Wilmette residents celebrate 5-year anniversary of The Smoke Free Illinois Act

January 1, 2013 marked the five-year anniversary of The
Smoke Free Illinois Act, which made all indoor public places and workplaces smoke-free in the state. In 2008, Illinois was the 22nd state to adopt a comprehensive smoke-free policy. As of 2012, 30 states have adopted policies. 

Prior to the statewide law, several local municipalities adopted smoke-free ordinances. Wilmette was among the first communities to pass a smoke-free ordinance, largely due to the involvement of passionate volunteers, including Jamie Ziegler, who supported the community’s effort to enact a strict law prohibiting smoking in workplaces.

"This five-year milestone is an opportunity to remember our loved ones lost to lung disease, to thank the leaders who worked tirelessly to educate and advocate for clean air, and to hug our children with the knowledge that those who led – and the stories of those we lost – have contributed to a future where we can all breathe easier," said Ziegler.

“The Smoke Free Illinois Act is one of the most significant public health victories in Illinois the last 10 years,” said Joel Africk, also of Wilmette, and the president and chief executive officer of Respiratory Health Association. “As a result of this law, fewer Illinoisans are exposed to secondhand smoke, and fewer young people are picking up cigarettes in the first place. Quite simply: this policy saves lives,” he said.

The anniversary comes as many Illinoisans begin their new year’s resolutions to quit smoking. An estimated 70 percent of smokers say they want to quit, and smoke-free laws are proven to help people succeed in their quit attempts. Since the act went into effect on January 1, 2008, smoking rates in Illinois have declined.