Colorado enacts statewide smoking ban

Public health measure is No. 13 among U.S. states to curtail indoor smoking

FOR RELEASE:
Monday, March 27, 2006

CONTACT:
Dan Hopkins 303-866-6324
Mark Salley 303-866-6323

OWENS SIGNS SMOKING BAN LEGISLATION

(DENVER) - Gov. Bill Owens today signed legislation making Colorado the 13th state to enact a statewide smoking ban. The law takes effect July 1, 2006.

House Bill 1175, sponsored by Rep. Mike May (R-Parker) and Sen. Dan Grossman (D- Denver), prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants and most workplaces.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, secondhand smoke is the number one source of indoor air pollution containing hazardous chemical compounds such as arsenic and formaldehyde. Like asbestos, it has been classified as a Class A carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Health Department states that secondhand smoke is responsible for the deaths of thousands of non-smokers each year and is known to cause lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease in non-smokers.

In Colorado, the costs attributable to secondhand smoke are estimated to be $180 million annually for direct medical expenses and $19 million for loss of life.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Colorado. According to the Health Department, more people die from smoking each year than from alcohol and drug abuse, AIDS, homicide, suicide, car accidents and fires combined.

Approximately 130,000 smokers develop smoking-related illnesses each year in the state and the annual healthcare costs directly attributable to tobacco exceed $1 billion, or $259 per capita.