ANR UPDATE, 29(4), Winter, 2010

International News

One of the highest-profile smokefree campaigns right now is in Spain. In 2006, Spain enacted a weak law that tobacco industry lobbyists continue to promote to other governments worldwide as the "Spanish Model." Touted as a policy compromise, it lets most restaurants and bars simply post a sign on the door indicating whether or not smoking is permitted. Make no mistake - the "Spanish Model" was not a new idea or a local idea. It was Philip Morris' idea, developed in the United States as part of its Accommodation Program. It was also known as the Pittsburgh Project, where the concept was pilot-tested. U.S. advocates call this type of ineffective law a Red Light, Green Light policy because the "smoking allowed" signs are green, which sends the subtle clue that green means go and that smoking is the norm, and the "no smoking" signs are a harsh red. This tactic of just requiring signs doesn't protect anyone's health from the hazards of secondhand smoke exposure. It is simply an industry-created tactic to undermine real smokefree protections.

The good news: Spanish leaders now realize this law doesn't protect health and are working to strengthen it; final votes could happen by the end of the year. Tobacco lobbyists constantly try to reuse and repackage their tactics to oppose smokefree efforts. What is old is new again. ANR regularly shares policy developments, materials, and lessons learned through an advocacy network called the Global Smokefree Partnership, so that health groups and officials around the world don't have to learn the hard way about what to expect from Big Tobacco.

Congratulations to Honduras for enacting a strong 100% smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar law rather than falling for the tobacco industry's promotion of the "Spanish Model." The new law will take effect in February 2011.

Congratulations to the advocates in the state of Bavaria, Germany, for its strong, new smokefree law.

This law's coverage includes the city of Munich and the world-famous Oktoberfest, a huge annual festival drawing millions of international visitors. Oktoberfest had an exemption from the law until 2011, but due to popular demand, organizers decided to implement the smokefree policy this year in time for Oktoberfest's 200th Anniversary.

In sharp contrast to Munich's smokefree law, the gleaming new Munich airport seems like it was bought and paid for by Camel cigarettes. Sadly, the smoking policies in Germany's airports are governed by national law, not by stronger local laws. The airport is filled with smoking rooms, cigarette ads, and concourses reeking of smoke. Ventilation and health experts around the world, including ASHRAE and the U.S. Surgeon General, have affirmed that even 'sophisticated' smoking rooms cannot eliminate the health risks caused by secondhand smoke. Airport smoking rooms are another contribution to the world from tobacco giant Philip Morris, which originally crafted the strategy. When traveling, be sure to speak up for smokefree airports. Anything less leaves workers and travelers exposed to toxic air.

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