In 2006, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced his support for a smoke free policy (SFP) in his state, which was a major producer of tobacco. This move, coupled with support from the Campaign for Healthy and Responsible Tennessee, a health coalition, and Tennessee Restaurant Association opened a policy window to create a comprehensive smoke free policy in the state. The passing of a smoke free policy was viewed, at first, to be quite difficult due to the existence of an iron triangle of tobacco interests, agriculture committees in the legislature and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which had prevented any meaningful anti-smoking legislation in the state for many years. Because of the apparent strength of this iron triangle, the