Smoke-Free Initiatives

Question of the Month
September 2002

Smoke-free policies and legislation are threatening to Big Tobacco for a wide range of reasons. In the short term, they are an efficient, effective means of reducing overall cigarette consumption and increasing quit rates. In the long term, they help erode the culture of smoking that the industry has spent billions to promote. They also contradict the tobacco industry argument that smokers have a "right" to smoke wherever and whenever they want (at the expense of nonsmokers lungs and lives!).

This month we want you to share information on smoke-free initiatives in your community or country.

Question: Are there any public places (hospitals, place of worship, schools, government buildings, public transport, restaurants, etc) that are "smoke-free" in your community/country? If so, how did they become smoke-free? If you are currently working on a "smoke-free" campaign, tell us about it.

In particular, you might mention: key steps that were taken; compelling arguments made for going "smoke-free"; community leaders and organizations that participated in the effort; tobacco industry counter-campaigns and how they were effectively addressed; etc.

Anything thoughts or anecdotes related to smoke-free initiatives are welcome!

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