E. Conlisk et al., THE STATUS OF LOCAL SMOKING REGULATIONS IN NORTH-CAROLINA FOLLOWING ASTATE PREEMPTION BILL, JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, 273(10), 1995, pp. 805-807
Objective.-To determine the number and protectiveness of local smoking
regulations adopted before the implementation of a preemptive statewi
de smoking control bill. Method.-Review of local smoking control regul
ations from all 100 counties and 85 municipalities with populations gr
eater than 5000 in North Carolina. Main Outcome Measures.-Adoption of
local smoking control regulations before and during the 3-month delay
in enactment of the preemptive bill. Protectiveness of regulations was
based on restrictions on smoking and requirements for separate ventil
ation systems at private work sites: none (smoking unrestricted); mini
mal (smoking restricted to designated areas); partial (smoking restric
ted to designated areas served by separate ventilation systems); and c
omplete (smoking prohibited). Because some regulations would be phased
in gradually over the next 5 years, we evaluated the requirements tha
t will be in effect by January 1, 2000. Results.-Between July 15 and O
ctober 15, 1993, the number of local smoking regulations in North Caro
lina increased from 16 to 105. By the year 2000, 59% of private employ
ees still will not be guaranteed any protection from work site environ
mental tobacco smoke; 19% will have minimal protection, 22% will have
partial protection, and none will have complete protection. Conclusion
s.-The 3-month delay in preemption created an unnatural time frame for
communities to organize, debate, and adopt smoking restrictions. Desp
ite the adoption of 89 new regulations, no private employees will be g
uaranteed complete protection from work site environmental tobacco smo
ke by the year 2000; new regulations can no longer be adopted. HB 957
has been a setback for public health in North Carolina.