The Bill allows limited exemptions for businesses that permit hookah use and e-cigarette sampling. “Businesses that apply for the exemption will be allowed time to transition into compliance with the new law,” said Steve Hadden, Health Program Specialist, Tobacco Prevention & Control Prevention, Utah Department of Health. Affected businesses have until July 1, 2012 to apply for the one-time, 5-year exemption.
Businesses
that permit the use of hookah can qualify for the exemption by sending a letter
of application and supporting documentation to the Utah Department of Health by
July 1, 2012. To qualify for the exemption, businesses must meet all of the
following criteria as of January 1, 2012:
• The business had and currently
maintains a class C or D liquor license;
• The business has sold and currently
sells a mixture of tobacco and other flavors for the purpose of heating,
inhaling, and exhaling through a hookah pipe in the business’ public access
areas;
• The business relied on the sale of
mixed tobacco and other flavors for use in a hookah for at least 10% of its
gross sales.
Hadden said, “Those businesses that are granted an exemption will be required to meet other criteria during their five-year exemption in order to maintain compliance. Local health departments will be completing regular compliance checks on those businesses.”
Tobacco
use is the single greatest cause of preventable death in Utah, claiming more
lives
than
car crashes, murders, suicides, AIDS, alcohol use, drug abuse, and fires
combined. For
free help quitting smoking, call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at
1.800.QUIT.NOW,or visit www.UtahQuitNet.com.
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Media Contact:
Steve Hadden, Health Program Specialist
Tobacco Prevention & Control Program
801-538-6260
