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Secondhand Smoke
Research
The diffusion and impact of clean indoor air laws
The past twenty five years have brought smoke-free laws that currently protect nearly half of the U.S. population from secondhand smoke. Smoke-free laws have been shown to effectively reduce secondhand smoke exposure at a low cost, and with no adverse economic impact, except to tobacco companies. This paper describes local and federal U.S. efforts to protect nonsmokers, as well as the global spread of smoke-free laws. The paper concludes with recommendations for future directions, and describes possible problems with expanding smoking bans to venues that are considered “private.” Click here to read the abstract from the April 2008 Annual Review of Public Health.
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Reports
Poll: 69% back smoke-free state laws (WI)
Although smoke-free legislation was defeated in Wisconsin last month, nonsmokers can still retain hope. A poll of voters throughout Wisconsin found that 69% of voters would back a smoking ban that included bars and restaurants, and 78% believe that smoke-free legislation could pass soon. The findings were similar for all regions of the state, including swing districts, indicating that there is broad bipartisan statewide approval of smoke-free legislation. Another encouraging finding is that approval rates for smoke-free legislation have increased since the poll was conducted last March. Click here for the full article.
Private Lilydale club is attracting cigar lovers despite state's smoking ban
Private smoking clubs are cropping up across the country in response to tightening smoke-free laws. At the Lillydale Social Club in Minnesota, members pay $250 for access to the club, which is located adjacent to a cigar shop. The club has no employees, and only members are allowed entry, so the club’s attorney claims that Lillydale is legally within the bounds of Minnesota’s new public smoking ban. While the legality of clubs like Lillydale has not yet been challenged in Minnesota, a representative from the Minnesota Department of Health maintains that there is no provision in the state’s smoke-free law allowing smoking in social clubs. Click here for more information about Lillydale and the smoking club trend.
Places that allow smoking on water are harder to find
As many states and localities pass smoke-free laws, cruise ships are also becoming less smoker-friendly. The cruise line Celebrity recently announced that smoking will be prohibited in staterooms and on all balconies—making Celebrity the first North American cruise line to ban smoking in both of these areas. Unfortunately, despite tighter smoking restrictions, it is unlikely that major cruise companies will eliminate all smoking areas, since smokers demographically tend to be the biggest spenders on alcohol and gambling, two major profit points for the companies. Click here for the full article, which includes a list of the smoke-free policies on major cruise lines.
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International
Half of Europe's workforce remain unprotected from secondhand smoke at work
Only nine of the 25 European nations that ratified the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005 have implemented comprehensive public smoking bans. In the first-ever international public health treaty, countries that signed the FCTC treaty pledged to create laws and policies to protect citizens from the social, health, and economic problems associated with tobacco—including secondhand smoke. Smokefree Partnership, a European smoke-free advocacy group, has compiled the report, “Spotlight on the FCTC,” which highlights the efforts and shortcomings of EU member states, European Parliament, and the European Commission in recent years. For more information, click here. “Spotlight on the FCTC” will soon be available from the Smokefree Partnership website.
Smoking bans should be part of lease: landlords
A Quebec court recently ruled that a landlord should be able to enforce a no-smoking clause in a lease. In response, Quebec’s largest association of landlords has issued a statement that standard lease forms should include a clause regarding smoking in rental units so that landlords can regulate smoking in their properties. According to Flory Doucas, the director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, this ruling will help ensure that smoke from smokers’ homes does not harm other tenants in multi-unit dwellings. Doucas also cites this ruling as evidence of the growing strength of anti-smoking social norms. Read more here.
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