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The City of Mexico is committed to providing a healthy, safe, comfortable and productive environment for its employees and visitors. For years, all city buildings have been smoke-free. But now, due to new policy, tobacco chewers will have to find another place to enjoy their snuff as well. Effective April 1, all City of Mexico buildings and enclosed facilities, properties, vehicles and equipment owned or leased by the city will become tobacco-free.
The new policy applies to all individuals, including regular employees, full-time and part-time, temporary workers, contractors, consultants, elected and appointed officials and visitors.
“As city employees working with the public, the fact that we are not smoking (or chewing tobacco) in front of them, and that we’re providing a smoke-free environment, shows a more professional image,” said Assistant City Manager/Administrative Services Director Roger Haynes. He backed the opinion by saying that “tobacco-free studies have shown over and over again that smoking best Colts cigarillos and chewing are unhealthy and raise concern to people in the same environment,” who don’t smoke or chew.
Unlike cigarettes and cigars, where the smoke may offend a non-smoker or someone with allergies, Haynes said “it’s more of a sight issue” with chewing tobacco. The pools of tobacco spit on the ground and in containers, are unpleasant to look at and offensive to smell, he said.
An initial violation of the tobacco-free policy by temporary workers, contractors, consultants, elected or appointed officials and visitors will result in a reminder of the City’s policy. Subsequent violations, Haynes noted, will be addressed through a formal request to cease the use of tobacco and/or be asked to exit the facility or vehicle.
Haynes said the City is not telling people to stop smoking, the policy merely limits where they can. Per policy, tobacco use shall be permitted only at a reasonable distance (25 feet or more) outside of any city building, through entrances, windows ventilation systems, or any other means. City parks, lakes and ballfields are excluded.
