BROOKSVILLE, FL - Brooksville, Florida city officials backed away from a tobacco proposal earlier this week that would have required city employees to quit smoking and stop using chewing tobacco or face disciplinary action, WRBL News reports.

The proposal would have targeted tobacco use both at work and at home and would have required full compliance within one year. It would have prohibited anyone who admits to smoking or chewing tobacco from being hired by the city.

Mayor Lara Bradburn said that she supports the creation of a tobacco-free workplace or any program that encourages smoking cessation. She also agrees on a policy that prohibits hiring people who smoke.

"There??s no reason people should smoke," Bradburn said. "Nothing good ever came from smoking." She also tried to allay fears associated with the proposal. "We??re not going to have Big Brother peering into people??s homes...We??re not talking about extremes ?" we??re talking about the honor system."

However, the council members voiced opposition to various parts of the proposal, citing concerns that it went too far in restricting employees?? habits while outside of the workplace.

Bradburn said that more information on the proposal would be collected, while hinting that the council would eventually reexamine the issue.

Last year, Brooksville city council members approved a controversial dress code that required employees to use deodorant and wear undergarments. Bradburn said that the move and its ensuing controversy were blown out of proportion.