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Source smokefree.org [7/15/03]

All workplaces to be smokefree, including all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and pubs

NEW YORK, 7/16/03... On July 24, New York State will join New York City as a smokefree workplace jurisdiction. All workplaces (including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and pubs) must post highly visible NO SMOKING signs and remove all ashtrays. Violations can be reported to the local New York Department of Health.

New York State's new law means that where tobacco smoke is concerned:
1. ALL workers' health (including bar, nightclub, pub, and tavern workers) will be treated EQUALLY.

2. ALL workers will have a safe, healthy, smokefree workplace.

3. NO workers will be discriminated against by having to breathe tobacco smoke at work.

Four other states-- California, Delaware, Connecticut, and Maine-- have enacted smokefree workplace laws similar to New York. Florida, Utah, and Vermont have enacted smokefree restaurant legislation, but still allow smoking in bars.

"ALL workers (including office, restaurant, bar, bingo, bowling, casino, tavern, pub, and nightclub workers) deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree work environment," says Joe Cherner, president of SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc. "Laws should treat the health of all workers EQUALLY. No one should have to breathe tobacco smoke pollution to hold a job, because it causes cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease."

"When jurisdictions implement smokefree laws, tobacco interests always feed bogus stories to the media about big losses," adds Cherner. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Every study shows that smokefree workplace legislation is not only good for health, but great for business."

In California, which eliminated tobacco smoke in restaurants in 1995 and bars in 1998, business has continued to grow. By the end of 2001, revenues from restaurants and bars in California jumped to $36.8 billion, up from $25.5 billion in 1995, according to the California fiscal agency which tracks taxable transactions. Also at the end of that five-year period, more restaurants and bars were operating in California than before smokefree laws-- 140 more bars existed in 2001 than in 1997, right before the smokefree law took effect for bars and taverns.

To send a "thank you" letter to the New York legislature, go to www.smokefree.org/NY

Joseph W. Cherner, President
SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc.
http://www.smokefree.org