Businesses with smoking still cannot hire minors

Publication Date: 2008-03-04

• Author:ERIK SCHELZIG
• Publication:The Tennessean

The state Senate on Monday rejected a proposal to allow people younger than 21 to work in restaurants that allow smoking.

The Senate voted 15-8 against the bill sponsored by Sen. Paul Stanley, a Memphis Republican. There were seven abstentions...

The indoor smoking ban that went into effect in October allows an exemption for restaurants and bars that limit access to customers over age 21. But it also restricts employees at restaurants that allow smoking to those 21 or older...

Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle noted that the new law has only been in effect for about six months, and argued that lawmakers should allow more time before trying to make changes.