On January 1, 1998, California became the first state in the nation to eliminate smoking in all bars, bar/restaurant combinations and gaming clubs. Over the last two years, a successful awareness and implementation campaign has provided public information and legal technical assistance to local jurisdictions. California has seen great success as: 1) bartenders with respiratory symptoms prior to the law saw a significant increase (59%) in their respiratory health in just a few short weeks after the law went into effect; 2) the latest available California Board of Equalization taxable sales data indicates a 5.1% increase in 1998 in the taxable sales of establishments serving all types of liquor (e.g., restaurants with full service bars and “stand-alone” bars) as compared to 1997; 3) statewide compliance for all alcohol serving establishments (over 37,000) subject to the law is estimated to be in excess of 90%; and, 4) public opinion polling indicates that 87% of California bar patrons would be more likely, or show no change, to visit bars. Best of all, 850,000 workers who were previously not covered by the Smokefree Workplace Act no longer have to choose between their jobs and their health. This presentation will provide a status report on the above issues including the latest economic and compliance data and present replicable strategies which were employed by city, county, and state level organizers and officials to facilitate successful implementation of the law.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1) learn 3 methods for activating public support to protect environmental tobacco laws 2) identify 3 strategies used to overcome barriers to implementing smokefree bar policies 3) recognize the latest data that provides evidence of successful smokefree bar policies 4) learn 2 methods for educating ethnically/linguistically diverse bar owners and patrons about the smokefree bar law
Keywords: Tobacco Control, Workplace Safety
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.