Smoke-free

Photo of ACS CAN volunteers at Smoke-Free Lobby Day event

Tobacco Control

No one should have to choose between their job and their health.  And the science clearly shows that secondhand smoke causes cancer, even for those who have never smoked a cigarette. 

We are working in local communities across the nation to make restaurants, bars, casinos and all workplaces smoke-free, protecting all workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Nearly 60 percent of people across the country are protected by comprehensive smoke-free laws where they work.

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Smoke-Free Shreveport in Danger: Council Repeals Smoke-free Protections for Casino Workers

May 25, 2023
Louisiana

The Shreveport Council today passed an amendment to undermine the effective and popular smoke-free ordinance to once again allow smoking in casinos, being the first municipality in Louisiana, and in the U.S., to withdraw smoke-free workplace protections from their hardworking constituents. With this move, Louisiana is once again first in the worst of ways and rankings.

Declines in Cigarette Use by Adults Show Impact of Evidence-Based Tobacco Control Policies  

May 4, 2023
National

Cigarette smoking declined from 12.5% in 2020 to 11.5% in 2021, but one in five, or 46 million, U.S. adults continues to use tobacco products in 2021 according to new data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Congressional Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Veterans’ Health

March 29, 2023
National

Today, a bipartisan, bicameral group of congressional lawmakers introduced legislation which would prohibit the use of all combustible tobacco products and the use of e-cigarettes at healthcare facilities managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

N.J. Health Committee Gears up for Long-Awaited Hearing on Smoke-free Casino Loophole

February 12, 2023
New Jersey

TRENTON, NJ – FEBRUARY 12, 2023 – Tomorrow, February 13 the General Assembly will host its first-ever hearing on legislation to close the loophole for casinos in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act. When it was enacted in 2006, the Smoke-Free Air Act contained an exemption for casinos, enabling patrons to

Smoke-free Resources

Effective Policies Known to Prevent Tobacco Use and Address Tobacco-Related Disparities

September 5, 2023

Tobacco use has been found to be one of the primary drivers of cancer-related health disparities because its use disproportionately impacts people based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, mental health, income level, education level, and geographic location. Achieving health equity relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use. ACS CAN is pursuing fact-based tobacco control policies at the local, state and federal levels that aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for everyone.

The Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Worker Health

November 4, 2018

More than 40 years after former U.S. Surgeon General Jesse Steinfeld first exposed the potential health risks of secondhand smoke (SHS) in 1971,1 and nearly 30 years after a subsequent Surgeon General’s report stated that SHS causes lung cancer and other diseases,2 all U.S.

Smoke-Free Policies: Good For Business

November 3, 2018