Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. will sign Augusta’s Smoke-free ordinance during a signing ceremony at The Georgia Cancer Center on Thursday, September 6, 2018.
 
“The Augusta Commission showed leadership and vision to pass this ordinance.  It was not easy work, and we came together to do what we know is the right thing for Augusta,” said Mayor Davis. “That’s the winning way.”
 
The ordinance, which makes all enclosed workplaces and public buildings, all nursing home rooms, and 80 percent of hotel and motel rooms rented to guests smoke free and vape free, goes into effect on January 1, 2019.
 
“This ordinance provides smoke-free places to work, shop, dine and play,” said Davis.  “Smoke-free policy boosts economic growth. With our cyber growth and a smoke-free law that aligns us with our neighbors and other mid-large sized cities, I expect that Augusta’s businesses will quickly see benefits.”
 
Members of the Augusta Commission, representatives from BreatheEasy Augusta and the Georgia Prevention Institute will join Mayor Davis for the signing ceremony, which begins at 4:00 p.m. in the Cancer Center’s Clinic.
 
“This law protects all of us. It’s an exciting day for the majority of Augustans, who don’t smoke and who want to breathe clean air,” said Danielle Moores of BreatheEasy Augusta. “In the end, everybody wins.”
 
The ordinance does not apply to golf courses and other outdoor spaces and provides an exemption for hookah bars/ lounges and retail electronic smoking device stores in existence at the date of adoption of the ordinance.