Milestones and priorities for smokefree in ANR’s 49th year
Everyone at ANR is prepared for a busy and potentially challenging 2025. We are already hearing rumors of preemption threats and the resurrection of Altria (formerly Philip Morris) sponsored registry bills masquerading as a means for governments to protect youth by controlling illegal e-cigarette sales. Clearly the industry has never been sincere in its efforts to self-regulate nor have their efforts or programs ever been effective to curb tobacco use, prevent sales to minors, or prevent exposure to toxic secondhand smoke. This is merely bad legislation that will distract from good, life-saving, public health legislation such as smokefree workplace laws.
We also face challenges in California where the legislature passed a law that permits cannabis cafes to serve food in addition to allowing onsite indoor use of marijuana/cannabis products see our FAQ. While there are criteria to be met prior to establishing these cafes, it is inevitable that there will be establishments where smoking and vaping of cannabis will be permitted by law, thereby exposing workers and neighboring establishments, homes, and businesses to secondhand smoke. It is shameful that decades of hard work to protect Californians from exposure to secondhand smoke and combatting industry interference is coming undone because of pressure from the cannabis industry.
Milestones in 2025
We do have good news to share as well. Several music cities celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2025: Atlanta celebrated 5 years on January 1; New Orleans celebrates 10 years on April 22; and Austin celebrates 20 years of smokefree air on September 1. Tribal milestones include Navajo Nation, which celebrates 3 years on February 2 and Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison’s casino celebrates 10 smokefree years on August 1.
Another major milestone is the 35th anniversary of Smokefree Skies – on February 25, 1990, smoking sections on domestic flights ceased and flight attendants along with passengers could breathe easy. ANR played an instrumental role in the passage of this legislation, working closely with flight attendants as well as its members, which we will also celebrate as ANR turns 49 on March 1, 2025. We are also encouraged to see cities close gaps in local smokefree laws. One example is San Antonio, TX, which now prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in indoor smokefree spaces. You can see all of the recent updates on our January 2025 lists and maps.
Our Commitment
ANR’s commitment has always been focused on protecting individuals who are unfairly exposed to secondhand smoke, whether they are at work, where they live, or where they seek services or entertainment. We are grateful for all of you, our members, who support our work through your financial support and your engagement when called to take action. While we still firmly believe that local laws lead the way, there are significant opportunities in several states. The reality is that statewide campaigns take longer and require more funding. But with your help, we believe we can achieve our smokefree goals.
We need your support now and throughout the year to help us maintain the momentum and to counter the multiple threats to smokefree indoor air. Becoming a Frequent Breather and giving monthly would give us the confidence to make big, bold, audacious plans and continue to do what we do best – advocate for those who are still exposed to secondhand smoke and take on industry as it attempts to usurp or undermine our efforts for nonsmokers’ rights.
Together we can overcome opposition tactics and bring smokefree air to all.
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Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) , sister organization to the ANR Foundation, is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for over 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://nonsmokersrights.org and https://smokefreecasinos.org.
