Legislative Public Health Victories Will Further Protect the Young and Sick

Statement from Michael Burgess, New York State Advocacy Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in support of Assembly bill 1115-A/Senate bill 1987-A, Assembly bill 4025/Senate bill 1643 and Senate 5215-A and Assembly bill A365-B

New York State is poised to take progressive steps in saving lives from cancer. By prohibiting smoking on playgrounds (S.1643/A4025) and hospital campuses and nursing homes (S.1987-A/A.1115-A), two very vulnerable groups will be protected from toxic effects secondhand smoke: the young and the sick.  In addition, the legislature has approved a bill that will help curb illegal cigarette sales (S.5215-A/A.365-B).

Many people think that encountering secondhand smoke outdoors is not an issue of concern; however this is not the case.  According to the Surgeon General, there is no safe level of secondhand smoke – not inside, not outside, not anywhere. The inhalation of this toxin, even in small quantities, is damaging to the body over time.  It is estimated that secondhand smoke kills an estimated 2,500 New Yorkers every year. 

However, inhalation doesn’t pose the only risk.  There is the added factor that children can be easily influenced by adult smoking observed in public.  Limiting exposure to smoke in areas where kids gather – like playgrounds – seems like common sense. Each day 3,800 Americans kids under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and it has been well documented that 90 percent of smokers start before the age of 18.  New York must reaffirm its commitment to prevent children from starting smoking in the first place and to help adults quit.  These 2 bills will provide immediate protection against the harmful exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as work to decrease the prevalence of both adult and youth smoking.

Lastly, it is important for the state to ensure that children are not sold cigarettes.  Under New York law, no child under the age of 18 should be allowed to purchase cigarettes, yet as mentioned earlier the vast majority of smokers start before the age of 18.  This third bill boosts penalties for illegal sales, broadens enforcement and closes a loophole in current law that may allow illegal sales to go unpunished.

We applaud the legislature for taking action on this lifesaving legislation.  We urge Governor Cuomo to sign these bills into law; doing so will create a safer, healthier New York.

About the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

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