Media release: 5 May, 2003
Boston pubs, clubs, taverns
all
smokefree from today
Australia
lags further behind in protecting staff, patrons
Boston
today joins a rapidly expanding number of cities world-wide passing smokefree
workplace legislation including banning smoking in all pubs, clubs, taverns,
nightclubs and bingo halls.
In
the USA, more than 90 cities and towns in Massachusetts alone have passed
smokefree workplace legislation. The entire states of California,
Delaware, and New York have gone smokefree, with Connecticut expected to join
them this week. Entire countries including Ireland and Norway have also banned
smoking throughout workplaces.
However,
Australia is lagging behind, says the SmokeFree ’03 Coalition – with
thousands of hotel, club and casino workers still exposed daily to second-hand
smoke in their workplaces.
"No
one should have to breathe tobacco smoke pollution to hold a job, because it
causes cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease, " says Anne Jones,
coalition member and Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health Australia.
“Every
worker has a right to work in a safe, healthy, smokefree work environment - and
every day this right is denied, the manager’s legal liability is
accruing," says Anne Jones.
Second-hand
tobacco smoke kills more than 220 Australians a year. The SmokeFree 03 Coalition
is repeating its call to governments to end the delays of smoking bans by
ensuring all hospitality workplaces are smokefree by the end of 2003.
Comment:
Anne Jones, ASH Australia
ph. 0417-227-879
Media
info:
Stafford Sanders
ph. (02) 9334-1823
SmokeFree '03 coalition:
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union; Musicians' Union of
Australia;
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of Trade
Unions;
Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council Australia;
National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking and Health;
Non-Smokers' Movement of Australia