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Jump to full article: St. Louis (MO) Post-Dispatch, 2003-01-13
Intro: The Jan. 7 article, "Where there's smoke," reported on the controversy over closing smoking lounges at Lambert Field. It quoted Alderman Dionne Flowers as saying that the city has spent thousands of dollars on "making it safe" for people to smoke. This article illustrates why Missouri received three "F" grades and a "C" on the American Lung Association's annual State of Tobacco Control report card, with one of the failing grades in smoke-free air legislation.
Why? Missouri's clean indoor-air law does not protect the public's health by providing for 100 percent smoke-free workplaces, restaurants and other public places.
It's never safe for people to smoke, or for non-smokers to be exposed to the smoke of others.
First, to claim that nonsmokers are being affected by the Lambert Field smoking lounge is simply wrong. The ventilation system is good, and smoke is not floating into the corridor.
My second concern is about safety. I do not like the idea of people running off a plane and out to a parking lot to smoke once a plane lands. . .
My third concern is cost. After spending $450,000 to install these rooms, it would be silly to close them.
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