Welcome!

Welcome to Smokefree NC, a campaign of the NC Alliance for Health. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free indoor air, free from the proven dangers of secondhand smoke. No one should have to risk their health as a condition of employment.

On May 19th, Governor Perdue signed House Bill 2, Prohibit Smoking in Certain Public Places into law. HB 2 will go into effect on January 2, 2010 and provide protection from secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars across the state. HB 2 also authorizes some expansion of local control so that local governments can pass local ordinances restricting smoking in some other public places, including some worksites.

Thank Your Legislators Now!

In June 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Secondhand Smoke. In it, the Surgeon General asserts that, "Nonsmokers need protection through the restriction of smoking public places and workplaces." The 2006 report confirmed that secondhand smoke is a cause of heart disease and lung cancer, and has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Further, the report concludes that "There is NO risk-free level of secondhand smoke."

The completion of action around HB 2 is historic for a tobacco state like North Carolina. Though the Alliance's work will not be done until all NC workers are protected from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, it is important that we take a moment to acknowledge this huge accomplishment in public health.

Send a Special Thank You Message to Lawmakers that Supported HB 2!

The letter below will be sent on your behalf to targeted legislators when you complete the registration form and click "Take Action":

Thank you for showing a commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the citizens of North Carolina through your support of House Bill 2, Prohibit Smoking in Certain Public Places.  I am looking forward to January 2, 2010 when all restaurants and bars in North Carolina become smoke-free.  This is a great step in the right direction toward protecting North Carolina's workers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Once HB 2 becomes law, 69% of the workforce, or nearly 2.8 million North Carolina workers, will be protected by smoke-free policies.  In addition, millions more North Carolinians will be protected from short-term exposure when spending time in our restaurants and bars.  Studies have shown that smoke-free laws can reduce deaths and hospital admissions due to heart attack by 20%; in North Carolina, this would translate to more than 4,000 admissions and 800 deaths due to heart attacks.  This will save us more than $15 million in health care costs.

More than 395,000 North Carolina bar and restaurant workers will be able to go to work knowing that their hearts and lungs are protected by smoke-free policies.  Your support of HB 2 shows commitment to improving health and saving lives.  Thank you for standing up for the right to breathe smoke-free air.

Your name and address will be added automatically to the signature line so that the targeted legislator can reply to your correspondence.

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ACT NOW!

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