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 Statewide
Smoking Ban Adopted This Summer
New
Ban Takes Effect September 11
Pennsylvania has followed in the
footsteps of Philadelphia by adopting a
new smoking ban that takes effect on
September 11. All across the state,
businesses, public places, and citizens
are gearing up for this date.
This is monumental and important
legislation for our state. It reflects
our strong commitment to preserving the
health and wellbeing of our citizens,
including those most vulnerable – our
children.
 As a leader in the fight for clean indoor
air, I was at the forefront of the
Senate debate to ensure that
Philadelphia’s strong smoking ban stayed
untouched and in place even as we fought
for a statewide ban.
Fact is, Philadelphia
has been a leader on this issue. The
tough Philadelphia smoking ban—that was
put on the books well before
Pennsylvania’s ban—has become the
standard on which all other smoking bans
have been judged.
Philadelphia’s Clean Indoor Air Worker
Protection Law went into effect on
January 8, 2007. The law protects
Philadelphians at work and in public
spaces from the harmful effects of
secondhand smoke by making virtually all
workplaces smoke-free.
 As a result of the new law, the state’s
Clean Indoor Air Act will prohibit
smoking in a public place or other
public facilities including restaurants,
workplaces and a portion of casino
floors. There are a few exceptions
allowed by the act. These include a
private home, social function where the
site involved is under the control of
the sponsor, a wholesale or retail
tobacco shop and bars where food sales
represents no more than twenty percent
of sales.
The case for adopting a statewide
anti-smoking ban was strong. A
2006 report from the U.S. Surgeon
General documented the serious and
deadly health effects of secondhand
smoke on healthy non-smokers, which
include developmental effects in
children, heart disease in adults and
cancer in sites beyond the lungs.
The facts are:
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Two million
Pennsylvania adults are current
smokers
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Over 20,000
Pennsylvania adults die each year
from their own smoking
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Approximately
300,000 kids under age 18 and alive
in Pennsylvania will ultimately
die prematurely from smoking
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It is estimated that between 1 and 3
million adults non smokers die each
year from exposure to secondhand
smoke
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Over $5 billion
in annual health care costs in
Pennsylvania are directly caused by
smoking
These statistics show
the importance of having a statewide ban
on smoking in businesses and public
places. It also shows the need for
comprehensive help for those committed
to quitting smoking.
For businesses located in the suburban
counties, this transition may prove
difficult. That is why the Pennsylvania
Department of Health has come up with a
downloadable tool kit to help the
process run smoothly.
The tool kit for public places
and workplaces, as well as frequently
asked questions and materials useful in
planning for the Clean Indoor Air Act,
can be found at
www.health.state.pa.us.
Businesses may also
call a dedicated helpline at
1-877-835-9535 to request a toolkit or
receive assistance with specific
questions.
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