85% of Conn. Residents Support Smoke-Free Workplace Law [09/28/04]

85% of Conn. Residents Support Smoke-Free Workplace Law [09/28-1]

Excerpts from: Eighty-Five Percent of Connecticut Residents Support Smoke-Free Workplace Law

"One year after the smoke-free workplace law went into effect, it's working exactly as intended to protect the people of Connecticut from the health harms of secondhand smoke and preserve their right to breathe clean air," said Leah Stroman of MATCH (Mobilize Against Tobacco for Children's Health) Coalition, Inc., a non-profit coalition working to protect Connecticut kids from Big Tobacco. "Clearly, the residents of Connecticut appreciate this law."

The overwhelming support for Connecticut's smoke-free workplace law is not surprising given that 86 percent of Connecticut residents surveyed believe that secondhand smoke is a serious or moderate health hazard and 93 percent of residents agree that restaurants and bars are healthier for customers and employees now that they are smoke-free.

According to the poll, a majority of Connecticut residents, 58 percent, are more likely to vote for a candidate for the State Legislature who supports the smoke-free workplace law, while only 11 percent would be more likely to vote against such a candidate.

"Overwhelming support for the smoking ban is significant, but not surprising," said Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. "A smoke-filled room is not only obnoxious, but notoriously unhealthy. Connecticut residents know that second-hand smoke is lethal, and that employees and patrons in public places should be spared smoke where they eat and work. We should be proud of Connecticut's legislative leadership in banning smoking, which many states and cities are now seeking to adopt. Smoking bans are becoming conventional -- not exceptional."

The strong support for the law is backed up by solid evidence that it is working to improve the health of Connecticut residents. In April of this year an indoor air quality study found that the smoke-free law has significantly improved air quality in Connecticut's bars and restaurants. Researchers measured levels of indoor air pollution in seven Hartford establishments before and after the smoke-free law was fully implemented on April 1, 2004. The air quality testing yielded significant results: pollution levels in the newly smoke-free establishments decreased by 76 percent.

"The smoke-free workplace law is vastly supported by Connecticut citizens. Any legislative attempt to weaken this measure would be detrimental to the public health of our citizens," said Craig Conoscenti, M.D., volunteer chair, American Lung Association of Connecticut Board of Directors.

Connecticut's smoke-free law, including restaurants, went into effect on Oct. 1, 2003 and expanded to include bars on April 1, 2004. Connecticut was the fourth state to pass a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free workplace law that covers restaurants and bars. The total to date is seven, including California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. A growing number of cities and counties across the country have also enacted strong smoke-free laws, underscoring the growing, bipartisan momentum to protect everyone's right to breathe clean air.

The dangers of secondhand smoke are well documented. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and 69 known carcinogens including formaldehyde, lead, arsenic, benzene and radioactive polonium 210. Studies show that kids are especially vulnerable to other people's smoke, suffering more respiratory problems, ear infections and asthma. Recently, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned persons with heart disease to avoid settings where smoking is allowed because of the risk that even short-term exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger heart attacks.

The evidence is also clear that smoke-free workplace laws protect health without harming business. Numerous studies and economic data from the growing number of smoke-free states and communities across the country all show that smoke-free laws at worst have a neutral impact on the restaurant and bar business and may even have a positive impact. This evidence comes from newly smoke-free states and communities as diverse as New York City, El Paso and the states of Florida and Delaware. Some of the strongest evidence comes from New York City, where a comprehensive report found that, in the year after the city's smoke-free law took effect March 30, 2003, business receipts for restaurants and bars increased, employment rose, the number of liquor licenses increased, virtually all establishments are complying with the law, and the vast majority of New Yorkers support the law.

The survey of 400 Connecticut residents was conducted from Aug. 28-30, 2004 by Global Strategy Group. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

Further information on the health and economic benefits of smoke-free laws and a copy of the poll are available at: http://www.matchcoalition.com.

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