Local communities in South Carolina can ban smoking in public places, the state Supreme Court has ruled.

The State reported March 31 that the court turned back a challenge to the city of Greenville's indoor-smoking ban; a lower court had ruled that a 1996 state law prevented local communities from implementing their own rules on smoking.

"While the state has legislated restrictions on smoking in certain areas, a civil ordinance which adds areas does not in any way conflict with the state law," the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled.

Eleven cities and counties have passed local indoor-smoking bans during the past two years.