Tobacco News

A proposed city-wide smoking ban took center stage at the Evansville City Council meeting Monday evening.

Supporters say it will save in health insurance costs, but Casino Aztar representatives say a ban could mean millions is lost revenue and nearly 300 jobs lost.

It was a sea of red at Monday’s city council meeting. Riverboat workers like Gordon Jones asked council members to exempt Casino Aztar from a proposed city-wide smoking ban. Ream more »

An ordinance that would tighten Evansville’s smoking ban will be introduced to City Council tonight and will include short presentations by representatives from Casino Aztar and the local Smoke Free initiative.

This will be the second time City Council has taken on the smoking ban after it came to a stalemate on the issue in March 2010. Shortly before the November election, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Missy Mosby was the lone opponent to a smoking ban. Mosby had said business owners in her ward said the ban would badly hurt business. Ream more »

Adults visiting public schools in Bedford County are now prohibited from using tobacco products on school property, according to recent action by officials.

The school board last month updated a policy that includes the ban on tobacco use by adults who visit school grounds. Those in violation will be asked to comply immediately and anyone failing to do so would be required to leave school grounds, according to the policy. Ream more »

Smokers may soon have fewer places to light up in New Hope. Tobacco use is already banned in city buildings and city vehicles. At Tuesday’s work session, city council members will get their first look at a proposed policy that would extend that ban to most park facilities.

According to City Council documents, the city’s Citizen Advisory Commission proposed the change in October. It then went to city staff who came up with the language. It would add “parkland, park facilities and open space” to the city’s existing tobacco ban. The proposal cites second-hand smoke and discarded cigarette butts as reasons. Ream more »

Smoking could be banned in all Rowan County parks if county commissioners adopt a requested ordinance Tuesday.

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will consider the ban on tobacco products at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Rowan County Administration Building.

County Manager Gary Page wrote to commissioners in a memo that the ordinance was requested by Whitey Harwood. Ream more »

Commissioners discussed a new policy Tuesday that bans all tobacco use on all county property including boat ramps, parks, trails and the sports complex, which will roll out in three phases starting Jan. 1 2012.

“It is tobacco free. It does not just cover smoking, it is all tobacco products,” said Assistant County Administrator June Fisher told the board. Phase 1, which includes the downtown Sebring campuses like the Government Center, Courthouse, State Attorney, Public Defender, Government Annex, Facilities Office, the Children’s Advocacy and all EMS centers.
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In the United States, there is a big debate among nonprofits about whether some sources of charitable donations are offensive. Some groups have developed “gift acceptance” guidelines identifying categories of generally corporate donors whose grants are to be avoided as antithetical to the recipient’s values. Typical categories are corporations that manufacture handguns or liquor—or tobacco. But there are plenty of people who would argue that a nonprofit would be foolish to turn down money regardless of the source, Ream more »

Smokers may soon find even fewer places to light up in Mountain View as a ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas is set to come before the City Council early next year.

A meeting is set for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, for residents to discuss the proposal inside the plaza conference room at City Hall.

The proposed ban would mean no smoking allowed at most outdoor dining areas within city limits, including those of restaurants and picnic areas in public parks. Ream more »

After a unanimous call by City Council to begin drafting new policy, Austin residents may soon be banned from smoking in public parks in addition to the 2005 ban placed on smoking in most indoor public places throughout Austin.
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell said City Council’s support, and ultimately the call for a new ordinance, originated from the burn ban that is currently in place in city parks. The smoking prohibition, as written within the proposed resolution, addresses more of the danger smoking poses to igniting wildfires than the danger it poses as a health risk. Ream more »

In a boost to UK tobacco control policy, a Canadian study has shown that smokers and non-smokers alike strongly support the banning of tobacco adverts and displays.

The researchers asked 4,580 smokers across 10 Canadian provinces about their thoughts before and after the country phased in a ban between 2004 and 2010.

Similar legislation will be phased in across England and Wales between 2012 and 2015.
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