Testimony of Johanna Neumann on behalf of the Maryland Public Interest Research Group (Maryland PIRG)
Position: FAVORABLE
Smoking is a hazard to people’s health. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides – combined. Of all the illnesses and deaths that occur throughout the state, smoking-related occurrences are the most preventable.
Tobacco companies make a product that kills 440,000 Americans a year, which is 1,200 Americans a day. Not only does the tobacco industry produce a lethal substance that kills hundreds of thousands of Americans a year, but it also purposefully spikes tobacco with specific ingredients in order to make tobacco so addictive that people will struggle for years, even their entire lives, to give up the deadly habit without success. Additionally, the industry spends billions of dollars every year on advertising that targets young people. By targeting a young population, the tobacco industry ensures that these youngsters will be tobacco customers for life.
Second hand smoke leads to 53,000 deaths a year and the Centers for Disease Control has concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, the third leading cause of preventable death in America. As a result, over 1,000 cities and 17 states have taken action to protect its citizens by banning smoking inside of all workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
Maryland ’s restaurant and bar workers are most at risk. Many of Maryland workers can't avoid the second hand smoke and have to spend 8 hours a day breathing in second hand smoke. In a smoke filled room for one shift of 8 hours the workers are smoking the equivalent of 1 to 2 packs a day. Restaurant and bar workers are the only remaining unprotected work force in the state of Maryland.
Maryland can and has used local laws to beat big tobacco. Howard, Prince George’s Montgomery and Talbot Counties, along with Baltimore City have passed comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws. Now the time has come for Maryland to pass a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law statewide.
Maryland PIRG respectfully urges a favorable report on HB 359.
