World No Tobacco Day series - smoke-free cities

WNTD series. The theme for World No Tobacco 2011 day is the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Recognizing the fundamental role cities can have in the global fight against the epidemic of tobacco use, the WHO Centre for Health Development is publishing the stories of how nine cities from around the world have engaged in the process of becoming smoke-free.

SmokeFree Liverpool leads way to smoke-free United Kingdom

Part 1: Liverpool, United Kingdom
The experience of Liverpool in becoming smoke-free exemplifies the strong role municipal leaders have to drive national agendas and policies.

Almaty – Smoke free

Part 2: Almaty, Kazakhstan
From 2004, the Smokefree Almaty programme pushed for more protective tobacco control than found in the national law.

Smoke Free Chennai: why legislation isn’t always enough

Part 3: Chennai, India
The fight to be smoke-free in Chennai shows compliance and willingness to enforce smoke-free laws are vital components to the success of protecting people from secondhand smoke.

Royal declaration to make Mecca and Medina smoke-free

Part 4: Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia
Islam’s most sacred cities targeted the restriction of tobacco sales as a key ingredient to make progress on the smoke-free agenda.

From “sleeping ordinance” to smoke-free enforcement

Part 5: Davao, Philippines
Local leaders today can build partnerships to enforce laws on smoke-free initiatives. The Davao Anti-smoking Task Force is comprised of police, the city legal office, the Business Bureau and the City Tourism Office.

The story of Kenya’s first smoke-free town

Part 6: Nakuru, Kenya
Nakuru was the first town to ban smoking in public places in the entire East African region. The smoke-free ordinance was part of a larger environmental agenda for clean air, where surveys conducted show 79% of the population favoured the banning of smoking in enclosed places.

Health of workers wins wide support to go smoke-free

Part 7: Recife, Brazil
With a phased approach focused on the health of workers, Recife’s smoke-free intervention has led to a significant drop in its smoking prevalence.

Civil society succeeds in forcing compliance with smoke-free law

Part 8: Chandigarh, India
Initially, little was done to implement India’s 2003 smoke-free laws in the city of Chandigarh. In 2007, using the Right to Information Act 2005, NGOs petitioned local government offices to report on their progress in complying with the law. Fearing financial repercussions for not reporting under this law, signs began to be displayed and the laws enforced.

Rejection of smoking rooms makes municipal ordinance stronger than federal law

Part 9: Mexico City, Mexico
By promoting “smoke-free” places rather than placing an emphasis on “banning smoking", Mexico City has achieved 100% smoke free environments. A study measured nicotine levels in bars and restaurants in Mexico City and compared them to three Mexican cities without 100% smoke-free laws. The air was up to 15 times cleaner in restaurants and bars in Mexico City.