Tobacco Control News

Pennsylvania Tobacco Control

• Allegheny County Health Department eyeing total ban on restaurant smoking (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/9/2003).  After New York and Boston ban smoking, the Allegheny County Health Department considers doing the same.
• Law limits local smoking bans (Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 1/10/2003).  Unfortunately, state law supported by the tobacco industry prohibits local governments from restricting tobacco use.
• Allentown's attempt to ban smoking ignites debate (Allentown Morning Call, 2/28/2003). Allentown considers limiting tobacco use anyway, knowing it will be challenged.

Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Editorials

• Smoke gets in our eyes: The state should address a tobacco ban in restaurants (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/17/2003).  Post-Gazette supports ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.
• Support county ban on smoking (Pittsburgh Business Times, 1/17/2003).  Pittsburgh Business Times supports ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.

Tobacco Control Outside Pennsylvania

• Antismoking Measures Gain in Tobacco Country (New York Times, 3/4/2003).  Even tobacco producing states are recognizing that tobacco is a huge problem that hurts them too.
• New York State Adopts Strict Ban on Workplace Smoking (3/27/2003, New York Times).  New York becomes the third state to ban workplace smoking, after California and Delaware.
• Rowland signs anti-smoking bill (New Haven Register, 5/24/2003).  Connecticut becomes the fourth state to ban workplace smoking.
• House: No smoking in bars (Portland Press Herald, 6/4/2003).  Maine becomes the fifth state to ban workplace smoking.
• Surgeon General Favors Tobacco Ban (Washington Post, 6/4/2003).  For the first time ever, a government official says getting rid of tobacco would be a good idea.

Effects of Tobacco Control

• Restaurants say smoking ban buoys bottom line (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/13/2003).  Local restaurants recognize going smoke free can help their business, as it has in states which have gone completely smoke free.
• Study: Smoking ban cuts heart attacks (CNN, 4/2/2003).  A study in Helena, MT found that hospital admissions for heart attacks dropped by 60% during the time a public smoking ban was in effect.

Tobacco Industry Liability

• Philip Morris to Push Bill in Illinois to Lower Bond (New York Times, 4/5/2003).  Philip Morris says it can't afford a $12 billion bond to appeal an Illinois verdict, but it can afford billions to continue the conduct of which it was found guilty.