Stronger Omaha Laws Mean Fewer Smokers
In 2008, Nebraska passed the Nebraska Clean Indoor Act, which required indoor workplaces to be 100
smokefree as of June 1, 2009. This law included restaurants, bars, and indoor public places. The proprietor of the
establishment is responsible for enforcing the no smoking regulations. Omaha blazed the trail in Nebraska, as
they passed the same type of legislation in 2006.
The safety and health of the staff and co-workers who had to work around smokers, was a huge issue. Second
hand smoke has been proven to be harmful to non-smokers in many medical studies.
As of 2010, eleven complaints were received in Nebraska about establishments not complying with the law, so
the intended effect was achieved.
Fewer smokers are out and about. If they are smoking, then they aren’t doing it where it is illegal. Either people
are quitting because it is not convenient to smoke, and this is the last straw, or they are staying home and
smoking.
It is well known that smoking has many adverse health effects, and it could very well be that
restrictions on where they can smoke, is the final reason they quit smoking for good.
In any case, it means fewer smokers overall in public and cleaner air for all those in Omaha, thanks to stronger
laws.