Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch

Secondhand Smoke: Changing Environments

• Secondhand Smoke
• Changing Environments
• Current Policy
• Local Community Authority
• Smoke-free Places

Given the effectiveness of smoke-free places in protecting people from the health hazards of secondhand smoke, N.C.’s law allows local smoking limits in government buildings, government grounds, parks, community and other college campuses, and public places. The TPCB and its many partners have worked together to reduce secondhand smoke, using local smoke-free air rules and ordinances.

To learn about North Carolina’s Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars law, which went into effect January 2, 2010, visit SmokeFree NC.

• The N.C. Alliance for Health (NCAH) is a coalition advocates for policy changes to reduce tobacco use and obesity. Visit their smoke-free page for updates on the issue.
• People hurt by secondhand smoke in the workplace are not just statistics, they are real workers with tragic stories to share. If you live in North Carolina and have a story to share about secondhand smoke, send us a note.
• DHHS news releases on N.C.'s smoke-free environment successes:
  • North Carolina restaurants and bars: Serving smoke-free air starting Jan. 2 (PDF, 64 KB)
  • N.C. restaurants and bars observing new smoke-free law (PDF, 122 KB)
  • Air quality in N.C. restaurants and bars improves (PDF, 64 KB)
  • One year in, N.C. smoke-free law is successfully reducing exposure to secondhand smoke