Should signs be posted? Signs should be posted where smoking is prohibited and a sign stating where smoking is allowed are to be prominently posted in plain view and properly maintained. You can go to dph.georgia.gov/tobacco-free-places to view and download signs. Where can I report a violation? You may report violations of the Act to the Georgia Department of Public Health, your County Board of Health, your local health department or your district health office. What are the penalties? A person smoking in violation of the law will be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than $100 and not more than $500. A business that allows smoking in violation of the law can be fined through the process of injunctive relief where the amount of the fine will be determined by the court. dph.georgia.gov/smoke-free-enforcement Where can I get information on how to quit smoking? The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line provides free counseling, support, nicotine replacement therapy and referral services for tobacco users. Quit Line services are available for Georgia residents ages 13 and older who want to quit. Visit dph.georgia.gov/ready-quit for more information about cessation resources. How can I get more information on how to adopt tobacco-free policy? In addition, the Georgia Department of Public Health has information on how a business/workplace can adopt and implement a tobacco-free policy: dph.georgia.gov/workplaces. How can I get more information about the Georgia Smokefree Air Act? There are several ways to get more information about the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005: dph.georgia.gov/tobacco 1-877-343-3340 (toll-free) 404-657-3378 (metro Atlanta area) chronic.disease@dph.ga.gov A Guide to the GEORGIA SMOKEFREE AIR ACT of 2005 Protecting the Health of Georgians TOBACCO & SMOKE FREE Effective July 1, 2005 TOBACCO & SMOKE FREE Revised 07/07/15 What is the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005? In May 2005, Governor Sonny Perdue signed the Georgia Smokefree Air Act into law. Effective July 1, 2005, the new law prohibits smoking inside most public areas and outlines specific guidelines for allowing smoking in and around establishments that serve the public. However, the Act does allow for more restrictive local laws, rules and regulations that are currently in place or may be passed in the future. Cities, counties and business are encouraged to adopt and enforce a comprehensive smoke-free policy that protect the population from secondhand smoke exposure at all workplaces, public places, bars and restaurants at all times. How is this law helpful to me? This law is helpful because it reduces your exposure to secondhand smoke and its associated risks to your health. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths and diseases in both users and non-users in Georgia and United States. Tobacco use increases social and economic burden to both individual and the society contributing significantly to healthcare cost. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke worsens all forms of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma. Eliminating smoking in public places will reduce the number of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths, which number more than 11,000 deaths each year in Georgia. The law when enforced provides cleaner and safer environments for us to live, work and play thereby promoting and protecting the health of the population. Where is smoking NOT allowed? Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed facilities, including buildings owned, leased or operated by the State or local governing authorities. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed public places except as indicated in code section 31-12A-6. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas within places of employment unless authorized in code section 31-12A-6. Examples include: - Restaurants and bars, except as noted in exemptions - Common work areas - Medical facilities - Auditoriums - Cafeterias - Classrooms - Stairs - Private offices - Restrooms - Elevators - Hallways - Employee lounges - Conference rooms - Meeting rooms - All other enclosed facilities An owner, operator, manager or other person in control of an establishment, facility or outdoor area may declare an entire area as a non-smoking area. The owner, operator, manager or other person in control of any area in which smoking is prohibited must remove all ashtrays. Smoking is prohibited wherever a no-smoking sign is posted. What is secondhand smoke? Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers and the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar. Secondhand smoke is a class A carcinogen that can cause cancer in any part of the body. This mixture contains more than 4,000 chemicals and at least 60 carcinogens that are known to cause cancer in humans or animals. Exposure to secondhand smoke can contribute to or cause severe health problems in both smokers and non-smokers, including cancer, respiratory diseases, emphysema, heart disease, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and asthma. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke. The longer the exposure to secondhand smoke, the more harmful it can be to your health. Where is smoking allowed? The following areas are exempt from the general rule that smoking is prohibited on the condition that a sign indicating that smoking is permitted must be posted conspicuously at every entrance and visible places: Bars and restaurants, as follows: All bars and restaurants that deny access to any person under the age of 18 and that do not employ individuals under the age of 18; or Private rooms in restaurants and bars if the rooms are enclosed and have an air handling system independent from the main air system that serves all other areas of the building and all air within the private room is exhausted directly to the outside by an exhaust fan of sufficient size. D esignated smoking rooms in hotel and motel rooms that are rented to guests. Long-term care facilities as defined in the law. P rivate and semiprivate rooms in health care facilities licensed under code section 31-8-81 that are occupied by one or more persons. Written authorization is required from the treating physician to smoke. Outdoor areas of places of employment. Designated smoking areas in international airports. All workplaces of any manufacturer, importer or wholesaler of tobacco products, of any tobacco leaf dealer or processor of tobacco products, all tobacco storage facilities and other facilities listed in code section 10-13A-2. R etail tobacco stores, provided that secondhand smoke does not infiltrate to areas where smoking is prohibited. S moking areas designated by an employer. The designated smoking area must be for employees only, must be located in a non-work area and must have an independent air handling system. This exemption does not apply to restaurants and bars. C onvention facility meeting rooms and public and private assembly rooms within a convention facility that is not leased or operated by the state or local governing authority while used for private functions. Individuals under age 18 are prohibited from attending or working as an employee during the function. C ommon work areas, conference rooms, meeting rooms and private offices in private places of employment, other than medical facilities, open to the general public by appointment only. However, smoking is still prohibited in any public reception area of such place of employment. P rivate clubs, military officer clubs and noncommissioned officer clubs. Private residences are exempt from the general rule that smoking is prohibited except when used as a licensed child care, adult daycare or healthcare facility.