The California Smoke-Free Workplace Law, implemented in January of 1995, prohibits smoking in most places of employment. The law was amended in 1998 to protect bar, lounge, restaurant and nightclub employees. Enforcement of the law is the responsibility of each of the local jurisdictions in the state. In Los Angeles County the enforcement process is largely complaint driven, with the Tobacco Control Program (TCP) collecting complaints, issuing letters to violating establishments, and notifying local law enforcement jurisdictions for each violation. In June of 1999, a survey was conducted to determine compliance with the law. A random sample of Los Angeles County establishments licensed with the California Alcoholic Beverage Control were selected, and 639 establishments were inspected. TCP used compliance data to identify opportunities for targeted intervention, and developed an enforcement support campaign that focuses on bars and restaurants, local law enforcement, and the general public. This session will present challenges to supporting enforcement including multi-jurisdictional enforcement, personnel issues, competing priorities, lack of knowledge about the law, and the public perception that the law is not being enforced. TCP's campaign to support enforcement through providing a bar and restaurant newsletter, an extensive print and radio media presence, law enforcement trainings, expert witnesses for court cases, and technical assistance for county prosecutors will also be described. A follow-up compliance survey will be conducted to assess the impact of the campaign on compliance with the law.
Learning Objectives: During this session, the participants will learn how to: (1) use compliance data to design more effective interventions; (2) collaborate with the media, law enforcement, court system, building & code inspection, and other public institutions to devise enforcement strategies; and (3) apply the strategies learned from the Los Angeles experience to other large urban communities
Keywords: Tobacco Control, Evaluation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.