Alaska's Smokefree Workplace Law
Maintaining a smokefree Alaska
About Smokefree Alaska
On July 17, 2018, Governor Bill Walker signed the Smokefree Alaska bill, SB63, into law. This law bans smoking in indoor public places and workplaces, such as buses, taxis, stores, bars, and restaurants. It is now part of Alaska law as AS 18.35.301.
Reducing secondhand smoke can lower the risk for a number of serious illnesses, including stroke, heart disease, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), low birth weight, and lung cancer. It can save the expense of health care dollars for medical care and hospital admissions, as well as save businesses the cost of lost productivity. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at work are more likely to develop heart disease, lung cancer or other diseases.
Secondhand smoke is defined in two categories:
- Secondhand smoke is smoke from burning cigarettes, cigars and pipes, as well as smoke exhaled by the person smoking
- Secondhand aerosol is the exhaled vapor from electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, vape pens/personal vaporizers and e-hookah
How does the law define smoking?
Smoking means using any of the following:
- Cigarettes
- E-cigarettes
- Cigars and pipes
- Other oral smoking devices that contain tobacco or marijuana
Where smoking is not allowed
Beginning October 1, 2018, smoking and vaping is not allowed in enclosed public places and places of employment. “Place of employment” means work areas, private offices, hotel and motel rooms, employee lounges, restrooms, conference rooms, classrooms, cafeterias, hallways, vehicles, and other employee work areas that are under the control of an employer.
No-smoking signs must be posted and they must be visible from the outside of each entrance.
Signs are available for download.
Order or download smokefree Alaska signsWhere smoking is allowed
Smoking or vaping is allowed in private residences and personal vehicles, in a business vehicle if it’s allowed by the owner or employer and used exclusively by only one person, and other outdoor areas specifically identified as allowing smoking.