Smokeless tobacco banned at Detroit sports venues – FOX 2 Detroit

Detroit City Council Enacts Comprehensive Tobacco Ban in Sports Venues to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

The Detroit City Council has passed a new ordinance banning all forms of tobacco and nicotine consumption at city sports venues. This measure, effective immediately, represents a significant step toward achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The ordinance directly supports the global objective of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. By creating tobacco-free environments, the city actively works to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and strengthen public health frameworks.

• Target 3.4: The ban on all nicotine products, including smokeless forms like chewing tobacco and pouches, aims to reduce the incidence of tobacco-related illnesses, thereby contributing to the goal of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.
• Target 3.a: This local legislation strengthens the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by expanding restrictions on tobacco use in major public spaces.
• Comprehensive Protection: The rule applies to both spectators and players, promoting a culture of health and wellness within the professional sports community and for the public attending events.

Fostering SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This public health initiative also enhances the sustainability and inclusivity of Detroit’s urban spaces, a core component of SDG 11. The ordinance ensures that major public arenas are safer and more welcoming for all residents and visitors.

• Target 11.7: By making sports venues tobacco-free, the city improves universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible public spaces. This is particularly beneficial for children, the elderly, and individuals with health sensitivities.
• Affected Venues: The policy is enacted at Detroit’s primary professional sports facilities, including:
  • Comerica Park
  • Ford Field
  • Little Caesars Arena

Ordinance Details and Enforcement

The ordinance was passed with a 7-2 majority vote and includes a clear framework for enforcement and penalties to ensure compliance and uphold its public health objectives.

1. Scope of Ban: The prohibition extends beyond combustible tobacco, which was already banned, to include any “noncombustible product containing nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved or ingested by any means.”
2. Enforcement Protocol: Any individual found violating the ordinance will first be instructed to stop. If the individual refuses to comply, they will be ordered to leave the venue and will be subject to a fine.
3. Penalty Structure:
   • First offense: $100 fine.
   • Second and subsequent offenses: $500 fine.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses on a new city ordinance banning tobacco and nicotine products in public sports venues. This policy is a public health measure aimed at protecting citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco use and exposure, thereby promoting well-being.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses a policy implemented by the Detroit City Council that affects major public venues within the city (Comerica Park, Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena). By making these large public gathering spaces healthier and safer, the ordinance contributes to creating a more sustainable and inclusive urban environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The ban on tobacco, a leading cause of non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart disease, is a direct preventative measure aimed at achieving this target. The article states the ban includes “All forms of tobacco and nicotine,” which is a comprehensive approach to prevention.
   • Target 3.a: Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate. The ordinance passed by the Detroit City Council is a local-level action that directly strengthens tobacco control policies, aligning with the goals of this international framework.
2. Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The ordinance makes public sports venues safer from a health perspective for all attendees, including players and spectators. By prohibiting tobacco use, the city is enhancing the quality and safety of these key public spaces.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

While the article does not mention official SDG indicator codes, it provides information that can serve as qualitative or direct indicators of progress:

• Indicator for Target 3.a: The existence of the policy itself. The article explicitly states, “It is now against the law to ingest any form of tobacco at Detroit sports venues,” and that a “new ordinance” was passed by a “7-2 vote.” This legislative action is a direct indicator of the implementation of tobacco control measures.
• Indicator for Target 11.7: The number and type of public spaces covered by the health and safety policy. The article identifies the specific venues affected: “Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Little Caesars Arena.” This provides a quantifiable measure of the public areas made safer by the new rule.
• Indicator for Target 3.4: The enforcement mechanism for the preventative measure. The article details the penalties for non-compliance: “The first offense comes to a $100 penalty. The second and any additional offense will come with a $500 fine.” These fines serve as an indicator of the city’s commitment to enforcing the health policy and thus preventing exposure to tobacco.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fox2detroit.com