Tobacco News

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 »

The South Gate City Council unanimously introduced an ordinance that expands restrictions on smoking to South Gate Park and other public landscape areas in its first meeting of 2012. Designated smoking areas will exist within park and will be determined by the Parks and Recreation Department prior to the implementation of the ordinance 30 days from today.

Members of the South Gate Smoke Free Coalition were there to applaud the passing of the ordinance, and asked for careful consideration when establishing the areas for smokers.
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Patrons of Oceanside’s Civic Center library who step outside for a breath of fresh air will no longer be confronted with clouds of cigarette smoke under a proposal by Mayor Jim Wood.
Wood wants to ban smoking in the city’s Civic Center complex, which includes the library, City Hall and an open air plaza and fountain.
“Everybody hangs out around the fountain out there and the library,” said Wood, a nonsmoker. “It’s kind of a congregation of smokers.” 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 »

Ernakulam, the first smoke-free tourism destination in the country continues to have people smoking in public places. Also, the promise by the authorities, to initiate strict measures against selling tobacco products in common places, has not been fulfilled. Social activists said that such initiatives limit themselves to words and are not put in to action.
Since, smoking in public places is banned, the defaulters should be fined properly but this doesn’t seem to be happening, the activists added. 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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Boise City Council is holding two public hearings today about the proposed smoking ban ordinances. The first starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. The second starts at 6 p.m. Both are in the Council Chambers at the Boise City Hall.

At the meetings anyone will have the chance to stand up for three minutes and tell the city council what they think about the proposed bans.
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COSTA MESA Smoking in Costa Mesa parks may be extinguished under an ordinance introduced by the City Council.
The Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday night to move forward with a ban on smoking cigarettes in public parks, which would apply to the city’s three athletic fields, two community gardens and within 50 feet of all 29 public parks.
The ban will not extend to chewing tobacco, as requested by Councilman Steve Mensinger. Councilwoman Wendy Leece opposed the ordinance. Ream more »

Despite warnings to the contrary, restaurants did nicely in Clayton in the first year of the city’s smoking ban.
“The Clayton scene is alive and well and, most importantly, more healthy, than it has ever been,” said Mayor Linda Goldstein, who advocated the ban to protect public health. Sales tax revenue from restaurants is up slightly, and the number of restaurants is increasing, Goldstein said.
The ban on smoking in restaurants and other public places went into effect July 1, 2010. Ream more »

Sparked by Texas wildfires and crowding at area festivals, Austin City Council passed a proposal Thursday to ban smoking in all public parks.

Council members passed the proposal by consent during the council’s regular meeting at City Hall yesterday. The plan, co-sponsored by Kathie Tovo, Mike Martinez and Laura Morrison, intends for a citywide ban on smoking at Parks and Recreation sites to be implemented within the next year. Ream more »