Chewing tobacco banned at Fenway, other Boston ballparks

BOSTON - A ban on chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products at Fenway Park and other Boston sports venues has been approved by the city council.

The council Wednesday unanimously approved the ban proposed by Mayor Marty Walsh this summer. The ban also had the backing of the Boston Red Sox and former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, a mouth cancer survivor.

The ban prohibits smokeless tobacco, often called dip, chew or snuff, on all ballfields where professional or amateur sports are played. Violators face a $250 fine. The ban takes effect next April.

Boston becomes the second city after San Francisco to impose such a ban.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauded Boston for setting what it called a ''powerful example'' that all Major League Baseball teams should follow.