No room for tobacco smokers in New York state

Hotels and motels in New York might no longer be able to offer smoking rooms if a bill proposed by state lawmaker Ken Zebrowski is passed, according to a CNN/Money story.

The measure, which was introduced last week, was brought about because of Zebrowski’s personal experience.

“I travel and spend a lot of time in hotel rooms,” Zebrowski was quoted as saying. “I’ve noticed that if you’re above, below or next to a smoking room, the smoke readily travels through the ventilation system.”

Zebrowski said the legislation was in line with the current focus on improving public health.

“It’s important to protect people when they’re in an enclosed environment and they’re subject to the behavior of others, as in a hotel or motel room,” he said. “Venting systems just aren’t sufficient to clear the air.”

The assemblyman said also that smokers had become accustomed to going outside to smoke.

Although he has just made the proposal, Zebrowski thinks he will receive support within the legislature, especially since he is not someone who has heavily targeted smoking in the past.

He said the American Lung Association and POW’R Against Tobacco, a local anti-tobacco group, had given him their support. And in a statement, the lung association said the ban would help not only hotel guests but workers as well.

If the bill passes, New York would join four other states that prohibit smoking in hotel rooms: Michigan, North Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Several national chains such as Marriott, Westin and Hilton already ban smoking in all of their locations.