Tennessee: noxville Bans Smoking and Vaping in All Bars Starting Jan 1
The Knoxville City Council has voted 7-2 to officially ban smoking and vaping in all local bars. Driven by public health concerns and a concerted push to protect service industry workers, the new ordinance will take full effect on January 1. This local legislative action leverages a 2022 Tennessee state law that empowers municipalities to regulate tobacco use within age-restricted businesses.
Advocates for the ban, including the advocacy group Smokefree Knoxville, successfully argued that the ordinance levels the playing field for musicians and bartenders. Historically, these workers have been forced to choose between earning a living and protecting their respiratory health.
Former Knoxville Councilmember Lauren Rider emphasized the vulnerability of gig workers. “Being a working musician is a hard gig, and they need all the gigs they can get,” Rider explained. She noted that many entertainers cannot afford to turn down performances, even if it means forced exposure to secondhand smoke in a venue.
The health implications of this exposure are significant. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, exposure to environmental secondhand smoke increases a nonsmoker’s risk of developing lung cancer by approximately 20 percent.
State Senator Richard Briggs, a physician who co-sponsored the 2022 state legislation enabling this local ban, actively urged the council to pass the measure. “This ordinance will protect tourists, hospitality workers and entertainers from secondhand smoke,” Briggs stated, advocating for equal health protections across all work environments.
While the ban covers the vast majority of traditional bar environments, the Knoxville proposal—modeled after similar ordinances in Gallatin and Hendersonville—does include specific exemptions:
- Retail stores primarily dedicated to selling tobacco products.
- Dedicated cigar bars.
- Outdoor spaces, including open-air balconies and patios.
Despite the public health arguments, the ordinance faced notable opposition from both council members and local business patrons. Councilmembers Matthew DeBardelaben and Amelia Parker cast the two dissenting votes, citing concerns over personal freedom, the hasty rollout of the proposal, and the potential disruption of established community hubs.
Representatives from venues that currently allow smoking, such as Marie’s Olde Towne Tavern, strongly opposed the measure. Amanda Moore, a longtime employee, highlighted the tavern’s role as a vital community support system for local seniors and unhoused individuals, arguing that the venue is much more than just a “smoking bar.”
The new Knoxville ordinance closes a significant loophole left by Tennessee’s 2007 Non-Smoker Protection Act. While that state-level act declared secondhand smoke a public health hazard and banned indoor smoking across most public spaces, it left certain age-restricted venues unregulated.
| Tennessee Non-Smoker Protection Act (2007) Guidelines | Examples of Covered Locations |
|---|---|
| Locations Where Smoking is Banned | Restaurants, hotels, motels, sports arenas, theaters, laundromats, factories, retail establishments, and public transportation. |
| Locations Exempt from State Ban | Private residences, private vehicles, designated hotel smoking rooms, retail tobacco stores, and private businesses with three or fewer employees (in areas closed to the public). |
For Knoxville bar owners who have privately wanted to transition to a smoke-free environment, the new city mandate provides necessary legislative cover, allowing them to implement the health measure without directly alienating longtime smoking patrons.
- Read more: Tennessee’s New Vape Directory Law Begins August 1st
- News source: Smoking and vaping will be banned Jan. 1 in all Knoxville bars
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