Please act today: Support smokefree bar patios in San Francisco

Dear ANR member,

Despite being a local and national leader in tobacco prevention, San Francisco is waffling on whether to expand smokefree worksite protections to bar patios.

There’s still time to voice your support! Will you contact the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Lurie today to let them know that as a visitor to San Francisco, you support smokefree bar patios?

As a California resident and visitor to San Francisco, your voice is incredibly important. The Mayor and Supervisors pay attention to those committing their tourist dollars to the city. Also, please share this alert with friends and family who live, work, or visit San Francisco.

Supervisors and the Mayor are hearing from bars—through emails, public comment, and the media—that they don’t want patios to go smokefree due to fears that it will be economically harmful. However, all economic studies show that smokefree bars are both good for business and good for health – people still come to bars for numerous social and communal reasons, not just to smoke. All workers in San Francisco deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree worksite—no matter where they work.

Current status: The ordinance will have a hearing on June 8 at the Land Use and Transportation Committee and it’s important for Supervisors to hear from supporters this week. We especially need to them to hear from people who work at or go to bars in San Francisco who would be happy to see bar patios be free from smoking and vaping. The ordinance was originally going to be heard on May 18, but it was delayed to June 8, and we don’t want the proposal to be delayed again.

What’s Can You Do?

First: Email the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Lurie to voice your support for smokefree bar patios. Let them know you believe all workers in San Francisco deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree worksite—no matter where they work. Click here for talking points to send a quick email today.

Second: Do you have family, friends, and co-workers who go to bars in San Francisco? Do you know anyone who works at bars in San Francisco? If yes, please forward them this email and ask them to speak up too!