Mississippi Communities Leading the Way

Across Mississippi, local communities are helping create healthier places to live, work, and play through smoke-free policies.

While Mississippi has statewide smoke-free protections for government buildings and college classroom buildings, many protections for restaurants, bars, workplaces, and other indoor public spaces are established at the local level. As a result, cities and towns across the state have played an important role in protecting residents from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Local Communities Are Making a Difference

For years, local communities have demonstrated how smoke-free policies can improve public health and create cleaner indoor environments.

Today, nearly 200 Mississippi municipalities have adopted smoke-free protections. Yet more than 60% of Mississippians remain unprotected from secondhand smoke, highlighting the opportunity for additional communities to take action.

Smoke-Free Communities Across Mississippi

Communities of all sizes have adopted smoke-free policies, including Southaven and Hernando in North Mississippi, Ridgeland and Clinton in Central Mississippi, and Gulfport and Biloxi on the Gulf Coast.

As communities like Olive Branch consider smoke-free protections, they can build on progress already made across the state and help create healthier environments for residents, employees, and visitors.

Why Local Action Matters

Many smoke-free protections in Mississippi are adopted at the local level. This gives local leaders an important opportunity to help create healthier places to live, work, and play.

Smoke-free policies can help:

• Protect workers and patrons from exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Reduce diseases associated with secondhand smoke exposure.
• Support people who are trying to quit tobacco use.
• Create healthier environments for future generations.

Building Momentum for the Future

The growing number of smoke-free communities across Mississippi shows that local action works. Each community that adopts smoke-free protections helps build momentum for others to do the same.

Every Mississippi community deserves the opportunity to create healthier places where residents can live, work, dine, and gather without exposure to secondhand smoke.

We’re committed to helping more communities across Mississippi adopt smoke-free protections and build a healthier future for all.