The American Lung Association has given West Hollywood a grade of “D” in its 2014 “State of Tobacco Control” report.
The report is an assessment of steps that states, counties and cities across the country have taken to protect residents from the ill effects of tobacco. The City of Los Angeles got a “C” grade, as did Beverly Hills and Culver City. Santa Monica, Burbank and Pasadena got “A” rankings.
The report ranks cities according to steps they have taken to restrict smoking outdoors and in apartment complexes and condominium buildings and according to their efforts to reduce sales of tobacco products.
Across California, 119 cities and counties restrict smoking at outdoor dining areas and 45 restrict smoking on sidewalks in commercial areas. Thirty-four cities and counties require that multi-unit housing complexes have non-smoking units and 114 restrict smoking in indoor or outdoor common areas. Tobacco retailers much obtain a local sales license in 141 cities and counties and 31 restrict sales within a certain distance of schools and park.
Tobacco smoking is a major issue in West Hollywood in part because of its large gay population — estimated at about 40 percent of the city’s approximately 34,000 residents.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched a campaign called “Break Up with Tobacco” that aims to reduce smoking among LGBT people. It reports that LGBT people smoke at a rate 50 percent higher than heterosexuals. The Public Health Department estimates that 20.6 percent of LGBT people in Los Angeles County smoke tobacco.
The bars will exist with or without smoking. That bars would cease to exist was the same thing that was cried when CalOSHA wisely banned smoking indoors at bars. The City of Chicago doesn’t allow smoking anywhere inside, outside on patios, or even near entrances to the bars. Last I checked, their bars were packed & doing just fine. City of West Hollywood wants to be progressive, then it needs to act like it. Santa Monica is way ahead of us.
BFD. The bars & clubs in West Hollywood, to which there are more than one can count, would not exist without people coming in from other communities. I smoke and enjoy a drink at the same time. The smoking patios are the only place one can have a conversation without the music blaring in your ears. We are adults and as such already know the risks of smoking so the nanny state can just take a walk.
@Rob – so it’s ok as long as WeHo has company at the bottom? Why doesn’t the city strive to be in the top 20%?
The way this is reported makes it sound like West Hollywood is at the bottom of the list. But, in fact, nearly 80% of cities in California got a D or an F. Only 1/5 of cities got an A, B, or C.
yeah, that’s true, we have to quit smoking……