Restaurant Related News

Which State Will Be Next to Go Smokefree?

By: Joe Cherner,
President, SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc.
Published: February, 2003

A number of states, including NY, CT, NJ, MA, NH, VT, ME, MD, IN, MI, NE, CO, and WA have introduced or are expected to introduce smokefree workplace legislation this session.

Massachusetts is most likely to be the next smokefree state as more than 70 cities and towns in Massachusetts have already gone smokefree. The states of Vermont, New York and Washington are also likely to succeed. California passed smokefree workplace legislation eight years ago. Delaware passed smokefree workplace legislation last year. New York City and Boston also passed smokefree workplace legislation last year.

Althought we think of the U.S. as the leader in smokefree workplace legislation, Canada and Australia are actually much further along. In addition, Ireland has announced country-wide smokefree workplace legislation to go into effect on January 1. Sweden is considering similar action.

If you would like to send a letter to your state legislature about smokefree workplace legislation, go to www.smokefree.org and choose your state.