Private club smokers suffered a defeat on Wednesday. The Ohio State Supreme Court ruled that the smoking ban, approved by voters in 2006, did apply to fraternal clubs.
By declining to hear the case, the decision upheld a lower court’s ruling that the state Health Department did not have the authority to write rules exempting private clubs.
Earlier, a Franklin County Common Pleas said the exemption only included clubs without employees. That judge also ruled that all clubs have to have employees, whether paid or not.
The Ohio Licensed Beverage Association was opposed to the rule, saying it would be unfair.
