Smoking Ban: One Year Later

It is one year ago today that the statewide smoking ban was enforced. Although it was a leap for anti-tobacco advocates, the Clean Indoor Air Act also included exceptions, most notably residential care facilities and up to half of total floor space in casinos.

Cindy Thomas, Executive Director of Tobacco Free Allegheny, says the transition has gone smoothly, but there work is not yet done. She says their ultimate goal is to shift cultural norms around tobacco, something that the state has not accomplished. Thomas says the group is always hopeful that the law could be strengthened to eliminate some exceptions, but she is not optimistic about that happening in the near future.