Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Because of legislation passed earlier this year, new smoking restrictions in Utah took effect May 1. Smoking is prohibited in more public places than ever before.
That's good!
And the legislation requires that even more restrictions be phased-in between now and 2009. In a way that's good, because it means even bars and taverns, as well as fraternal organizations eventually must become smoke free in order to comply with Utah's Indoor Clean Air Act. The intent is to spare non-smoking employees and patrons exposure to secondhand smoke.
The phased-in approach, however, seems shortsighted now that the U.S. Surgeon General has spoken so clearly about the "indisputable" health hazards of secondhand smoke! In a comprehensive scientific report released June 27, the Surgeon General said there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can be harmful. It causes disease and premature death in people who do not smoke.
In KSL's view, Utah lawmakers ought to revisit the state's Indoor Clean Air Act when they convene in January and move up the deadline for compliance. Meantime, it would be admirable if the owners and managers of establishments where smoking continues to be allowed would, in the name of sound public health, voluntarily accelerate implementation of the smoking ban.
