From: Joe@smokefree.org
Date: Wed, 10/12/05
Smokefree Norway a Huge Success
Results in line with other studies
Parts excerpted from Reuters, 11/12/05
OSLO (Reuters) - A smokefree workplace law in Norwegian bars, restaurants, and
nightclubs has been a huge success, the government said on Tuesday.
Norway implemented the nationwide law in June 2004, becoming the second country
in the world at that time (after Ireland) to do so. The law entitles
bartenders, waiters, cooks, and other staff in the sector the same protection as
workers in offices or factories, which have long been smokefree.
"It's been even more successful than we had hoped for and means a cleaner
environment and better health for all workers," Dagfinn Hoeybraaten, the labor
and social affairs minister, said at the launch of a government study.
The study showed that staff breathing has improved, nicotine in their urine has
been virtually eliminated and air quality cleaned up by the law.
"Now you can compare bars and restaurants to the office," said Marit Skogstad,
part of the research team which tested 74 waiters and waitresses before and
after the clean air law went into effect. It was terrible before the law, maybe
worse than working in heavy industry.
Dust levels in bars and restaurants fell from over 250 milligrams to 75
milligrams per cubic meter and the amount of nicotine in the urine of
non-smokers on the staff dropped by almost 90 percent, the study showed.
"Hundreds of localities around the world have adopted smokefree workplace laws,"
says Joe Cherner, founder of BREATHE (Bar and Restaurant Employees Advocating
Together for a Healthy Environment). "Virtually every study shows that these
laws are good for health and good for business."
To win smokefree air where you live, go to http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php
Joseph W. Cherner
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
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