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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Bloomington Advisory Board of Health and the Public Health Division have a long history of working on tobacco control initiatives to preventtobacco use by youth, reduce illegal sales of tobacco products to underage teens, help adults quit smoking, and reduce the public's exposure to secondhand smoke. Many local strategies have been used to reduce secondhand smoke exposure including public education, media campaigns, workshops, consultation with worksites and restaurants, and the adoption of smoke-free policies in all City-owned buildings and vehicles, entrances, and certain park properties. In February 2004, the Bloomington City Council requested the Advisory Board of Health study the issue of requiring bars and restaurants in the community to be smoke-free. The Advisory Board of Health held monthly study sessions from March to June. The goals of the study were: 1. To gain a better understanding of current trends, activities, and research concerning smoke- free workplace policies in restaurants and bars; and 2. To develop recommendations for the City Council's consideration. During this four-month period, several methods were used to gather data and information including: + Review of the Public Health Divisions's activities related to smoke-free workplaces/restaurants and bars • Updating the list of Bloomington's smoke-free restaurants and bars + Review of local health data about tobacco, health risks, and chronic disease • Literature review of scientific studies about the health impact of secondhand smoke, economic impact of smoking bans on restaurants and bars and trends regarding smoking bans and public attitudes • Interviews with representatives from voluntary and health care organizations, businesses, and the hospitality industry about their perspectives ai�d experience regarding smoking bans ■ Meeting with representatives from other Minnesota cities who have already proposed smoking bans to hear about their experiences and "lessons learned" + Review of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA) rules and regulations Study Findings The Advisory Board of Health identified the following as key study findings: Bloomington has a long history of implementing proactive tobacco prevention initiatives and has promoted the voluntary adoption of smoke-free policies in workplaces and restaurants. The medical research demonstrating the negative health effects of secondhand smoke is extensive and growing. �