The battle over a smoking ban has moved to Rhinelander.
The Oneida County Tavern League is fighting a proposal by a
group called Smoke Free Air for Everyone, or SAFE.
It wants to ban smoking in restaurant dining rooms and
workplaces.
Both sides say a compromise is unlikely.
Oneida County Tavern League spokesman Rob Swearingen says the
group supports a state Assembly proposal that would outlaw smoking
in dining room areas of restaurants but leave bar areas available
to smokers.
SAFE Coordinator Adam Schmidt says the Assembly bill pre-empts
local control. He says it could clear the way for smoking in areas
such as courthouses and city halls where ``lighting up'' was
previously prohibited.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
