It has been a year since the Smoke Free Places Act was introduced, ridding Calgary bars and restaurants of second-hand smoke, and forcing smokers to take their butts outside. By now, many don’t even notice the absence, or miss the presence of cigarette smoke in Calgary’s gay bars. But as promised for the beginning of 2008, the next step of the Alberta government’s wellness agenda came into effect January 1st.
The newly touted Tobacco Reduction Act is designed to replace the Smoke Free Places Act, eliminating exceptions such as casinos and First Nations reserves. Now the use of tobacco products (including smokeless products such as chewing tobacco) is prohibited in public places and workplaces regardless of whether minors are permitted; the only exceptions are privately owned vehicles, private residences, and aboriginal rituals that involve tobacco.
Furthermore, smokers will have to venture a little further outside in order to light up. The regulation distance from a doorway, window that opens, or an air intake of a public place or workplace has been increased from 3 to 5 meters, which may put a damper on the loopholed use of outdoor patio space for some bars.
The fines for not abiding by this new act are much steeper than they were prior. An individual caught smoking in a prohibited place may be fined up to $1000 for a first offense, and up to $5000 the second time. Managers are responsible for ensuring that people in their establishment abide by the rules, and are also liable if someone is caught committing an offense – up to $10,000 for first time, and up to $100,000 the second time. For now the act will be enforced by police officers and peace officers, but additional inspectors may be appointed by the Minister down the line.
The act is supported by 80% of Albertans, according to the Ipsos-Reid poll conducted in January 2007. The Alberta Tobacco Reduction Strategy (ATRS) benefits Albertans according to statistics that indicate Tobacco as the number one preventable cause of premature death in Canada, and that Tobacco usage costs Alberta’s economy over $1.8 billion each year in lost productivity and direct health care costs.
Despite these tightened regulations, there is no plan to go so far as banning the sale of tobacco products altogether. The Alberta government acknowledges that change has to happen gradually, and does not want to create a demand for contraband cigarettes.
More changes are yet to come. On the first of July this year, all retail displays promoting tobacco products will be prohibited, and January 1st of 2009 will see the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products in health care facilities, public post-secondary campuses, pharmacies, and stores that contain a pharmacy.
For more information about the Tobacco Reduction Act, visit:
http://www.health.alberta.ca/SmokeFree/Tobacco-Reduction_FAQ.html
For information on how to quit smoking, visit:
http://www.albertaquits.ca
