In a matter of weeks, workplaces throughout Vanderburgh County could be declared smoke-free.
County Commissioner Tom Shetler Jr. said Friday that within six weeks, the commissioners will consider a law banning or restricting smoking in county bars, restaurants and workplaces.
Shetler said it's only fair, given that Evansville City Councilman Steve Bagbey has promised to introduce by the end of this month a law banning or restricting indoor smoking in city bars, restaurants and workplaces.
"It creates a terrible unfair advantage for businesses in the city or the county, either way, if you have an unlevel playing field," Shetler said.
Shetler said he anticipates an ordinance similar to whatever ordinance the City Council ends up considering.
Bagbey said a draft of a proposed city ordinance should be ready in two weeks. He said he, Councilwoman Angela Koehler-Walden and City Council Attorney John Hamilton will then confer with Shetler and County Attorney Ted Ziemer Jr. "to see what their comfort level is with our ordinance."
Measures passed in the Southern Indiana cities of Jeffersonville, Columbus and Bloomington, in at least three suburban Indianapolis locations and in Lexington, Ky., offer a variety of provisions.
These include smoking bans in all establishments that serve alcohol except those that restrict admittance to people at least 21 years old, in combination bar/ restaurants and in traditional Indiana taverns with family rooms.
Exempted from some smoking restrictions are private residences, some hotel and motel rooms, retail tobacco stores, nonprofit private clubs and personal vehicles, as well as company vehicles when they are occupied only by a smoker or smokers.
Shetler said he has been consulting anti-smoking crusader Johnny Kincaid, director of Smokefree Communities, on the issue for several months.
"This is the right thing to do," Shetler said.
Fernando Tudela, whose family owns the Cross-Eyed Cricket restaurant on Evansville's West Side, agrees.
Tudela's restaurant used to allow smoking - until he discovered he is allergic to the smoke.
"I think it's fair that the county do it if the city's going to do it," Tudela said. "It's long overdue. I don't think businesses have anything to fear from (a ban).
"Initially we lost 10-15 percent of our customers when we went to nonsmoking," Tudela said.
"But in the long run, we've gained customers because the people who had not been coming started to come. That's why I don't go to a lot of places, because it's so smoky inside."
Tudela predicted most businesses would not object to what would be, in effect, a countywide smoking ban they would not have to impose themselves.
"Anytime you come out of a restaurant reeking of smoke, and you don't smoke, it's a problem," he said.