Tradable smoking pollution permits were proposed by the economists Robert Haveman and John Mullahy of the University of Wisconsin–Madison "Let Bars Buy, Sell Smoking Permits," Wisconsin State Journal (September 25, 2005) as an alternative to smoking bans to solve the problem of cigarette-smoking "externalities" in public bars and restaurants. The tradable smoking pollution permit systems work similar to other cap-and-trade emissions trading systems successfully used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency since the 1970s to curb other types of pollution. In the case of smoking permits, lawmakers would decide the optimal level of smoking establishments for an area. The total fire occupancies, or some proxy based on alcohol sales receipts for those establishments is totalled up, and smoking pollution permits are issued accordingly. Establishments are required to hold permits equal to size, either fire occupancies or level of alcohol receipts, if they wish to allow smoking. In essence, they are required to own the property rights over the clean air space of all occupants before any can smoke. "Let Bars Buy, Sell Smoking Permits," Wisconsin State Journal (September 25, 2005) Establishments with unused permits can sell them on the open market to smoking establishments, providing economic incentives to reduce smoking in bars and restaurants. A similar proposal allowing smoking permits as an alternative to outright smoking bans was also advocated by the editorial board of the Illinois News-Gazette in a 2006 editorial. "Charge businesses for smoking permits," Illinois News-Gazette (July 11, 2006) In practice, smoking pollution permitting systems have been introduced by some municipal governments in the U.S. For example, the city of Wichita, Kansas introduced a smoking ordinance in 2008 that issues $250 smoking pollution permits to firms. "Wichita Smoking Ordinance FAQ," September 4, 2008 Those permits were largely rendered moot when Kansas enacted a statewide smoking ban in 2009 which banned smoking in all indoor restaurants and bars except private clubs. A similar proposal was introduced by New York State Assemblyman Howard Mills in 2003, which would have established a system of smoking permits for bars and restaurants, similar to the existing system for liquor licenses. "Mills to introduce bar smoking permits," Mid-Hudson News (November 14, 2003) In the United Kingdom, Julian Le Grand, chairman of the ministerial advisory board Health England, has proposed a smoking permitting system that would require individual smokers rather than firms to hold pollution permits.The good news is that a Smoker's Permit will cost only £10. The bad news is how you apply for it, by Charlie Brooker. The Guardian (February 18, 2008)
Tradable smoking pollution permits were proposed by the economists Robert Haveman and John Mullahy of the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an alternative to smoking bans to solve the problem of cigarette-smoking "externalities" in public bars and restaurants. The tradable smoking pollution permit systems work similar to other cap-and-trade emissions trading systems successfully used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency since the 1970s to curb other types of pollution. In the case of smoking permits, lawmakers would decide the optimal level of smoking establishments for an area. The total fire occupancies, or some proxy based on alcohol sales receipts for those establishments is totalled up, and smoking pollution permits are issued accordingly. Establishments are required to hold permits equal to size, either fire occupancies or level of alcohol receipts, if they wish to allow smoking. In essence, they are required to own the property rights over the clean air space of all occupants before any can smoke. Establishments with unused permits can sell them on the open market to smoking establishments, providing economic incentives to reduce smoking in bars and restaurants. A similar proposal allowing smoking permits as an alternative to outright smoking bans was also advocated by the editorial board of the Illinois News-Gazette in a 2006 editorial. In practice, smoking pollution permitting systems have been introduced by some municipal governments in the U.S. For example, the city of Wichita, Kansas introduced a smoking ordinance in 2008 that issues $250 smoking pollution permits to firms. Those permits were largely rendered moot when Kansas enacted a statewide smoking ban in 2009 which banned smoking in all indoor restaurants and bars except private clubs. A similar proposal was introduced by New York State Assemblyman Howard Mills in 2003, which would have established a system of smoking permits for bars and restaurants, similar to the existing system for liquor licenses. In the United Kingdom, Julian Le Grand, chairman of the ministerial advisory board Health England, has proposed a smoking permitting system that would require individual smokers rather than firms to hold pollution permits.The good news is that a Smoker's Permit will cost only £10. The bad news is how you apply for it, by Charlie Brooker. The Guardian (February 18, 2008)
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"Let Bars Buy, Sell Smoking Permits," Wisconsin State Journal (September 25, 2005)
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"Let Bars Buy, Sell Smoking Permits," Wisconsin State Journal (September 25, 2005)
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"Charge businesses for smoking permits," Illinois News-Gazette (July 11, 2006)
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"Wichita Smoking Ordinance FAQ," September 4, 2008
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"Mills to introduce bar smoking permits," Mid-Hudson News (November 14, 2003)