ARE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
AND SENATORS
IGNORING A SERIAL KILLER?

OR WILL THEY VOTE TO PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS?
Remember: Exceptions are the only threat to anyone and their business!

Recent population estimates report that 12,440,621 people reside in Pennsylvania.  The Coalition to Stop Smoking in Bars and Restaurants represents 80% of those people, or  the 9,952,486 smoke free citizens in Pennsylvania. These people do not have the organized, financial resources of the American Tobacco Industry.  The tobacco industry is lobbying to allow smoking in bars and restaurants.  It’s a business investment for them.
For the citizens of Pennsylvania it’s the need for health protection from a serial killer, smoke.  On November 8, 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported, "Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States, resulting in approximately 438,000 deaths annually."  

The National Cancer Institute in their 2007 Cancer Trends Report say that “Conclusive scientific evidence documents that SHS (second hand smoke) causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke. Exposure of adults to SHS has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.”

What is your State Representative and your State Senator doing to stop smoking in bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania?  The answer, very little!  The Smoking Ban for Bars and Restaurants is being slowed, watered down, and compromised to suit special interests.  They are ignoring the health of 80% of Pennsylvanians.  Over 9 million citizens of the Keystone State are being denied their right to life and health.

Myth: Banning smoking in bars and restaurants reduces revenues for owners.
Truth: It does not, in fact in Maine and California sales increased!!
Example # 1.  On January 2, 2002, El Paso, Texas (2000 population: 563,662), implemented an ordinance banning smoking in all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars. To assess whether the El Paso smoking ban affected restaurant and bar revenues, the Texas Department of Health (TDH) and CDC analyzed sales tax and mixed-beverage tax data during the 12 years preceding and 1 year after the smoking ban was implemented. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which determined that no statistically significant changes in restaurant and bar revenues occurred after the smoking ban took effect. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5307a2.htm)
Example # 2. While numerous polls have shown that nonsmoking patrons intend to dine out more when cigarette and cigar smoke is no longer a factor, there is still a question about the protest backlash operators may see from longtime smoking guests.  "I think in the long run everyone's business will go up, as it has in states like California and Maine, where no smoking has been the rule, but I also believe the change may hurt us for a year or two," said third-generation Tallahassee, Fla., steakhouse operator Bill Kalfas. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_26_37/ai_105160943

 

Myth: Banning smoking in bars and restaurants will hurt private clubs.  This is really ridiculous for three reasons:
1- People join clubs because they have a special allegiance to or special interest in a particular club: Freeland American Legion, Altoona Sons of Italy, Washington Arms Club, Emporium VFW, Penn Forest Fireman's Club, Harrisburg K of C, DuBois Lithuanian Club, Steelton Moose, St. Marys PFL- across the state.
2-People like to go to the club because the drink prices are lower in the clubs and many have good food at lower prices than restaurants, and clubs promote special events such as dances, picnics, special fund raising-etc.
3-People like their clubs for the camaraderie  that it promotes among the patrons.

The fact is that if smoking was banned across the board, no exceptions, all customers would go the same places they did before, only now they would step outside to take their smoke.  There would be no choice that would favor any group to the determent of another group.  Exceptions are the only threat to anyone and their business!

List of smoking bans in the United States

Arizona--In November 2006, 54.7% of voters approved the Smoke Free Arizona Act (Proposition 201), banning smoking in all bars, restaurants, and workplaces. The ban came into effect on 1 May 2007.^[3]

California--1994 banned in all workplaces including all restaurants, and in 1998 smoking was banned in bars.

San Luis Obispo, 2 August 1990 became the first city in the world to ban smoking in all public buildings

Colorado--The Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act[4] went into effect July 1, 2006, making Colorado the 13th state to pass a comprehensive public indoor smoking ban. The law prohibits smoking in nearly all workplaces and public indoor places, including bars, restaurants and casinos

Connecticut--The Clean Indoor Air Act[7], effective 1 April 2004, prohibits smoking in nearly all indoor public places and workplaces, including bars and restaurants.

