By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – The city of Birmingham will consider changes to an ordinance regulating smoking in public places. The City Council's public safety committee will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. Wednesday to address the proposed changes. Veronica Hall with the American Cancer Society says she had hoped for what she calls a model ordinance that would include professional offices. But an assistant city attorney says employers should be able to regulate whether or not their businesses will allow smoking. Under the proposed measure, smoking would be prohibited in 24 types of public places. Those include restaurants, lounges and bars and shopping malls.