ILLINOIS SENATE APPROVES BAN ON SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES
All restaurants and bars across Illinois would have to go
smoke-free under legislation approved Thursday by the state
Senate.
The measure would replace the patchwork of local smoking
ordinances across Illinois with a single policy meant to protect
people from secondhand smoke in the workplace.
Working eight hours in a smoky bar or restaurant is the
equivalent of smoking 16 cigarettes, the American Cancer Society
says. It estimates secondhand smoke contributes to the deaths of
2,900 Illinoisans a year - about eight a day.
The bill passed 34-23 and now goes to the House.
"We spend billions of dollars of taxpayers' money in health
care," said the sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills. "This
is our time to remedy this problem."
