By WECT Staff | November 11, 2020 at 7:19 AM EST – Updated November 11 at 12:45 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – It has been nearly one year since the New Hanover County Heath and Human Services board voted to implement stricter regulations on smoking (and vaping) in New Hanover County, now, county leaders are set to vote on the proposed ordinance.
However, the ban would prohibit smoking and vaping in privately-owned places like malls, child care facilities, restaurants, retail stores, gaming facilities, and more. On the county-owned side of things, smoking and vaping would be prohibited in all county, city, and town buildings, vehicles, and grounds – unless expressly designated for smoking.
In 2010 state law made smoking in nearly all restaurants and many lodging establishments illegal, so the ordinance does reiterate that law – however – in 2010 state law did not take the proliferation of vaping into consideration.
“The rule, as written, is a progressive approach to decrease exposure to second hand smoke, which currently is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in North Carolina and the nation,” according to the county commissioners’ agenda.
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