Suffolk County (NY) to Vote on SmokeFree Workplace Law

On December 5, Suffolk County will vote on smokefree workplace legislation.  The proposal, which would provide all Suffolk County workers with a smokefree work environment, was passed 3-0 by Suffolk County's health committee.

Currently nine legislators are openly supporting the proposed law.  Ten votes are needed to pass. 

What is the hold-up?

Seven years ago, Suffolk County passed legislation to make many workplaces smokefree, but allowed separately ventilated smoking rooms.  A common tobacco cartel ploy whenever smokefree legislation is being considered is to get legislators to allow for separately ventilated smoking rooms.  Then when legislators find out that these rooms don't work and seek to eliminate them, tobacco interests claim it's unfair to take away these rooms since money was spent to build them.  That is exactly what is happening in Suffolk County now. 

Smoking rooms are a bad idea for five reasons:  1) They don't protect the health of employees who have to work in them,  2) Only some businesses can afford them which creates an unlevel playing field,  3) Compliance is difficult to monitor and enforce,  4) Smokers walk out with lit cigarettes or light them before going in, and  5) They destroy the simple idea behind smokefree workplace legislation, which is that it's easy to understand, easy to implement, and easy to enforce. 

What happens now?

On December 5, the Suffolk County legislature will vote.  If ten legislators vote in support, it will go to the Suffolk County Executive for his signature or veto.  If enacted, Suffolk would join Nassau County which passed similar legislation last month.  New York City, Westchester County, and Erie County are expected to pass similar legislation shortly.