News

Surgeon General applauds Pizza Hut smoking ban

August 14, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., applauded Yum! Brands' Aug. 11 decision to ban smoking at many of its restaurants, including its Pizza Hut chain. (Read also Yum's Pizza Hut stores to ban smoking.)

"I congratulate KFC and Pizza Hut on their decision to ban smoking in their restaurants across the United States," Carmona said in a news release. "This action, along with similar moves by others in the restaurant industry, will protect the health of non-smoking customers and employees, and will make a meaningful contribution in the battle to keep our young people from starting to smoke. This is especially significant for an industry that serves millions of young people each day."

According to the 2004 Surgeon General's Report on smoking, toxins from cigarette smoke kill nearly 440,000 Americans each year and reduce adult life expectancy by approximately 14 years. An estimated $92 billion in productivity is lost annually to smoking. Combined with an additional $75.5 billion in smoking-related medical expenditures, the total economic toll exceeds $167 billion each year in the United States.

"The decision by Pizza Hut and KFC can help motivate people to quit smoking and convince young people not to start in the first place," Carmona said. "Children don't enter this world as smokers — they are taught to do it. Caring adults must teach kids to never try tobacco."