NEWS RELEASE: Detroit City Council Approves Ordinance Prohibiting Smokeless Tobacco Use in City Stadiums

Comerica Park Will be 18th MLB Stadium to be Completely Tobacco-Free

DETROIT – Detroit’s professional sports stadiums will soon be completely tobacco-free after the Detroit City Council voted today to ‘Knock Tobacco Out of the Park.’

The Council approved a city ordinance, sponsored by Councilman Fred Durhal III, which prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco products, including nicotine pouches, in the city’s professional sports stadiums.

“We applaud the Detroit City Council for taking action to protect the health of our kids and sending a clear message that baseball and other sports should promote a healthy and active lifestyle, not harmful and addictive tobacco products,” said Kevin O’Flaherty, Associate Vice President, State and Local Advocacy. at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Thank you to Councilman Durhal for his leadership on this effort that will protect kids’ health and promote tobacco-free lifestyles.”

The policy prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco, including nicotine pouches, throughout all professional sports stadiums in Detroit, including Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena. Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes are already prohibited in the stadiums through state and local laws and stadium policy. Comerica Park will become the 18th of 30 Major League Baseball stadiums to be completely tobacco-free.

“Our kids need positive role models and that includes their professional sports heroes,” Councilman Durhal said. “I was proud to sponsor this ordinance to protect Detroiters’ public health and give kids a proper example of healthy lifestyles in professional sports.”

The ordinance will help end the longstanding link between baseball and smokeless tobacco. This effort will help prevent youth – including student athletes who imitate their role models – from using harmful and addictive tobacco products.

“Tobacco has taken an enormous toll on Detroiters for far too long and passage of this ordinance puts kids’ health first while focusing on keeping addiction out of sports,” said Minou Jones, chair of the Detroit Wayne Oakland Tobacco-Free Coalition. “This is a great step forward in efforts to protect our kids from the dangers of tobacco and I’m proud that we have successfully ‘Knocked Tobacco Out of the Park’ in Detroit. Let’s use this momentum to drive statewide efforts that will reduce youth tobacco use across Michigan and strengthen tobacco prevention policies.”  

A coalition of over 30 organizations supported passage of the policy in Detroit, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, NAACP, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Detroit Wayne Oakland Tobacco-Free Coalition, Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Coalition, Michigan Oral Health Coalition and the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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