On Jan. 1, Williamstown, in Grant County, will become the 33rd city in Kentucky and the first in Northern Kentucky to implement a comprehensive citywide smoke-free ordinance.
Business owners will soon receive packets of information from the Northern Kentucky Health Department outlining how to comply with and implement the new citywide smoke-free law.
The Health Department will be responsible for enforcing the law and investigating complaints as they are received.
“We were asked to enforce the new ordinance in establishments that we inspect and the District Board of Health agreed. We congratulate the Williamstown City Council in taking this important step to improve the health of the community,” said Dr. Lynne Saddler, District Director of Health for NKY Health.
The smoke-free ordinance is effective beginning Jan. 1, and smoking will be completely prohibited indoors in any Williamstown building or place of employment where the public is invited or permitted, such as offices, hotels, factories, churches, bars, restaurants, bingo halls and stores.
Smoking will also be prohibited in public outdoor patio spaces, such as outdoor seating areas in restaurants. In addition, smoking is further prohibited within a reasonable distance (25 feet) of all entrances, windows that operate and ventilation systems. Parks in the city of Williamstown have been tobacco-free since July 2017.
“We are very pleased that city council responded to the need of our community to take positive steps for health. We applaud and thank the Williamstown City Council for their vote to protect the health of all Williamstown employees by making all workplaces smoke-free,” said Tim Sizemore, chair of Fitness For Life Around Grant County (FFLAG).
FFLAG and Champions for a Drug Free Grant County provided information and education to city council that led up to the passage of the comprehensive workplace ordinance.
Click here for more information about the new ordinance.
The Northern Kentucky Health Department provides public health services to more than 400,000 residents of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties, with a goal of preventing disease, promoting wellness and protecting against health threats.
The Health Department seeks to be a nationwide leader in public health, and was one of the first in the country to earn national public health accreditation. For more information, click here.
NKY Health
