Serving smokers just got a little easier in the town of Lexington. Town officials have officially relaxed the smoking ban rules, on lighting up outside while dining.
"It was effective with my signature last night," said Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre.
On Monday, the town council changed the nearly two-year-old smoking ordinance, which now allows diners to light up on smoking decks at restaurants, lounges and bars.
Mayor Halfacre hopes the changes will offer a financial spark to area restaurants.
"The restaurants and bars that I've spoken to, they feel like it will help them competitively from others within the county," said Mayor Halfacre. "So it kind of brings the playing field even."
"It does hurt business because we have those people that want to have a cigarette when they're having a cocktail at the bar or outside," said restaurant worker Matthew Boyle.
Boyle welcomes the idea to allow patrons the options to light up outside.
"I believe there should be an option, like with our restaurant we have a screened in porch and we have our own deck," said Boyle. "And we believe with our deck, we should be able to allow them to smoke on that side since it is open and ventilated."
Non-smokers like Niki Kent say despite the changes for outside dining, she's happy she can still enjoy meals inside smoke-free.
"As long as there's a place where our kids can sit and not have to be in a smoke-filled area," said Kent.
Before the changes were final on Monday, the smoking ban in the town of Lexington was the only restriction of its kind throughout the Midlands. But Mayor Halfacre now welcomes the revisions.
"This kind of puts us on the same sheet of music, in the same hymn book," said Mayor Halfacre.
However the changes are not music to the ears for everyone since the ordinance did not pass unanimously, instead it passed with a four-to-two vote.
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