Smoking ban passes in Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant joined the league of nine municipalities across the state banning smoking in workplaces at Tuesday night's monthly town council meeting. Town council voted 7-2 in favor of the ban.

Within the tri-county, Mount Pleasant, Charleston and Sullivan's Island all have indoor smoking bans, including restaurants and bars. Sullivan's Island was the first area municipalities to enact the ban last July. Charleston's ban will become effective July 23, and Mount Pleasant's will become effective Sept. 1.

Earlier this year, the Mount Pleasant Town Council decided to delay decision on the ordinance because many of the municipalities with smoking bans have faced lawsuits. However, when the state Legislature failed to enact a statewide smoking ban, many members of the council felt inclined to protect their citizens from the dangers of smoking, said Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, town councilwoman

"I think it was the best thing to do," she said. "We were hoping that we would be able to wait until the state Legislature ruled on the smoking ban. … When they didn't rule on it, I thought that it was time for us to take some action."

By Lindsay Street, Staff Writer - Charleston Regional Business Journal