In Historic First, San Francisco Board of Supervisors Votes to Take Tobacco Out of Baseball

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance to prohibit use of all tobacco products – including smokeless tobacco – at all baseball venues and athletic fields within the city and county of San Francisco, including by fans and players at AT&T Park. San Francisco is the first jurisdiction in the nation to approve such a measure. The Board of Supervisors is expected to take a final vote on the ordinance on April 28 before it goes to Mayor Ed Lee for his signature. It would take effect January 1, 2016.

The following is a Statement by Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

“Today’s vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is truly historic and a huge step toward eliminating tobacco from baseball for good. San Francisco will become the first city to take tobacco out of baseball, setting a powerful example that all of Major League Baseball and the rest of the country should quickly follow. The Board of Supervisors recognizes some simple but important facts – kids see athletes as role models, and when baseball stars use smokeless tobacco the kids who look up to them are much more likely to as well. Our national pastime should have nothing to do with promoting a deadly and addictive product.

Supervisor Mark Farrell has been a true champion on this issue, putting the health of San Francisco’s kids first. San Francisco is leading the nation on this important issue and helping us achieve our goal of the first tobacco-free generation.

When Mayor Lee signs the ordinance into law, we will be on our way to making Major League Baseball completely tobacco-free by 2016. We applaud San Francisco for acting to break baseball’s unhealthy addiction to tobacco and moving us closer to taking tobacco out of baseball once and for all – for the kids, the players and the future.”

Public health groups launched the “Knock Tobacco Out of the Park” campaign earlier this year to promote tobacco-free baseball and provide visibility to the issue of smokeless tobacco in baseball. More information can be found at tobaccofreebaseball.org.