It still has another step. However, Nashville, Tennessee’s, Metro Council passed a law to prohibit smoking and vaping products in Nashville bars and venues on its third reading Tuesday night.
The rule overwhelming passed with 30 votes in approval and four against. One council member abstained from the vote, according to media reports. There will be one more vote to approve passage of the ordinance, however, the large amount of support for the ordinance almost guarantees it will become law.
The law, BL2022-1383, was deferred at Metro Council’s meeting on Sept. 20 due to a late-filed amendment that would protect vapor bars that generate direct revenue from the on-site sale of vapor products and accessories related to this use.
The law was then amended and passed on second reading as amended at Metro Council’s meeting on Oct. 4. Tennessee law previously allowed smoking in 21 and up bars at the owner’s discretion. If the rule passes, it wouldn’t go into effect until March of 2023 to give businesses time to adjust.
The council said they are not permitted to prohibit smoking or vaping at establishments that are specifically cigar bars, tobacco retail stores and vape retail stores due to state law. A law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly last year gives local governments the authority to prohibit the use of tobacco products on public property by ordinance.