In an 8-1 vote, the Fort Worth City Council voted to ban smoking at bars in the north Texas city, meaning smoking is outlawed at bars in every major city across the state.
Effective March 12, smoking will be banned inside bars and bingo parlors, the second city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to take such actions this year.
Smoking will still be allowed on patios of bars and restaurants, as well as within cigar shops, cigar lounges and private clubs.
The ordinance defines as a cigar lounge as a place “where at least 30 percent of its gross annual sales” is tobacco and where persons under the age of 18 are not permitted. That language will allow cigar bars to continue to operate within the city so long as they are either in a standalone building or have proper ventilation.