Smoking Ban Repealed (For Three Weeks)

Hurrah! It took only a few months, but the City of Philadelphia has repealed the smoking ban — for three weeks.

Mayor Street signed a bill that effectively repealed the ban until Jan. 8, because… yeah, no idea. (If I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with Michael Nutter. Or this city being run by people only slightly more competent than the leaders of Burma.)

But I guess, since we’ve all been smoking outside of Locust Bar for about four months, it’s time for a three-week break! Most restaurants are planning on enforcing the ban during the three-week break, and the city is encouraging them to, but you know that certain bars had the ashtrays out right after Johnny lifted his pen off the bill.

The exemptions for “neighborhood taverns” and the ban on smoking at sidewalk cafes, where smoking is much more dangerous than inside a small corner tavern, also go into effect on Jan. 8.

Until then, though, smoking is legal inside! Get your last comfortable puffs of smoke now, before it’s mid-January and you’re smoking a cigarette in 20-degree weather, cursing Michael Nutter’s name with every breath.

Philadelphia Smoking Ban Lifted for 3 Weeks [6 ABC]