EDITORIAL: Illinois, smoke-free

Publication Date: 2007-01-18

• Publication:Chicago Tribune

For us, public health concerns carry the day.

Last year, Surgeon General Richard Carmona underscored the power of the argument...

There's another important benefit to passing this law. The ban would be effective on Jan. 1, 2008. That would shorten the excessively long grace period granted to Chicago restaurants with bars and freestanding taverns. As it stands now, they don't have to clear the air until July of 2008--2 1/2 years after the City Council banned smoking in Chicago.

The City Council isn't likely to revisit this issue, especially after the agonizing negotiations that preceded the last deal. The state law would roll back the grace period without further council action.

The momentum for smoking bans is worldwide and growing stronger. There are 16 states with smoke-free laws similar to the one proposed in this state, according to the American Cancer Society.

A smoke-free Illinois in 2008. Wouldn't that be beautiful?