Proposed legislation seeks to save thousands of lives in New York City

American Cancer Society
Monday, 12 August 2002

Statement by American Cancer Society CEO John R. Seffrin, Ph.D.

"The American Cancer Society, the nation's largest voluntary health organization, applauds Mayor Michael Bloomberg for seeking to enact legislation to ban smoking in offices, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs throughout the city.

We are encouraged that New York City, our nation's largest city, may soon be leading the way and joining two states and 73 other cities in the United States that already see the public health benefits of protecting their citizens from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

We know that tobacco kills. This year alone there will be more than 440,000 tobacco-related deaths in this country, including at least 3,000 nonsmoking adults who will die of lung cancer as a result of breathing second-hand smoke."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org