Health Board tables action on proposed smoking law changes

By Cy Ryan

Friday, June 18, 2010 | 3:49 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The state Board of Health has tabled action on a proposed regulation that drew reaction from anti-smoking groups and restaurant-bar owners.

A board spokeswoman said there would be workshops this summer in Southern and Northern Nevada to see if a middle ground could be reached on the proposal.

The proposed regulation says a restaurant and a bar could be located in the same building but must be separated by a “complete partition or by solid doors which fit tightly, close automatically and remain closed except during use.”

Health groups argued this would permit smoke to filter into restaurants where smoking is barred.

Business representatives said this is already permitted under current law and there are more than 20 bar-restaurants in the Las Vegas area that are under the same roof but are separated by a wall with separate ventilation systems.

The board heard testimony Friday but decided there needed to be more work on the regulation which had already gone through several public hearings.