By Emily Wood

July 24, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- As the state of Oregon approaches the expansion of its Smokefree Workplace Law on January 1st, 2009, a new survey finds that two-thirds of bars and bar sections of restaurants are already smokefree.
 
The survey, by Oregon's Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, found that 91 percent of all places that allow smoking are aware of the upcoming law, and nine percent plan to voluntarily go smoke-free before the law even takes effect. 44 percent say they are already voluntarily smokefree. Another 40 percent of establishments with liquor licenses are already smokefree by law because they allow minors at all times.

The survey was conducted in April and May of this year.

The Smokefree Law was passed by the Oregon legislature in June 2007. It expands Oregon's 2001 Smokefree Workplace Law to protect almost all of Oregon workers from second-hand smoke.

Beginning January 1, 2009, the number of indoor workplaces required to be smokefree will expand to include bars, bingo halls, bowling centers, employee breakrooms, and at least 75 percent of hotel and motel sleeping rooms. The new law will also prohibit smoking within at least 10 feet of all building entrances, exits, windows and ventiliation intakes of workplaces or public places.

For a list of establishments that are currently smoke-free in Jackson County visit the Jackson County website at www.co.jackson.or.us

For a list of smokefree bars and restaurants in other cities around Oregon, visit www.smokefreeworld.com/oregon.shtml