H2 Smoking Bill Signed

Sen. William Purcell and other legislators looked on as Governor Bev Perdue signed an historic document today in the old state capitol in the presence of advocates, school children and news reporters from across the state. House Bill 2 is now law and prohibits smoking in certain public places, most notably all bars and restaurants.  The NC Pediatric Society, as a member of the NC Alliance for Health, was invited to the bill signing and Dr. Jean C. Smith, pediatrician with Wake County Human Services, symbolically represented every Society member who has made a call, sent an email or talked directly to a legislator to pass this bill.   The media focus will likely be about North Carolina’s tobacco heritage and the sea change that this represents in public policy in view of that heritage, but health professionals have known for a long time the deleterious health effects of second hand smoke on children as well as adults – there is no safe level of exposure.  Effectively immediately, smoking is prohibited in eating establishments and while there are multiple exceptions, this bill is regarded as a huge victory for non-smokers’ rights.