Common Consumption Areas and Smoke-Free Policy Windows

As a result of the pandemic, many communities in Colorado are expanding outdoor dining areas to allow social distancing, air movement and additional dining opportunities. After passing an ordinance establishing common consumption areas in 2019, the City of Denver is planning to begin accepting applications for liquor common consumption areas later this summer. Olde Town Arvada and Stanley Marketplace in Aurora are already liquor common consumption areas. Read more about the Denver process here. There is potential that other communities will follow Denver’s lead with liquor common consumption areas added onto expanded outdoor dining. One such example, Lone Tree, is already in the process of doing so. Following recent reports that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke may put people at higher risk of experiencing negative COVID-19 related outcomes, tobacco grantees should be at the table as conversations occur around expanded outdoor dining areas and liquor common consumption areas. We have the potential to advocate for these outdoor dining AND common consumption areas to be smoke- and vapor-free given these statements above. Additionally, whenever local code is changed, it is our responsibility to close the identified loopholes that put the public’s health in danger. If you would like to discuss potential opportunities to protect clean air from commercial tobacco smoke and vapor in expanded outdoor dining or common consumption areas, please reach out to your designated CSPH TA provider.

The associated files and links are available below.