Schiff opposes Intro 947 tobacco bar relocation
Schiff says the 2001 Smoke-Free Air Act ended new tobacco bar permits and allowed existing bars to continue only in their existing locations to achieve attrition. She argues allowing tobacco bars to relocate or reopen after closing undermines the law and risks secondhand smoke exposure in nearby homes and businesses.
Introduction 947 would allow current tobacco bars to move and allow tobacco bars that had already closed to reopen, including in a new location.
The city's landmark Smoke-Free Air Act, passed by City Council in 2001, was enacted to end indoor tobacco smoking, prohibit the opening of new tobacco and cigar bars, and only allow existing bars to continue operating in their then-existing locations
under the permits they already had to enable the eventual attrition of these establishments.
The Smoke-Free Air Act ended the issuance of new permits for tobacco bars by the Health Department.
Allowing tobacco bars to relocate and resume operations after previously closing undermines the premise of the law.
This rollback of our longstanding joint commitment to reducing secondhand smoke exposure
would put the decades-long progress the council and department have made to reduce tobacco-related health harms at risk.
Secondhand smoke exposure is not limited to the premises of the establishment.
Residential units and businesses nearby will also be affected.
This is especially concerning because the decline in smoking in the city has now stalled, and we have seen widespread commentary in the media about a resurgence in the popularity of smoking.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss this further.