Florida to Ban Smoking, Vaping in All Public Spaces

Three Florida lawmakers have announced a bill that would ban smoking, marijuana use and vaping on streets, sidewalks and other public places. The ban would expand on a 2022 law that banned smoking on beaches and in public parks.[1].

Republican Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota and two other state lawmakers introduced the bill. It comes ahead of the potential legalization of recreational marijuana in November. The legalization — known as Amendment 3 — applies to adults 21 and older in the state. The bill, which would ban smoking and vaping in public spaces, would be introduced in the 2025 legislative session, which begins next March.

Florida statewide ban

The consumption ban would apply to, but not be limited to, streets, sidewalks, highways, public parks and common areas, both indoors and outdoors, of schools, hospitals, public buildings, apartment buildings, office buildings, lodging establishments, restaurants, transportation facilities and retail stores, according to a draft proposal, throughout Florida.

Currently, the state preempts tobacco regulations and does not allow counties or municipalities to establish smoke-free spaces, except for school districts that can further restrict tobacco use on their property. prescription published in 2022 authorized municipalities to implement smoking/vaping bans on beaches, public parks, and within 8 meters of a public entrance or exit of a business located within its jurisdiction (except bars, tobacco/vaping establishments). Many municipalities had implemented smoking bans in these places at the time.

The American Lung Association supports the bill, and a recent Florida Atlantic University poll shows that 56 percent of residents support such a measure.

Expanding smoke-free areas protects against smoking and the environment

Smoke-free public places protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of passive smoking, but they also provide a strong incentive for smokers to reduce their consumption or quit smoking, while dissuading young people from starting to smoke.

Smoke-free spaces also help protect the environment. Cigarette butts are the most common type of waste found in nature. Toxic and non-biodegradable, they release hazardous substances into the environment. Disposable electronic devices and e-cigarette cartridges pose just as much of a risk as cigarette butts. These wastes contain mercury, lead and other toxic chemicals that are non-biodegradable and pose a risk to wildlife.

In France, the new National Anti-Smoking Program 2023 - 2027 aims to generalize smoking bans in parks, forests, schools and beaches with the aim of denormalizing smoking in society. These provisions are also supported by the National Committee against Smoking (CNCT) and its partner Grand Est sans tabac (GEST) through their project free cities without tobacco in the Grand Est region. The cities involved in the scheme are particularly communicating on this environmental dimension of the fight against smoking and are setting up smoke-free areas in parks, public gardens, around schools, sports and cultural establishments, and around leisure areas in order to denormalise smoking and protect the health of residents.

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[1] Florida state senator floats ban on smoking in all public places, NBC Miami, published August 16, 2024, accessed August 19, 2024