Clean Air for All. Because nobody should have to breathe secondhand smoke to hold a job.

What is secondhand smoke? Combination of side stream smoke from a burning cigarette and smoke exhaled from a smoker’s mouth or nose Also called… –Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) –Passive Smoking –Involuntary Smoking

So What’s the Big Deal About a Little Smoke? 43 known cancer-causing agents. Over 4,000 chemicals, including Ammonia (toilet cleaner), Arsenic (poison), Butane (lighter fluid), Stearic Acid (candle wax), Hexamine (barbeque lighter), and Nicotine (insecticide)

It’s a fact: secondhand smoke causes chronic disease and death The scientific debate is over. Conclusive studies from the most credible major health organizations: –The U.S. Surgeon General –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –The National Research Council –The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Secondhand smoke harms non-smoking adults Coronary heart disease Lung and nasal sinus cancers Emphysema Increased risk of breast cancer Worsening of asthma Over 60,000 otherwise healthy nonsmokers die each year from secondhand smoke exposure!

Secondhand smoke harms restaurant and bar workers A Canadian study found that the most heavily exposed workers are three times as likely to get lung cancer compared with workers in a smoke-free environment. Secondhand smoke at work is responsible for about 20% of all breast cancer in waitresses and female bartenders.

There is a solution! The benefits of smoke-free legislation: Primary Benefit - Removes immediate health threat to patrons and workers. Secondary Benefits - Reduces youth smoking and reduces amount of tobacco used by smokers on a daily basis.

The rationale behind smoke- free legislation All employees, including those in restaurants and bars, are entitled to smoke-free work environments. The lungs of bartenders are just as important as the lungs of executives. There are no second class lungs.

Who’s already done this? Smoke-free bar ordinances : States of California and Delaware Ottawa and Vancouver, Canada El Paso, Texas Boulder and Aspen, Colorado Helena, Montana Eugene and Corvalis, Oregon Tempe and Guadalupe, Arizona Las Cruces, New Mexico Numerous towns in Massachusetts, including 12 of 15 towns on Cape Cod

What About New York? Nassau County smoke-free bar law passed 10/7/02 – will take effect 3/03 Suffolk and Westchester County smoke- free bar laws pending vote Public hearing on NYC smoke-free bar law held 10/10/02

The financial impact on business? None! Contrary to claims, studies have shown that smoke-free ordinances do not hurt sales receipts or tourism. This makes sense. Adult non-smokers outnumber smokers 4 to 1. The only business that loses money when smoking is banned is the tobacco industry.

Eating establishments’ taxable annual sales in California by liquor license type, Billion Dollars Smoke-free Restaurants Smoke-free Bars Source: California State Board of Equalization. Prepared by: California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section, November 2001.

What’s next…red meat? Twinkies? Coffee? There is no such thing as secondhand exposure to red meat, Twinkies or coffee – they only hurt the consumer. All freedoms are balanced by responsibility to do no harm. Drinking alcohol is legal, but driving intoxicated is not.

What about “new” ventilation technology? According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), “there are no filtration systems that eliminate all of the toxins in secondhand smoke.” Even if the room doesn’t smell like smoke, the toxins are still there.

Aren’t restaurants and bars privately owned businesses? These facilities are already regulated from door to dumpster. We don’t debate whether or not owners can serve old meat, or wash dishes in cold water or forgo fire exits.

Erie County residents are ready for a change! February 2001 telephone poll by Zeplowitz & Associates : 90% believe secondhand smoke is harmful 82% want to see waiters, waitresses and bartenders protected from tobacco smoke 72% believe restaurant smoking should be restricted to separately enclosed & ventilated room or banned entirely 57% believe law should include stand-alone bars and taverns

Our Proposal: Prohibit smoking in the following public locations: –Bar areas of restaurants –Stand-alone bars and taverns –Bowling centers Prohibit food and beverage service in separate smoking rooms

How Can You Help? Sign-up to become an individual advocate Endorse our proposal on behalf of your organization Call or write your county legislator

Clean Air for All.