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Michigan Latest State to Follow National Smoke-Free Trend
April 30, 2010
Michigan will be the latest state to follow a growing national trend to go smoke-free when a new law goes into effect Saturday, May 1, restricting smoking in almost all workplaces in the state, including all restaurants and bars. The strong smoke-free law, which was signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm Dec. 18, will apply to all bars, restaurants and work places, except for the gaming floors of existing casinos, cigar bars and tobacco specialty stores. Although smoking will be allowed on casino gaming floors, it will be banned in the casinos' bars, restaurants and hotels.
Michigan will be the 20th state to implement comprehensive smoke-free legislation that requires 100 percent smoke-free non-hospitality workplaces, bars and restaurants. Two additional states, Wisconsin and Kansas, have passed similar laws and are awaiting implementation.
"This strong smoke-free law is a major public health victory and will save countless lives in Michigan," said John R. Seffrin, PhD, CEO, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "Increasingly, states are realizing the many benefits of comprehensive smoke-free laws that cover all workplaces workers can make a living without risking their health, patrons and tourists can enjoy time out without the hazards of secondhand smoke, and bar and restaurant owners can promote healthy environments. Everyone wins."
The smoke-free trend has accelerated in recent years. Michigan will be the 33rd state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to require some combination of 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars. Additionally, more than 3,000 municipalities have local laws in effect that restrict where smoking is permitted. Combined, this represents more than three-fourths of the U.S. population.
"ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society are committed to working community by community and state by state until every worker in America is protected from secondhand smoke under a comprehensive smoke-free law," said Molly A. Daniels, interim president of ACS CAN. "Smoke-free laws and other tobacco control policies are crucial to reversing the trend that has made smoking the leading preventable cause of death in this country."
Secondhand smoke is a major health hazard, proven to cause lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema. With 4,000 chemicals and more than 60 carcinogens including arsenic and polonium secondhand smoke causes cancer, heart, and lung disease and kills nearly 50,000 nonsmoking Americans each year, including 3,000 deaths from lung cancer.
Smoke-free laws save lives. Strong smoke-free laws that include all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, are the only effective way to protect all workers and the public from the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Smoke-free workplaces and public places also make it easier for smokers to quit and discourage kids from picking up this deadly habit.ξ For example, after Colorado's smoke-free law went into effect in 2006, calls to the state's tobacco cessation Quitline increased by 1,400 percent in the month after implementation and by almost 600 percent after two months.
Research has consistently and conclusively shown that smoke-free laws have no adverse effects on the hospitality industry, and, in fact, can actually be good for business. Even in the tobacco growing state of North Carolina, where adult smoking rates are higher than the national average, researchers found that smoke-free restaurant ordinances did not impose economic hardships on restaurants or restaurant owners.
By allowing smoking in the workplace, business owners increase their costs of doing business: Employers pay increased health, life, and fire insurance premiums, make higher workers' compensation payments, incur higher worker absenteeism, and settle for lower work productivity. In 2005, the estimated economic value of lost wages, fringe benefits, and services associated with secondhand smoke exposure amounted to $4.7 billion per year nationwide.
The use of tobacco products remains the nation's number one cause of preventable death, killing more than 400,000 Americans each year and costing $193 billion annually in medical costs and lost productivity.
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