Bloomberg proposes expanded smoking ban

Six years after smoking was banned in public areas, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed that the ban now encompass all New York City parks and beaches.

Bloomberg said the dangers of secondhand smoking prompted the proposal.

"We have been clear that when secondhand smoke hurts others, we will limit people's ability to impose it on others," Bloomberg said.

But less than a week after the bill was proposed, Bloomberg said he was reconsidering the original restrictions. He said he would like to study whether smoking in parks has a negative impact on people's health, and that he was worried about enforcement.

"It may not be logistically possible to enforce a ban across thousands of acres, but there may be areas within parks where restricting smoking can protect health."

Dr. Donna Shelley, clinical associate professor at the NYU College of Dentistry, is skeptical that the proposed ban will have an effect on tobacco use.

"There is no evidence that smoking bans in parks and beaches reduce tobacco use," Shelley said.

Shelley said that a more effective plan to combat smoking would focus on regulating tobacco promotion and advertising.

The New York City Department of Health recently launched a three-week ad campaign to encourage people to stop smoking. The ads, which first aired Sept. 8, feature the phone number of a quit-smoking hotline.

Shelley said similar ads have proven effective in the past by tracking the number of calls made to the state hotline shortly after the ads aired. But she added that not all viewers, especially students, are swayed by such campaigns.

"Younger smokers tend to discount the long-term impact of smoking, which is what the ads portray," Shelley said. "However, we do think that the ads, when seen by all smokers, regardless of age, remind them of the consequences and motivate them to consider quitting."

Gallatin freshman Eric Kin has mixed feelings about the ban.

"I can see the justice in trying to ban smoking in parks," Kin said.

But he added: "People go to parks to relax, and for some people that means smoking a cigarette.

CAS freshman Stuart Weincoff doubts the effectiveness of the latest campaigns.

"I'm never been influenced by anti-smoking campaigns," he said. "Everyone knows the effects of smoking."

Kelsey Desiderio is a contributing writer.