Coming to south carolina?
these are the places smokers are not welcome
Thanks to the South Carolina Supreme Court - and their inability to understand state law - and the cowardice, misguidedness, or outright nanny-state tendencies of many politicians throughout the state, our state currently exists as a patchwork of smoking bans.
The good news is that, in many places, these bans are often escapable - just a simple drive over a city or county line finds freedom still existing. Below is a list of Counties and Cities in South Carolina that ban smoking to some degree in hospitality venues - most times this includes restaurants and bars. While making travel plans here, consider the below list as a warning. While the list looks extensive, consider that there are a total of 46 counties in South Carolina, a hundred plus cities and lots of unincorporated territory.
Also, the below list might not be complete - this is not a small state.
As geographical reach of a ban goes, a County ban typically, but not always, bans only in unincorporated territory - Cities within the County are not affected by it. Similarly, City bans only affect businesses within City limits, but leave unincorporated areas around the city alone. In this case, it is vital to know the difference between a City and County address of the same name.
Unless otherwise noted, assume a ban as listed here includes restaurants, bars and private clubs - no exemptions.
Cities in South Carolina
where smokers are not welcome
City
Aiken
Beaufort
Bluffton
Charleston 1,2
Clemson 3
Columbia 4
Easley7
Fort Mill 7
Greenville 5
Date of Fall
August, 2008
May 27, 2008
December 12, 2006
January 23, 2007
January 14, 2008
October 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
August 1, 2009
April 1, 2008
City
Hilton Head Is.
Liberty (hah)
Lexington
Mount Pleasant 1
North Augusta
Rock Hill
Sullivan’s Is. 6
Surfside Beach
Walterboro
Date of Fall
Februrary 20, 2007
October 9, 2006
October 3, 2008
June 12, 2007
August 1, 2008
May 1, 2009
May 16, 2006
July 24, 2007
May 27, 2008
Notes of Interest:
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1.Bordering cities of North Charleston, James Island and Folly Beach have liberty
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2.“The Havana Club”, on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, is exempted from the Ban
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3.The college of Clemson is not actually in Clemson city limits, so bars and restaurants around the college might still have freedom.
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4.Columbia’s ban now only exempts private clubs. Nearby West Columbia has freedom.
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5.The surrounding cities of Mauldin, Simpsonville and Greer, as well as the developed unincorporated Greenville county still have liberty.
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6.The nearby Isle of Palms and the bit farther North Charleston still have liberty
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7.Private clubs are supposed to be exempt.
Counties in South Carolina
where smokers are not welcome
County
Aiken 1
Beaufort
Date of Fall
February 20, 2007
November 20, 2006
County
Lexington
Richland
York 2
Date of Fall
January 1, 2010
January 1, 2009
May 1, 2009
Accurate as of August 23rd, 2009
Notes of Interest:
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1.This county ban exempts stand alone bars and restaurants that deny entry or employ by under-agers (18 or younger) - for now. I have heard rumblings of eliminating that. The contained cities of Aiken and North Augusta have stricter bans.
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2.Complete ban in county area. Look to nearby cities of Clover and York (NOT Rock Hill) for freedom. Fort Mill’s ban exempts private clubs.
