Smoke Free Savannah
Who:
Healthy Savannah, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids, Chatham County Health Department and others.
What:
Enact a local smoke-free ordinance which clarifies Savannah's current ordinance and closes loopholes in the Georgia Clean Air law by eliminating smoking in:
- All workplaces including restaurants and bars
- Long-term care facilities
- Private and semi-private rooms in health care facilities
- International airports
- Convention facilities
- Private clubs
- Retail tobacco stores
- Distances 15 to 20 feet from the entrance to any public building
Why:
• The harmful effects of secondhand smoke are well-documented and include ear infections and asthma attacks in children, hearth disease, increased risk for heart attacks, lung cancer, chronic lung ailments, and many other negative health impacts.
• Eliminating smoking indoors is the only way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure.
• Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings do not eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.
• No one should have to inhale secondhand smoke as a condition of employment, including our own City of Savannah employees.
• African-American workers, construction workers, and blue-collar workers experience particularly high levels of secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace.
• Progressive cities across the country have adopted comprehensive smoke-free ordinances including Charleston, Dallas, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Even Ireland has gone smoke-free.
• Health conscious organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refuse to hold conventions, conferences or meetings in cities that are not smoke-free.
• Enacting a comprehensive ordinance would prove to be a significant health-enhancing measure which would improve the lives and health of our citizens.
• Eliminating exceptions makes enforcement easier.
• Going smoke-free makes the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice!
How:
Supported by a generous grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the leadership by our Mayor, Healthy Savannah will lead a grassroots movement to enact the Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights model smoke-free ordinance in the City of Savannah.
LEGISLATIVE CALL TO ACTION.pdf
Mayor pushing for smoking ordinance.