Editorial:

Statewide smoking ban should be instituted

Published Feb. 9, 2010

A statewide smoking ban is working its way through the Missouri legislature.

The ban would prohibit smoking at virtually every public place in Missouri and areas within 15 feet of the entrances to such places. Only private homes, tobacco shops, smoking-designated hotel rooms and certain outdoor workplaces would be exempt.

Passing this legislation would be good for everyone involved.

Although Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-Kansas City, cites businesses losing money as a reason not to pass the bill, which might not be true. Businesses that lose smoking customers due to the ban could also gain non-smoking customers who previously avoided the place of business because the smoke bothered them.

In addition, businesses wouldn’t have to worry about losing patrons to nearby establishments that aren't covered by the local ban, because the ban would be statewide, keeping people from traveling to the nearest exempt place they can find.

Fourteen Missouri cities including Columbia have adopted similar policies, though Columbia has exemptions, such as restaurant patios and balconies. Those exemptions should be added to the language of the House bill, because they are not explicitly cited. Creating that exemption adds a fair balance for smokers visiting venues so people would be able to step outside to smoke.

In St. Louis County, from where the bill's Republican sponsor Walt Bivins hails, the smoking ban law passed by 65 percent, and a statewide ban has seen a lot of support.

Missouri also has the second lowest excise tax on tobacco at 17 cents per pack, so losing smokers wouldn't greatly impact Missouri's overall tax revenue.

From a non-economic standpoint, a smoking ban is the right thing to do for everyone's health. Smokers and non-smokers could benefit from a statewide ban.

The Institute of Medicine reported smoking bans are effective at reducing risks associated with secondhand smoke, such as heart attacks and heart disease, though they don't know how great the effect on secondhand smokers is.

According to epigee.com, smoking is the most preventable cause of disease and premature death but one in five deaths worldwide can be attributed to tobacco products. Laws such as this could stop people from taking the first steps to tobacco addiction, because it wouldn’t be as prominent a part of the social scene.

Sure, it's one thing if someone chooses to smoke, but secondhand smoke affects nearly everyone around the smoker. And those who choose to not smoke but can't seem to escape it are not amused by smokers’ ability to blow smoke rings or any other potentially lung damaging shape.

In fact, 10 percent of those who die of complications from smoking are secondhand smokers, which adds up to about 50,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

Also, laws like this might help people quit if they have the desire.

Among the 44.5 million Americans surveyed by the centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 who smoke every day, 40.5 percent of them reported they tried stopping for at least one day in an attempt to quit in the last year. Perhaps with this law they can go to a bar and not have "I only smoke when I drink" syndrome or get a stronger urge from the smell of nearby smokers.

Missouri is historically easy on smokers. In 2008, Missouri received straight Fs in the annual American Lung Association's assessment, and the Fs were part of a trend. Categories listed in the assessment include smoke-free air, cigarette taxes, health coverage and tobacco prevention and control.

Missouri has one of the highest percentages of smokers in the nation — not exactly a statistic to be proud of. Straight Fs doesn't exactly translate to bragging rights either, but it's not about the scores and statistics these organizations set in place. It's about the people these statistics effect.

We've all seen the Truth advertisements and read the surgeon general's warnings, but those are all recommendations. A firm "no" might be what Missourians need to stop the chain that is Missouri's bad-smoking habits.