Ads Offer Info on Expansion of Smoking Ban

By Mike Aldax

In March, the Board of Supervisors expanded The City’s historic 1994 smoking ban by prohibiting the act in places such as ATM lines, farmers markets and common areas of residential buildings.

The ordinance took effect April 25. However, the part banning smoking in outdoor dining areas of restaurants won’t begin until Oct. 24.

With summer starting, city officials say it’s time to educate smokers about where they cannot smoke their cigarettes. This morning, two supervisors will join Department of Public Health chief Mitch Katz at Justin Herman Plaza to announce an ad campaign on the matter.

The ads will appear citywide on Muni, BART, bus shelters and street banners. The City is continuing to mail information to businesses and property owners about the ordinance, including new requirements for no-smoking signs at building entrances.

Stamped out

Changes implemented immediately by the new ordinance:

- Waiting in line — ATMs, movie theaters, outside nightclubs, ticket lines

- Building entrances — you must smoke at the curb unless there’s no curb, in which case there’s no smoking within 15 feet of a building entrance, exit, operable window or vent

- Hotels — no smoking throughout entire lobby of hotels and motels and 75 percent of guest rooms

- Farmers markets

- Common areas of apartments, condos and single-occupancy room hotels, including outdoor courtyards

- All bars and charity bingo establishments

Beginning Oct. 24

- Ban to include outdoor eating areas of restaurants