Overview
Everyone deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air. The Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005 has many loopholes and allows smoking to continue in many workplaces and public buildings in the state.
The consequences of secondhand smoke are staggering. Secondhand smoke leads to 50,000 deaths per year in the United States, and in Georgia tobacco kills approximately 10,000 people each year. The Surgeon General has concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Atlanta's restaurant and barworkers are most at risk. Many workers spend 8 hours a day or more breathing in secondhand smoke. Working eight hours in a smoky bar is equivalent to smoking
a pack of cigarettes.
Smoking a pack a day should not be a condition for employment in Atlanta.
In addition to promoting health, smoke-free workplaces and public buildings benefit the economy. Atlanta is missing out on thousands of dollars in meeting and convention spending because many organizations will only meet in smoke-free cities. Further, smoke-free laws save the state, businesses, and consumers money on healthcare and insurance costs.
That's why Georgia PIRG is working for smoke-free workplaces and public buildings in Atlanta. While the Georgia Smokefree Air Act was an important step forward, it does not fully protect Georgians. Georgia PIRG is leading the Smoke-Free Atlanta Coalition to protect everyone from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure.
