Washington State Votes Overwhelmingly for Clean
Indoor Air
Washington becomes 10th smokefree workplace state; Law takes
effect in 30 days
Voters in Washington State sent a clear message in favor of clean indoor air.
By a margin of 62% to 26%, voters in every county favored smokefree workplace
legislation for ALL workers, including restaurant and bar workers. Washington
is the first state to also require smokefree entrances. Smoking will not be
allowed within 25 feet of doorways, windows, and ventilation ducts of
smokefree establishments in order to prevent contaminated air from entering
those establishments.
"ALL workers (including office, restaurant, bar, bingo, bowling, casino, tavern,
pub, and nightclub workers) deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree work
environment," says Joe Cherner, founder of BREATHE-- Bar and Restaurant
Employees Advocating Together for a Healthy Environment. "Laws should treat
the health of all workers equally. Bar and restaurant workers should have the
same right to a smokefree work environment as everyone else. No worker
should have to breathe tobacco smoke pollution to hold a job, because it
causes cancer, respiratory illness, and heart disease."
As shown in the chart below, Washington joins California, Delaware, New York,
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana, and Vermont in
requiring smokefree workplaces for all workers.
Smokefree Workplace Laws in the U.S.
Smokefree Offices Smokefree Restaurants Smokefree Bars
California
Delaware
New York
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
Montana effective 2009
Florida
Utah
Idaho
Hawaii
North Dakota
Maryland
To win smokefree air where you live, go to
http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php