Isle group pushing for ban on lighting up in condos, apartments
Jump to full article: Honolulu Advertiser, 2008-05-11
Author: Andrew Gomes Advertiser Staff Writer
Intro: The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai'i hopes to convince owners of residential rental and condominium buildings to prohibit smoking inside private living areas.
The nonprofit group argues second-hand smoke emanating from the privacy of one unit may affect others when people live in close quarters.
The state already bans smoking in restaurants, bars and within 20 feet of the entrances or windows of smoke-free buildings.
"As laws like this become the norm, I think people are going to start thinking about how, about where we live," said Hye-ryeon Lee, chairwoman of Tobacco-Free Hawai'i and a University of Hawai'i speech professor.
Smoke-free advocates say residential smoking bans deliver financial benefits to property owners through lower insurance costs because of reduced fire risk, reduced cleaning expenses and fewer problems between neighbors.
But advocates for smokers' rights fume
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