NC city council considers sidewalk smoking ban

CHARLOTTE — The city council in North Carolina’s largest city is considering a smoking ban for some public sidewalks.

North Carolina will ban smoking in restaurants and bars next year. The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that Central Piedmont Community College has asked Charlotte City Council to ban smoking on some sidewalks that intersect with the campus.

The new smoking law takes effect Jan. 2 and allows local governments to ban smoking in public parks but officials say it’s not clear that sidewalks are included.

North Carolina is behind much of the nation for smoking bans. But a spokeswoman for a nonsmoking advocacy group says banning smoking on sidewalks would push Charlotte to the forefront of anti-smoking efforts.

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