// NEWS
LEGISLATION
New York City Keeps E-Cigs Out Of Local Restaurants With Legislation New York's City Council has approved extending the city's strict smoking ban to include electronic cigarettes, which emit a vapor.
T
he measure was pushed by outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg and backed by public health advocates in the city. It comes just weeks after New York became the first major city to raise the age for buying tobacco to 21. Earlier last month, New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said that "more research is needed on electronic cigarettes," but that "waiting to act could jeopardize the progress we have made over the last few years." Since 2002, New York has had a ban in place on smoking in bars, restaurants, parks, beaches and plazas. Councilman James Gennaro, one of the lead sponsors of the proposal to ban e-cigarettes in public places, and the commissioner, Dr. Thomas A. Farley, said that a loophole in current law allowing for electronic cigarettes was sowing confusion. "People are lighting up electronic cigarettes in restaurants, creating conflict with other patrons and waiters who have to mediate," noted Gennaro. "Children who could not differentiate between regular and electronic smoking were getting the message that smoking is socially acceptable." "We see these cigarettes are really starting to proliferate, and it's unacceptable,” Gennaro continued "I get reports of people smoking cigarettes
constituents’ liberties. Now a tenure in office that opened with welcome limits on smoking in public places and the mandatory inclusion of calorie information on restaurant menus will close with a ban on electronic cigarettes in public indoor spaces that Bloomberg signed into law after the New York’s City Council vote. The city already has one of the strictest smoking bans in America; since 2002, smoking has been prohibited in bars, restaurants, workplaces
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The makers of electronic cigarettes say that they are safe because they do not burn tar or tobacco, and they signaled their readiness to fight the proposed ban vigorously.
"People are lighting up electronic cigarettes in restaurants, creating conflict with other patrons and waiters who have to mediate," noted Gennaro. "Children who could not differentiate between regular and electronic smoking were getting the message that smoking is socially acceptable."
4 • January 2014 • Total Food Service • www.totalfood.com
in public libraries. Certainly, they're becoming more common in restaurants and bars." But the makers of electronic cigarettes say that they are safe because they do not burn tar or tobacco, and they signaled their readiness to fight the proposed ban vigorously. They say the e-cigarettes are a good alternative to regular smoking for people who cannot quit." After having undertaken a number of popular health initiatives since assuming office 12 years ago, just like predecessor Rudy Giuliani, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has come under fire for taking increasing liberties with his power to limit his
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