It’s time for a smoke-free Wyoming

Publication Date: 2009-01-27

• Author:Tessa Schweigert
• Publication:Powell Tribune - WY

After failing repeatedly in previous legislative sessions, a statewide smoking ban has a fighting chance as it heads to the House floor.

An amended bill to prohibit smoking in restaurants and other public places--but allow tobacco use in bars--narrowly passed the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee Friday...

According to Americans for Nonsmokers Rights: "While the tobacco industry has claimed for years that smoke-free ordinances have a negative impact on business, particularly hospitality-oriented businesses, that simply is not true. Every independent study ever done to show the economic effect of smoke-free ordinances has shown that there is no negative impact to businesses."

City leaders in Cheyenne, Laramie and Evanston have led the way with municipal smoking bans in the Cowboy State, and it's time legislators followed suit with a statewide ban.