FARMINGTON --The Davis County Health Department will form a work group to study the possibility of banning outdoor smoking at public venues in the county. Health Department director Lewis Garrett spoke of a 600-page study recently released by the U.S. Surgeon General, which finds there is no safe level of smoke exposure. He said smoking is the number one risk for serious disease in the nation, and that includes second-hand smoke.

Garrett noted that smoking is being phased out in bars and taverns in Utah and in restaurants serving alcoholic beverages.

He spoke of city ordinances already in effect in Clinton and Salt Lake City which ban smoking in public parks and other outdoor venues.

"Twenty-seven of 50 states have some form of outdoor ban on smoking and 85 percent of citizens support a smoking ban at public venues. It's a trend throughout the United States," Garrett said.

In asking for a work group, Garrett said he would like such a group to review current laws and restrictions in other cities and make recommendations on outdoor smoking bans.

"There's no question it ought to be implemented," said health board member Brian Cook.

"My concern is how we implement the follow-through or enforcement. I would ask that be part of the study."

Garrett said that as the health regulating board for the county, those discussions are at the top of the list."

mwilliams@davisclipper.com