Smoke-free bar compliance remains steady on state law

Publication Date: 2006-06-12

• Author:Staff Report
• Publication:Oroville (CA) Mercury-Register

According to the results of recent compliance visit surveys, Butte County bars remain 100 percent smoke-free. Random, unannounced bar checks found no violations at time of visit as required by state law.

Bar owners previously in violation of the smoke-free bar law, (Labor Code 6404.5), have now come into compliance. Many have built outdoor patios for smoking customers and or have gone smoke-free altogether. In addition, some bars have been sold to nonsmoking owners or younger non-smoking family members have inherited the businesses.

The new social norm for smokers is to go outside when wanting to smoke.

Byron Brace, Health Education Specialist for the Butte County Public Health Department's Tobacco Education Program said, "We have experienced an incredible compliance rate in the last couple of years