The New Iberia City Council voted last night to protect the health of residents by passing a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance that builds on the 2007 Smoke-Free Air Act to include bars and gaming facilities. The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) and the Louisiana Public Health Institute applaud this move.
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“Residents of New Iberia will now be able to breathe easier and healthier in public spaces with the passing of this smoke-free ordinance,” said Rene Stansbury, TFL Regional Manager and Healthy Iberia Coalition Chair. “We appreciate the continued support from the City Council and congratulate them on this great step forward in protecting the health of the community.”
The smoke-free ordinance, which passed 4 to 3, will ensure all residents will be protected from the dangerous health effects of secondhand smoke. New Iberia became the 31st municipality in the state of Louisiana to go smoke-free. This brings the total population of Louisiana residents protected by smoke-free ordinances to 1,411,053.
“We are excited that New Iberia can now lay claim to being the next great smoke-free city in Louisiana,” said Rica Trigs, Community Advocacy Advisor for the American Heart Association of Greater New Orleans. “This ordinance will eventually lead to lower cleaning and healthcare costs for many local business owners, simply by asking smokers to respect their neighboring nonsmoker’s choice to refrain from tobacco use and step outside. We look forward to continuing to see progress toward a smoke-free Louisiana as our local communities continue to rise above the tobacco industry’s continued attempts on their health and wallets.”
For more information on the growing movement to protect all Louisiana employees from secondhand smoke, visit www.HealthierAirForAll.org.
Louisianans interested in quitting tobacco can visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org or call 1-800-Quit-Now to connect with a quit coach and create a personalized Quit Plan. Coaches are available 24/7, seven days a week. Quit With Us, Louisiana also provides counseling services over the phone, via text, through an app, or on the website chatbox. Quit Coaches can also provide cessation medication and make recommendations on what prescription medications participants can review with their doctor. Young adults and individuals seeking to quit vaping can get vaping-specific cessation assistance by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.
Written by Brittany Fowler, Communications and Earned Media Manager, LPHI
Photo provided by Rene Stansbury, Regional Manager - Region IV, LPHI