What were we thinking? Well, back in the 50s, 60s,70s, and even as late as the 90s, we hadn't’t nearly the knowledge we have now about the dangers of secondhand smoke.
People smoked in airplanes, family restaurants, offices, and even hospitals--places where we wouldn’t dream of lighting up today. Over the last few decades, we’ve seen dramatic changes
in smoke-free laws, and the acceptability of smoking around others. We know that secondhand smoke can kill, and we take steps to reduce the harm it inflicts on others – friends, family, children, colleagues.

Now Utah is joining numerous other countries and states (including New York, California, Montana, England, Ireland, and Italy) in
taking secondhand smoke protections to a
new level. The Utah Indoor Clean Air Act has been amended, and some of its provisions
are already in effect-- others will be phased
in over the next couple of years. They affect private schools, bars, clubs, and additional worksites.

These kinds of policies have proved effective and popular in other places. In New York,
bar workers reported a decrease in respiratory symptoms and irritated eyes after their smoke-free law went into effect. In Ireland, their
law has proved popular with most surveyed
pub-goers. In multiple states and countries, business has either improved, or experienced
no negative effect from these laws.

Smoke free Utah starts now. These pages provide more information about Utah’s smoke-free laws and how they affect you. See the
links below for more information.