All businesses in Hammond must become non-smoking establishments as of late April. They must place “no smoking” and “no vaping” signs around their premises, as well as remove every ash tray to make the ordinance known to all in the community.
The Lion’s Roar / Jay Love

The days in which individuals are able to smoke in a bar are soon coming to an end. Following an April 21 meeting by the Hammond City Council, smoking will no longer be allowed in any enclosed public building. The ordinance is set to go into affect in the new fiscal year, July 1. 

Cigarette smokers are not the only ones to be affected, once the ordinance goes into effect, Vapor pen users are also affected. Anyone who is using a vapor pen will be considered smoking. 

The ordinance noted an individual’s health as a part of the reasoning behind the ban. 

“In order to preserve and improve the health, comfort and environment of the people of this city, it is necessary to limit exposure to tobacco smoke and use of tobacco products,” states the ordinance. It is also written in the ordinance that it was created to “protect nonsmokers from involuntary exposure” and also “recognize that the need to breathe smoke-free air shall have priority over the desire to smoke.” 

In order to get the message that smoking is no longer allowed out into the public, any facility that allowed smoking previously must make the ordinance known. Owners of these facilities must post “no smoking” and “no vaping” signs around their business, while also removing all ashtrays from their premises. 

Alma Mitchell, the Hammond Mayor’s Assistant, discussed how the ordinance attempts to be fair to both smokers and non-smokers.

“We have to balance what’s right for everybody. A happy medium that was made was that if you are going to go out and smoke, you must at least be five feet from the entrance,” said Mitchell. 

Although the ordinance is cracking down on smoking and vaping in the city of Hammond, smokers can take solace in that they are still able to smoke. The ordinance requires that smokers to be at least five feet away from any entrance. 

Fines range for individuals that are caught breaking the ordinance. An individual who is caught smoking in an area that is not permitted faces up to a $50 fine. The charges only increase for the owners of businesses that are found to be breaking the ordinance. A fine of up to $100 could be charged to a business who committed their first offense, with that fine potentially doubling if caught again. A fine of up to $500 could be charged to any business caught breaking the ordinance more than twice within a year. 

Hammond is not alone in the banning of smoking. An ordinance went into effect April 25 banning smoking in all New Orleans establishments, including the city’s bars and casinos. 

Southeastern students have become accustomed to the regulations on smoking. Campus became a smoke-free campus last year, banning cigarettes, cigars, vapor pens and chewing tobacco.