The state of Rhode Island which currently has a bill looking to raise the state tobacco age to 21 is now looking to ban smoking at its two gambling facilities.
The bill which was introduced by Susan Sonowski, a Democrat from South Kingstown was heard yesterday before the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs.
For those to think this is more of a cigarette issue, think again as Karina Holoak Wood the director of public policy for the American Lung Association said, “Anyone who wants to have a cigar … they just go through a door and they’re on a lovely patio with palm trees, and they’ve got those heaters and little canopies. Everybody wins. It’s not that these facilities will lose any money.”
However, the loss of money is easily debatable as reports based on a similar measure passed in Delaware in 2010 showed a loss of over 36 million dollars.
The last time the issue was heard was back in 2009 when it failed to pass.
Rhode Island is home to just over 1 million residents over 1,214 square miles and became a state in 1790.
