Smoke Free Dining 2009

Thanks to recent legislation with the Clean Indoor Air Act passed in June 2008, most Delaware County restaurantsare now smoke-free! Pennsylvania is the 32nd state to pass statewide legislation protecting the public from the health hazards of secondhand smoke. The Clean Indoor Air Act went into effect on September 11, 2008 and bans smoking in public places including most worksites, healthcare, sports and recreational facilities, schools, public transportation vehicles, restaurants, and bars. The law ensures a smoke-free workplace for over 95% of employees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  

If you see a restaurant that you believe is not enforcing the Clean Indoor Air Act, please call
1-866-756-5412 or go to www.sepatobaccofree.org.

 While the law is a step in the right direction, many places remain exempt from the public smoking ban. Some of these exceptions include: drinking establishments where food is 20% or less of the annual sales; private clubs; designated outdoor areas at theaters, sports and recreation facilities; 25% of the hotel rooms, 25% of a casino floor; separate enclosed room or designated smoking room in a residential adult care, mental health, drug and alcohol facility or day treatment program, cigar and tobacco stores; private residences; and tobacco promotion events.

Governor Rendell quickly signed the Clean Indoor Air Act into law on June 13, 2008 in Ambler, PA saying, “All Pennsylvanians will benefit from the persistence of advocates and legislators who refused to quit working until we had joined dozens of other states in banning smoking in most public places.  Smoking and secondhand smoke kills and costs our health care system billions of dollars in Pennsylvania. It only makes sense for us to attack this problem and the public overwhelmingly supports these protections.”

The Governor went on to say that although this act is a step in the right direction, there is still more work to be done, “Although I enthusiastically signed this bill, I do share the concerns of many of our citizens and legislators, who think we can and should do better.”

The Coalition thanks all those who helped make this law a reality!