Links & Info
In case anyone still doubts the health risks of second-hand smoke.
Surgeon General - The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
The most common argument against a strong smoking ban is the economic effects.
The following reports prove otherwise.
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Economic Impact of Smokefree Laws: Case Studies
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Impact of Clean Indoor Air Ordinances on Restaurant Revenues in Four Texas Cities
•
One-Year Assessment of the Impact of a Smoking Ban on Restaurant and Bar Revenues in El Paso, Texas
High-tech ventilation fails to control secondhand smoke
Plano ordinance:
www.plano.gov/Departments/Health/smokingordinanceinfo/
McKinney ordinance:
www.mckinneytexas.org/frameset.asp?aid=144
www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/toll.php?StateID=TX
States, Commonwealths, and Municipalities with 100% Smokefree Laws in Workplaces, Restaurants, or Bars
currently in effect as of January 2, 2008:
no-smoke.org/pdf/100ordlist.pdf
An article dated 1/3/08 about the new smoking ban in France:
www.caller.com/news/2008/jan/03/no-smoking-signs-go-up-in-french-bistros-and/
Dallas Morning News editorial, Tuesday, January 22, 2008. Used with permission.
Expand smoking limits
Brace yourself for another round of inane and unproven arguments against smoking bans. Now that a majority of the
Dallas City Council members have said they support an expansion of the city's restaurant smoking ban, smokers and
their supporters will mount a hopeless defense against a global wave of smart public health policy.
For example, don't be surprised to hear that the market should decide the issue. Why not just let bars decide if they want
to allow smoking?
For one thing, since Dallas put its restaurant ban in place in 2003, the U.S. surgeon general has issued a comprehensive
finding about the risks of secondhand smoke. It's an accepted public health fact that no amount of secondhand smoke is safe.
Besides, we don't let the market decide other areas of public health concern. Imagine if government didn't regulate
the proper temperature of uncooked meat or mandate hand-washing for workers. Zagat might have to include a stomach-pumping
category on its famous dining guide.
The biggest roadblock may not be the obvious and outdated arguments against smoking bans, but the mistaken notion
that such logical policy should be put in place only if it can be a regional ban to ensure a level playing economic field.
This newspaper generally favors regionalism, and common sets of rules might make them easier to enforce.
But consider this when the pro-smoking group says that bans are bad for business. Dallas knows better. In the two years
after it banned smoking in restaurants, Dallas saw more new restaurants open than fast-growing Collin County.
It's not surprising, then, that McKinney, Frisco and Plano have all since strengthened their bans.
Indeed, Austin and Houston have banned smoking in bars, and early protests have dissipated. Southlake, Arlington,
Fort Worth and other North Texas cities have all surpassed Dallas in smoking restrictions.
Besides, Dallas hardly needs to worry about stepping out alone. If it pursued a comprehensive indoor smoking ban,
it would merely be following in the footsteps of Abilene, Beaumont, El Paso, New York City, 22 U.S. states, France,
Belgium, Britain, Ireland, Italy, and ... well, you get the point.
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