It’s been 20 years since former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg effectively banned smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces. At the time, the Smoke-Free Air Act was met with plenty of opposition, with critics saying it would destroy the restaurant and bar industry, hurt tourism and create a dip in tax revenue. Two decades later, the measure has proven to be an overwhelming success, with many other municipalities, both in America and abroad, following in the city’s footsteps.    Dr. Tom Frieden was Bloomberg’s health commissioner in 2003, and was an integral part of making the law a reality. He joined Errol Louis to look back at how the Smoke-Free Air Act came to pass, while discussing the many struggles that remain in the war against smoking, including the current statewide proposal to ban menthol cigarettes. The conversation also covered Frieden’s tenure as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as his current position as the president of Resolve to Save Lives, a health organization fighting to prevent epidemics and cardiovascular disease.  

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