THE STATUS OF LOCAL SMOKING REGULATIONS IN NORTH-CAROLINA FOLLOWING ASTATE PREEMPTION BILL

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.