San Francisco established itself as a public health leader when it became the first major U.S. city to prohibit smoking in non-hospitality workplaces. Yet, more than 40 years later, bar patios remain exempt.
As a result, bar workers and patrons across the city are still exposed to secondhand smoke containing thousands of chemicals, including arsenic, benzene and lead, all known to cause cancer and other serious diseases.
This exemption is long overdue for reconsideration. In fact, San Francisco now lags behind San Jose, Oakland and dozens of other Bay Area cities that already protect workers, patrons and nearby residents from secondhand smoke in outdoor bar areas.
As a San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee considers an ordinance to prohibit smoking on bar patios ahead of its June 8 vote, I urge them to remember the human, healthcare and economic costs that smoking and secondhand smoke pose to San Franciscans.
Best Regards,
Amanda Webb
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Volunteer
San Francisco
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