Governor Timothy M. Kaine will propose legislation with the start of tomorrow’s General Assembly for a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants, according to a press release issued by his office. “The scientific evidence about the health risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke is clear and convincing,” Kaine said, standing in a restaurant in Virginia Beach. “Recognizing the negative health effects and high public costs of secondhand smoke, Virginia must act to protect the workers and consumers in its restaurants.” The Virginia Department of Health estimates that secondhand smoke is responsible for 1,700 deaths per year and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that the Commonwealth spends $124.9 million a year on health care expenditures related to secondhand smoke exposure.
 No smoking for you! |
A similar effort by Kaine failed last year, largely because of a concern that outdoor smoking at dining establishments would also be banned. The proposed legislation changes the definition of a restaurant so that it excludes exterior dining areas of food establishments from the ban, unless the exterior area can be enclosed.
