Boston city council approves ban of smokeless tobacco in sports venues

The Boston city council voted Wednesday to approve a ban of smokeless tobacco at sports venues, including Fenway Park. Violators must pay a $250 fine.

The Boston city council voted Wednesday to approve a ban of smokeless tobacco at sports venues, including Fenway Park, reports the Associated Press.

The ban will go into affect in April and will prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco, commonly called dip, by athletes and spectators at all fields where professional, amateur, collegiate or high school sports are played.

Violators will be required to pay a $250 fine.

San Francisco was the first city to ban the substance from its public athletic fields. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids supported the bans in both cities.

“From coast to coast, the momentum is building to get tobacco out of baseball for kids, the players and the future,” the organization said in a statement. “The message is clear: Our national pastime should be about promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, not a deadly and addictive product.”

Major League Baseball has opposed an official ban on tobacco use in its stadiums, though the substance has been banned in the minor leagues since 1993.

• Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy have been dipping since fifth grade

- Erin Flynn