Idaho Workers to Breathe Easier

Law Allows Local Communities to Protect All Workers From Secondhand Smoke

Publication Date: 2004-04-05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cynthia Hallett
Executive Director
Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights
Phone: 510-841-3032

BERKELEY, CA - April 5, 2004 - On Friday, Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne signed Idaho's new smokefree workplace law. The new law will protect Idaho workers in most workplaces, including restaurants. Effective July 1, 2004 these workplaces will be completely smokefree. Smoking may still be allowed in Idaho bars and bowling alleys.

"In addition to protecting many Idaho workers, the law contains a strong provision to cement local control of smokefree laws," said Cynthia Hallett, Executive Director of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, "The law guarantees local cities and towns the right to pass stronger smokefree laws, to protect workers left out of the new state law."

According to Gail Baird, Executive Director of Coalition for a Healthy Idaho, "All nonsmokers deserve to breathe smokefree air in enclosed workplaces. Over time, we expect local communities across the state to strengthen their own local smokefree laws to protect all workers including the most heavily exposed, Idaho's bar workers."

Communities across the U.S. have taken steps to protect nonsmokers from the disease and death caused by secondhand smoke. Cities as diverse as Helena, MT, Tempe, AZ, and El Paso, TX have enacted laws that bring smokefree air to enclosed workplaces and public places. In fact, over 1700 U.S. communities have enacted local smokefree air ordinances with dozens providing for smokefree air in all enclosed workplaces, including restaurants and bars, according to the ANR Foundation Local Ordinance Database (chart available at: http://www.no-smoke.org/ordgraph.pdf).

Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights is a national, member-based, not-for-profit organization based in Berkeley, CA that is dedicated to helping nonsmokers breathe smokefree air in enclosed public places and workplaces. Visit www.no-smoke.org

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