Smoking in Utah

The numbers in Utah
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of Utah enjoys the lowest rates of smoking among all the United States. However, the current rate of 9.8 percent of adults over the age of 18 still means that almost one in ten people in Utah smoke. The rate is slightly higher for men (10.4%) than for women (9.3%). Another alarming statistic provided by the Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control Department is that 7.9% of students in grades 9-12 are current smokers. In 2006, 6.1% of women in Utah smoked during their last three months of pregnancy, a factor directly related to low birth weight, premature labor, and infant death. Over 24,000 children in Utah are living in homes where somebody smokes inside the home, putting them at risk for hundreds of diseases and complications. It is estimated that smoking causes 1,113 deaths each year, yet in that same time period Utahns still spend approximately $57.9 million on tobacco products. Since any amount of smoking is a known risk factor, smoking is definitely an issue in Utah.

Smoking Laws and Regulations in Utah
The Utah Indoor Clean Air Act states that "Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed spaces of public access and publicly owned buildings and offices...." Additionally, smokers must stand at least 25 feet away from any entrance, exit, open window or air intake of buildings. Utah also has in place laws governing the sale and distribution of cigarettes. It is considered a class C misdemeanor to sell or give a cigarette to anyone under the age of 19. Any person 18 years or younger that attempts to buy tobacco in any form or is found in possession of tobacco can be fined up to $60 and could be ordered to participate in a court-approved tobacco education program. Additionally, it is not legal in the state of Utah to advertise cigarettes or tobacco on any billboard, streetcar, bus, placard, or on any other object or place of display.