If one local group has its way, smokers in Columbus will soon have to watch where they light up.

The SmokeFree Columbus Coalition wants to make the city a smoke-free community including a ban in all bars and restaurants.

The coalition is comprised of business, health and community leaders. Leading the charge is Marie Collart, president and chief executive of the Central Ohio Breathing Association, and Rob Crane, founder of the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation.

“So far, about 40 organizations have signed onto the coalition, but over the next several months we want a much larger group with all stakeholders having a chance to participate,” Crane said.

To pay for the coalition’s work and for a full-time coordinator, the coalition is seeking a $418,000 grant.

“They have applied for funding, but the recipients of the grants will not be awarded until Dec. 5,” said Jan Stine, member of the Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction for the Ohio Department of Health.

The key aspect of the campaign is to convince the Columbus City Council to pass legislation preventing people from smoking in public places.

Despite having preliminary talks with the city council, the coalition vows to take things slowly to ensure they approach the issue correctly.

“If one is really going to have a productive and informed discussion about a contentious topic, it’s pretty important to avoid staking out hard and fast positions at the outset,” Crane said.

Part of the coalition’s legislative campaign is to educate the community on the dangers of secondhand smoking.

“The data is pretty clear on the serious risks involved in exposure to secondhand smoke,” Crane said. “It is timely that we in Central Ohio explore those concerns and ways to protect non-smokers.”

Legislators have addressed the dangers associated with smoking.

“Ending tobacco use is a key tenant of Gov. Bob Taft’s healthy Ohioans initiative, which encourages all Ohioans to improve their health by quitting smoking, exercising regularly and eating the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables,” said Kristopher Weiss, public affairs officer for the Ohio Department of Health.

In late August, Toledo passed a law that bans smoking in all city bars and restaurants. This is just one example of a movement that is starting to show results across the country.

“I believe Columbus, and eventually the entire state, will be smoke-free in public places,” said Shelly Kiser, spokeswoman for Tobacco-Free Ohio. “Smokers and non-smokers alike are realizing that everyone has the right to breathe clean indoor air.”

People seeking this same type of legislation in Columbus know there are two sides to the issue. Those who are health conscientious favor the law, while owners of establishments who might lose money as a result of the law are seeking legal action themselves.

“I would say that is the number one myth related to clean indoor air laws,” Kiser said. “The tobacco industry has perpetuated the myth that clean indoor air laws hurt businesses for one reason: clean indoor air laws hurt the tobacco industry’s profits.”