Smoking ban proposed for Va. bars and restaurants

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A push will be made again to ban smoking in Virginia bars and restaurants in the upcoming General Assembly session.

Delegate David Englin, D-Alexandria, says he'll introduce the legislation.

"If we don't do this, then it puts many of our restaurants and bars at a competitive disadvantage," he says.

Attempts at such a ban have failed in the past few years, but Englin says the climate has changed enough in the House for him to try again.

Virginia's top export is no longer tobacco. Now, it's microchips, Englin says.

Last year a smoking ban passed in the state Senate but failed in the House.

An alternative bill that will be proposed would allow communities only in Northern Virginia to ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

The General Assembly is back in session next week.

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