High Court OK's Maryland's Total Smoking Ban

May Encourage Similar Regulations in Other States

Lifts Injunction on Toughest Smoking Ban in Nation

Smoking Banned in Bar, Restaurants, and All Workplaces

Maryland highest court has just lifted an injunction obtained by the tobacco industry which had prevented the nation's toughest smoking ban from becoming effective. The ban, which resulted from a governmental health regulation rather than legislative action, is reportedly the most comprehensive in the nation, surpassing even California's. The Maryland regulation prohibits smoking in any workplace, except in separate smoking rooms which must be separately ventilated and negatively pressurized.

The definition of workplaces includes not only offices and stores, but all restaurants and bars. Thus, smoking will be prohibited anywhere within a bar or restaurant. California's comprehensive smoking ban, which became effective January 1st, prohibits smoking in restaurants, but not in bars. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a national legal-action antismoking organization which fought for the ban and first took the tobacco industry to court over it, said that today's court decision could help encourage other states to take similar steps. This is particularly important, said ASH Executive Director John Banzhaf, because pending legislation might prevent or delay OSHA from adopting a similar national rule it has proposed. The court's order becomes effective 30 days from today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 24, 1995

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: John Banzhaf (202) 659-4310

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