Hub eyes new limits on tobacco


The Boston Public Health Commission is proposing an attack on tobacco
that includes banning the sale of cigarettes at drugstores and on
campuses, snuffing out smoking on patios and loading docks, and
eventually putting an end to puffing in hookah bars and cigar shops.

The measure has many steps left before it is approved, but it passed
unanimously at the commission's meeting yesterday. The public now has
60 days to weigh in, by calling, e-mailing or writing the board.

Board of Health spokeswoman Ann Scales said some members feel the
citywide workplace-smoking ban that went into effect in 2002 has too
many loopholes that are exploited, such as allowing people to smoke
on loading docks and restaurant patios, which she said still exposes
some workers to secondhand smoke.

"It's a policy-making board whose task is to create policy that will
protect folks from obvious harm," Scales said, noting that smokers
contract preventable, fatal illnesses. "It's clear we need to do
something."

That includes phasing out indoor smoking at upscale cigar bars as
well as eliminating trendy hookah bars. It would also ban the sale of
blunt wrappers that are often used to roll marijuana cigarettes,
while sharply increasing fines for stores who sell tobacco to minors

I tried to find a link to Boston's health department to write to them - assuming they would want public impute. Couldn't find one this morning.

The regulation also covers hotels, motels and bed & breakfast within the city - isn't that swell/sarc. Bet they put that one in so everyone will freak out and when they 'with grace' back down on the hotel and give exemptions, everyone will breathe a sigh of relief.

We are but sheep, bah, bah. bah

This needs a lot of media coverage to stop it.
They need to be shamed.

quote:

Originally posted by gilster:
I tried to find a link to Boston's health department to write to them - assuming they would want public impute. Couldn't find one this morning.

Hey Gilster - that's probably because they know that they will get considerable objection and this way, they can claim that they didn't receive any objections from the public! Smart, huh!??!!!

Maybe we should write in and complain that perhaps they should close down all of the hospitals since (as gkayser30 mentioned in another post)

quote:

The health care system is the leading cause of preventable deaths in this country.

And Boston DOES have a ton of hospitals, teaching and research facilities! Let's see how Harvard School of Public Health would like being accused of being of leading cause of preventable death or causing hundreds of thousands of deaths!

I don't go out much any more and honestly, I'll NEVER go out again if they pass this one!

OH - Dave, many thanks for posting this! I heard it on the news on Friday and wanted to make mention of it.

Thanks!

Hey All -

Here it is - the Boston Public Health Commission (let's hope I did this correctly and the link works):

/http://www.cityofboston.gov/publichealth/

And try to write to these clowns here:

Public Policy Office
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 534-9674 (p)
(617) 534-7165 (f)
communications@bphc.org

There's a whole list of contacts. I just figured that this would be the best place since this issue concerns public policy.

Your friend,

Here's the website for the Boston Health Board with the information o the October 8th meeting.
Anyone want to go? Where's Nightlight? Boston Public Health Commission

quote:

And Boston DOES have a ton of hospitals, teaching and research facilities!

Perhaps each hospital should be required to diplay a sign stating:

WARNING!!
Admittance into this facility may cause SERIOUS ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS AND DEATH!!
They could put it right next to their 'No smoking allowed' sign.
Gary K.