News Article
Council bans smokeless tobacco at stadiums, raises smoking age
From Chicago Sun Times
Chicago on Wednesday became the fourth big-league city in the United States to ban chewing tobacco at baseball stadiums.
It was one of several ways in which Big Tobacco took it on the chin, as the City Council also raised the city’s smoking age to 21, outlawed discount and slapped a $6 million tax on cigars, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco.
The Chicago ban — applying to players, not just fans — was a big victory for the so-called “Knock Tobacco Out of the Park” campaign sweeping the nation.
Our Take
Chicago is adding to a strong base of tobacco control laws that will prevent youth tobacco use. The newest measures include everything from reducing youth access to tobacco by raising the minimum age of sale to 21, to banning tobacco in local ballparks including Wrigley Field and US Cellular Field. These are big steps in the Second City.