Delaware--November 2002 banned in all public buildings, including workplaces, bars, restaurants, and casinos.
Illinois--On January 1, 2008, the Smoke Free Illinois Act, 410 ILCS 82/1 et seq., took effect. The act bans smoking in virtually all public places statewide, including bars, restaurants, and casinos.

Maine--Effective January 1, 2004 banned in bars. Smoking has been banned in restaurants since September 1999. The "Workplace Smoking Act of 1985" prohibits smoking in workplaces which are not open to the public.
 Maryland--Governor Martin O'Malley signed Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 into law on May 17, 2007.^[27][28] Effective February 1, 2008, the law prohibits smoking in indoor public places, fraternal clubs, and indoor workplaces, including all restaurants and bars.

Massachusetts--July 2004 banned in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. MA's ban exempts private clubs, and cigar bars.

Montana--1 October 2005, banned in all public buildings, including workplaces and restaurants. Bars, casinos, night clubs, and cocktail lounges that get 60% or more of their income from alcohol or gambling are exempt from the ban until October 1, 2009.

 New Jersey--April 15, 2006, banned in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, etc. Exceptions in NJ: cigar lounges, tobacco retailers, and on the gaming floors in Atlantic City casinos

 New York--July 2003 banned in all workplaces, bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, pool halls, and company cars, except Indian casinos and cigar bars. New York City, [March 30,2003] banned smoking in all restaurants, food-service establishments, and bars.

  New Hampshire--Governor John Lynch signed a bill banning smoking in restaurants, bars, and in cigar bars, on June 19, 2007. The law came into effect September 17, 2007.

 Minnesota--1 October 2007, smoking is prohibited in all indoor and in-home workplaces including restaurants, bars, public transportation through the Freedom to Breathe Act of 2007.

 Oregon--On June 26th, 2007, Gov. Kulongoski signed the Clean Air Act (SB571), which will ban smoking in all enclosed public places, including bars, taverns, and restaurants.

Utah--In 2006 Utah became the 12th state in the country to enact a law banning smoking in bars. On March 1, 2006, the Utah State Legislature passed amendments to the 1995 Utah Indoor Clean Air Act that will fully ban smoking in bars and taverns by January 1, 2009.

Washington--December 8, 2005 banned in all workplaces, including bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, non-tribal casinos, and bus stops. Also bans smoking while standing within 25 feet (8m) of a door or window that can open or a ventilation intake,

 Why did the State’s Commonwealth Court invalidate these bans?
Allegheny County, October, 2006, banned in all workplaces, including restaurants, but not bars. The ban was invalidated by the Commonwealth Court's May 2007, decision detailed above.      
Erie County, March 15, 2007, banned in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars within Erie County. The ban was invalidated by the May 2007 Commonwealth Court decision.    
Scranton, January 7, 2007, banned in almost all workplaces, including restaurants and most bars. This was another ban that was invalidated by the Commonwealth Court's May 2007 decision.
Did the Commonwealth Court consider the “right to health” for the 9,952,486 smoke free citizens of Pennsylvania-80% of our population?  No, they did not!

LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH-WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nearly 21 percent of Americans smoke, a number that has been stalled since 2004, federal researchers reported on Thursday in a study they said means governments must spend more to persuade people to kick the habit.of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.  "Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States, resulting in approximately 438,000 deaths annually," the CDC said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0823760820071108?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Cancer Trends, “Secondhand Smoke and Cancer”  http://progressreport.cancer.gov/doc_detail.asp?pid=1&did=2007&chid=71&coid=712&mid=

CDC’s National Health Interview Survey reports that 20.9 percent of adults aged 18 years and over were current smokers in 2004-
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/05facts/earlyrelease200506.htm


 

This material was researched and compiled by

Bill Gaffey,  Registered lobbyist  L09265
Coaltion to Ban Smoking in Bars and Restaurants