All indoor and partially enclosed public places, including restaurants and
bars are 100% smoke free in Hawaii.Under new proposal, smoking at beaches may be banned statewide
Photo by B.E.A.C.H.For those who enjoy lighting up a cigarette at the beach, a new proposal getting traction at the capitol will make that illegal. Smoking is already banned at all Oahu beaches since January 1 2014, but
some lawmakers want to expand that ban to every island through House
Bill 325.Lawmakers are debating whether to include electronic cigarettes in
the ban, which are smokeless and leave no trash behind, saying they
don't want children to be exposed to vapor.Rep. Cindy Evans, D-Hawaii Island, the House Water and Land Committee Chair, introduced the bill.While advocates maintain the ban will keep Hawaii’s beaches cleaner,
opponents said it could hurt tourism and impacts smokers’ rights.The vote on the measure in the House Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs committees is set for Friday.The bill still needs to pass the House Judiciary Committee and the full House before crossing over to the Senate. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/under-new-proposal-smoking-at-beaches-may-be-banned-statewide/123 |