The Los Angeles City Council said on Thursday that it has approved a proposal to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas in the city.

The proposal would prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas, and within a 10-foot radius of those areas, as well as the area within a 30-foot radius of outdoor food courts, food kiosks, food carts and mobile food trucks, the council said.

However, an exception is provided for outdoor areas attached to bars and nightclubs that require customers to be 18 years old or older.

"I think it's important that we have a practical way to balance out the needs of those people who enjoy smoking and those people who enjoy eating without the smell of smoke," Councilman Tom LaBonge said.

LaBonge, the council chairman and member of the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee, said he would visit several establishments which would be affected by the smoking ban before the proposal took effect.

"Before this goes forward, I'm going to be taking a field trip with the fire inspector, the building inspector, the city attorney, those for and against smoking in outdoor dining areas, to make sure there's a practical application to this," LaBonge said. "I want to make sure it works."

Esther Schiller, executive director of Smoke Free Air for Everyone, testified at the council meeting on Wednesday that the proposal "would help the waiters who won't be forced to breathe tobacco smoke in order to make a living," and allow those with chronic illnesses like asthma, cancer or heart disease to be able to dine outdoors.

Victor Franco of Cigar Rights of America, an organization of cigar manufacturers and distributors, claimed the proposal is still too vague.

Smoking is banned in Los Angeles city parks. Beverly Hills and Pasadena in the Los Angeles area have banned smoking in outdoor dining areas. Santa Monica bans smoking on beaches, in public parks, and near public buildings.

Source: Xinhua