinos smoke-free and it could take a step closer to reality Tuesday.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis County Councilman Mike O’Mara plans to introduce legislation Tuesday to apply the St. Louis County smoking ban to county casinos. (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.) The article reports that O’Mara wants to remove all exemptions from the county's smoking ban, and that includes River City Casino and Hollywood Casino St. Louis. O'Mara cited the health issue of smoke and was also quoted making the following statement in the Post-Dispatch article. “My goal is to get this ordinance cleaned up so that everyone in the county is on a level playing field,” O’Mara, D-Florissant, said Friday. “I’ve heard from too many owners of bars and restaurants who have …

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Comments from Patchland: Smoking Bans, Civility and Fewer Fireworks

This week's selection includes lots of opinions about smoking, aldermanic behavior and boat rides.

Surprise, surprise. There is another debate on smoking bans. A ban going into effect in O'Fallon and being shot down in St. Charles County sparked debate. In lighter fare, Patch editors took to the water, watched aldermen appoint another to its board and Arnold wants civility back in political life.  Nibble on some of these morsels, and if you're inclined to share your thoughts, click the links and chime in. We're all ears. O'Fallon Smoking Ban Starts Today "I like the smoking ban. It makes no sense in bars, you don't really go there for good health."  — JJ William Francais, O'Fallon Patch (via Facebook) "This is the dumbest thing in the county right now."  — James Wren, O'Fallon Patch (via Facebook) St. Charles County Councilman Questions…

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Bites Nearby

Morgan Le Fay's Proudly Wears the Big Red "S"

Savoring tapas small plates and sipping libations of choice remains Morgan Le Fay's specialty, while continuing to serve West County smokers and non-smokers.

Town and Country business owner Lisa Keller is holding her breath in anticipation. Not from ambient smoke, but from the potential adverse financial effects her business could suffer due to St. Louis County’s new smoking ban that became law January 2. “The County made a financial decision for businesses without taking any financial liability for that decision,” said Keller, owner of Morgan Le Fay’s Tapas Bar and Lounge whose reputation has been built on comfortable surroundings, unique food and a bar where smoking was always welcome.  “My bar business pays for the kitchen. Under the new smoking restrictions, I can only continue to welcome smokers if my food sales are less than 25 percent of gross total sales.” Morgan Le Fay's remains on the…

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No Smoking in the New Year

A look at the local effect when the St. Louis County Clean Air Ordinance takes effect and limits where smokers can light up in Manchester and Town and Country.

On Jan. 3 the Indoor Clean Air Code takes effect making it illegal to smoke inside of most public establishments in St. Louis County, including Town and Country and Manchester. In November 2009, county voters approved the ban with over 63 percent of the vote. The ban will have an impact on most businesses in both unincorporated and incorporated areas of the county. Proponents say the ban will help decrease the dangers of second hand smoke of those working in and visiting those establishments.  It is not the the first in the country, nor is it the first in the region. The nearby city of Ballwin enacted an indoor smoking on ban on Jan. 1, 2006 and the city of Arnold enacted a similar ordinance the year before. The reviews in those …

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