LAGUNA BEACH : Nonsmoking Area Increased to 60%

Despite a Chamber of Commerce plea that the marketplace should determine what percentage of an eatery should be open to smokers, the City Council has voted to more than double the amount of restaurant space that must be reserved for nonsmokers.

As a result of the unanimous vote Tuesday, restaurants will be required to increase their nonsmoking sections to from 25% to at least 60%. Bars and outdoor areas can be excluded from the calculations. The ordinance was also clarified to give restaurant owners the option of banning smoking entirely in their eateries.