Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: April 1, 2005
CONTACT: Robert Marshall, PhD 222-1017

HEALTH Implements Superior Court Ruling on Smoking; Class C and D Establishments Must Go Smokefree

On March 31, 2005 the Rhode Island Superior Court ordered that all establishments with a Class C or Class D liquor license must go smokefree. Prior to this ruling, the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act delayed the implementation of the smokefree law for these establishments until October 1, 2006.

The Rhode Island Department of Health mailed notices to each of those establishments to prohibit indoor smoking effective immediately. The notification packages include:

• Signs that must be posted at all entrances of the establishments,
• Fact sheet about the law,
• Copy of the temporary restraining order,and
• An order form for materials that can be requested free of charge from the Department of Health.

“We are gratified that the Judge upheld the government’s role of protecting public health,” said David R. Gifford, MD, MPH, Acting Director of Health. “This ruling means that the second group of workers, who would have had to wait until October 2006, will get immediate protection from second-hand smoke.”

Secondhand smoke is a cancer-causing agent, like asbestos and radon, and causes more than 53,000 US deaths each year--200 in Rhode Island.

Learn more about the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act of 2004. Establishments may also download materials and the order form on this site.