June 28, 2024. Reno, Sparks, Nev. – Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) recognized the Reno Brewery District with an Extra Mile Award (EMA) at Thursday’s District Board of Health (DBOH) meeting for protecting their patrons and employees from secondhand smoke exposure through voluntary smoke-free policies inside their businesses. The EMA honors businesses in Washoe County that have gone above and beyond the requirements of the Nevada Clean Air Act.

View Thursday’s DBOH meeting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWLxdiODHak

Located on East Fourth Street, the Brewery District houses a variety of unique locally-owned breweries and distilleries, including Ferino Distillery, Pigeon Head Brewery, and more.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to secondhand smoke can cause disease and premature death among nonsmokers. Further, smoke-free environments are in demand now more than ever, especially as awareness of respiratory health has increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many local businesses, it makes sense to be smoke-free to better meet the needs of their customers and the community-at-large.

“It is my pleasure to celebrate the EMA awardees as it highlights the support in our community for healthy, smoke-free environments,” said Chad Kingsley, MD, MBA, District Health Officer in Washoe County. “Secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of heart diseases, cancer, and other chronic diseases. There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure, and it’s why we celebrate those businesses going above and beyond to protect public health.”

NNPH works with local businesses, housing professionals, and community partners to take steps to reduce tobacco use and exposure in our community. More information about smoke-free efforts in Washoe County can be found at www.gethealthywashoe.com.

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Please note the Washoe County Health District changed its name to Northern Nevada Public Health on Aug. 31, 2023. More information is here.

Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making District Board of Health. NNPH consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.