SEATTLE (AP) - The King County Board of Health has voted to ban the use of smokeless tobacco at all professional sporting events in the county, which includes Seattle.
The Seattle Times reports the board voted unanimously on the measure Thursday. It will go into effect May 19.
The move comes in response to health advocates who say the habit among players sets a poor example for fans and young athletes.
The Seattle Mariners and the national advocacy organization Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids supported the measure.
Now half of all major league baseball stadiums, totaling 15, have bans on smokeless tobacco for athletes during games.
The momentum for such bans grew from a statistic among health advocates that shows while cigarette smoking has declined over the years locally and nationally, the number of people who use smokeless tobacco remains relatively stagnant.
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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com
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