The Smoke-Free Movement
Smoke-Free Laws Update
Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids
Thursday . Jul 12
Updated: 7.2.07
Across the United States and around the world, people are speaking up for their right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. The result has been a surge in the number of laws that require all workplaces and public places to be smoke-free. It's time for every state and community to pass smoke-free laws that protect us from the proven dangers of secondhand smoke.
In the U.S., 22 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico have passed smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and bars.
The states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois (effective Jan. 1, 2008, pending governor's expected signature), Maine, Maryland (Feb. 1, 2008), Massachusetts, Minnesota (Oct. 1, 2007), Montana (extends to bars Sept. 1, 2009), New Hampshire (Sept. 17, 2007), New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon (Jan. 1, 2009), Rhode Island, Utah (extends to bars Jan. 7, 2009), Vermont and Washington. Four other states - Florida, Idaho, Louisiana and Nevada - have smoke-free laws that cover restaurants but exempt stand-alone bars.
Hundreds of cities and counties across the country have also taken action. So have whole countries including Bermuda, Bhutan, England, France (2008), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay and Wales
Efforts to pass smoke-free laws received a powerful boost on June 27, 2006, with the release of the first U.S. Surgeon General's report on secondhand smoke since 1986. The report makes it clear that only comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws can protect all workers and the public from the serious, scientifically proven dangers of secondhand smoke.
The report's major conclusions:
The scientific evidence is indisputable that secondhand smoke causes premature death and serious diseases in both adults and children who do not smoke. As Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious health hazard."
Secondhand smoke is a proven cause of lung cancer and heart disease in nonsmoking adults and of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), low birth weight, acute respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma attacks in infants and children. It is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year.
There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Exposure to secondhand smoke has substantial and immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.
The only way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to require smoke-free workplaces and public places. Other approaches, such as air ventilation systems and smoking and non-smoking sections, do not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
Smoke-free policies do not have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry.
The evidence is clear that smoke-free laws protect health without harming business. Dozens of studies and hard economic data have shown that smoke-free laws do not harm sales or employment in restaurants and bars and sometimes have a positive impact. Some of the strongest evidence comes from New York City, where a 2004 report found that, in the year after the city's comprehensive smoke-free law took effect March 30, 2003, business receipts for restaurants and bars increased, employment rose, the number of liquor licenses increased, virtually all establishments were complying with the law, and the vast majority of New Yorkers supported the law (see Fact Sheet: Smoke-Free Laws Do Not Hurt Business at Restaurants and Bars).
There is also growing evidence that smoke-free laws can save money. A study released in August 2005 by the Society of Actuaries found that secondhand smoke costs our country $10 billion a year in health care bills, lost wages and other costs.
Thursday . Jul 12
Updated: 7.2.07
Across the United States and around the world, people are speaking up for their right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. The result has been a surge in the number of laws that require all workplaces and public places to be smoke-free. It's time for every state and community to pass smoke-free laws that protect us from the proven dangers of secondhand smoke.
In the U.S., 22 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico have passed smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and bars.
The states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois (effective Jan. 1, 2008, pending governor's expected signature), Maine, Maryland (Feb. 1, 2008), Massachusetts, Minnesota (Oct. 1, 2007), Montana (extends to bars Sept. 1, 2009), New Hampshire (Sept. 17, 2007), New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon (Jan. 1, 2009), Rhode Island, Utah (extends to bars Jan. 7, 2009), Vermont and Washington. Four other states - Florida, Idaho, Louisiana and Nevada - have smoke-free laws that cover restaurants but exempt stand-alone bars.
Hundreds of cities and counties across the country have also taken action. So have whole countries including Bermuda, Bhutan, England, France (2008), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay and Wales
Efforts to pass smoke-free laws received a powerful boost on June 27, 2006, with the release of the first U.S. Surgeon General's report on secondhand smoke since 1986. The report makes it clear that only comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws can protect all workers and the public from the serious, scientifically proven dangers of secondhand smoke.
The report's major conclusions:
The scientific evidence is indisputable that secondhand smoke causes premature death and serious diseases in both adults and children who do not smoke. As Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious health hazard."
Secondhand smoke is a proven cause of lung cancer and heart disease in nonsmoking adults and of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), low birth weight, acute respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma attacks in infants and children. It is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year.
There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Exposure to secondhand smoke has substantial and immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.
The only way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to require smoke-free workplaces and public places. Other approaches, such as air ventilation systems and smoking and non-smoking sections, do not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
Smoke-free policies do not have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry.
The evidence is clear that smoke-free laws protect health without harming business. Dozens of studies and hard economic data have shown that smoke-free laws do not harm sales or employment in restaurants and bars and sometimes have a positive impact. Some of the strongest evidence comes from New York City, where a 2004 report found that, in the year after the city's comprehensive smoke-free law took effect March 30, 2003, business receipts for restaurants and bars increased, employment rose, the number of liquor licenses increased, virtually all establishments were complying with the law, and the vast majority of New Yorkers supported the law (see Fact Sheet: Smoke-Free Laws Do Not Hurt Business at Restaurants and Bars).
There is also growing evidence that smoke-free laws can save money. A study released in August 2005 by the Society of Actuaries found that secondhand smoke costs our country $10 billion a year in health care bills, lost wages and other costs.