City in California Proposes Second-hand Smoking Measure

Public Affairs

United States
City in California Proposes Second-hand Smoking Measure
Novato—There is legislation under consideration in the California city of Novato that would regard second hand smoke as a public nuisance.

This proposal goes further than anything presently on the books in Novato, officially calling cigarette smoke a public nuisance, and changing the required percentage of non-smoking hotel rooms from 50% to 80%, as well as banning smoking in parks, at public events, and in apartment common areas. Officially, smoking is prohibited “Anywhere food or drink is offered for sale, except unenclosed areas of a stand-alone bar; within 20 feet of any entrance, opening or exit of an enclosed area, except while passing; within 20 feet from public service areas; in courtyards and other areas where air circulation may be impeded by coverings; within 20 feet of building and construction crews; in all recreational areas, including city parks; [and] at public events, including sports events, entertainment pageants, parades and fairs; in multi-unit common areas.”

Violators of this new ordinance could face fines of up to $500.

Costly Tobacco Display Ban

Public Affairs

United Kingdom
Costly Tobacco Display Ban
London—Retailers will face "considerable operational and equipment costs" if the government goes ahead with plans that will ban the display of tobacco products, says the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). The ACS says the government should take into account the costs involved.

This comes in response to the Department of Health intimating that cigarette displays do not do enough, or are counter-intuitive to stopping children from smoking.