Indoor Smoking Ban Turns 10, But 25,000 Still Die Each Year

New Yorkers are attending events around the state today to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the New York State Clean Indoor Act. The state law that went into effect July 24, 2003 banned smoking in almost all workplaces, bars, restaurants, bowling facilities, taverns and bingo halls.

Even with the success of this law, statistics still show smoking leads to the death of over 25,000 New Yorkers every year. The U.S. Surgeon General says one of the main problems that remains is youth smoking.  Logan Bruce, a member of Reality Check for Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties talks about the harmful effects of tobacco advertising.

"It is an influence to kids especially younger kids when they put out advertisements it's always colors and it definitely attracts kids attention," Bruce said. "It makes them ask their parents what that is and then if a parent's like a smoker they'll obviously tell them and it's more likely for them to get hooked."

Program Director of this local Reality Check Alison Bruce says some have already taken action to try and change tobacco advertising in stores.

"There have been a few counties that have offered legislation to cover up tobacco marketing in stores," Bruce said. "I think once the legislation is passed I think it's going to snowball and one by one hopefully each county [will] start to pick up on that and start to do the same thing in each county."For more information about ongoing efforts to reduce smoking and protect kids from tobacco marketing in Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties visit realitycheckofny.com