Oct. 11--GUILFORD COUNTY -- North Carolina has taken strong steps to reduce smoking in public places and the number of smokers, the former leader of a New York City health agency said this week.
Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, former New York City health commissioner, commended health officials attending the Healthy Carolinians Conference in Greensboro. Frieden became director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 8. Health officials statewide are preparing for a smoking ban in restaurants and bars that takes effect Jan. 2.
"You all deserve a huge round of applause for doing that," Frieden said. "Tobacco kills more than 400,000 people a year and around the world more than 5 million."
County health departments will enforce the new ban through a complaint process. The law does not ban smoking in private places of employment. After a couple of warnings, a smoker could be fined $50 and a restaurant or bar owner $200 for an infraction. For the last few years, state law has prohibited smoking in most buildings owned or leased by state government, including those on college campuses. Since Sept. 1, it has been illegal to smoke in local government buildings.
State agencies also have used money from a legal settlement with tobacco companies for an anti-smoking campaign aimed at teens. Gov. Beverly Perdue has supported raising state cigarette taxes to reduce smoking.
"Raising the tax is the single most effective thing that can be done to reduce tobacco use," Frieden said, "and most smokers want to quit."
Since federal and local cigarette taxes were raised in New York City, the number of smoking adults has dropped from 22 percent to 19.2 percent, Frieden said. With cigarettes costing about $9 per pack, New York City has become one of the most expensive places to smoke.
"Banning smoking in the New York restaurants was very controversial," Frieden said. "The first six to 12 months could be tough for you."
Restaurant and bar owners should see guidelines for the state's new smoking ban by December. The state is expected to open a telephone hotline to advise owners.
dnivens@hpe.com -- 888-3626
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