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Steven F. Scanlin and Russell A. Duke: Smoke-free laws don't negatively impact local businesses 

Everyone has a right to breathe clean indoor air in public places. Eagle was poised to be the first Idaho municipality to protect people from suffering the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, but the City Council voted to table the clean air ordinance. In the meantime, Idaho's city of Moscow unanimously passed a smoking ban similar to what was being considered by Eagle.

In a July 6 Reader's View ("Ordinance would have done little, except hurt businesses"), Eagle City Council member Jeanne Jackson-Heim stated that she felt this particular ordinance "might negatively affect our local businesses during tough economic times."

All legitimate economic impact studies on business show either no economic effect or a positive one after a smoke-free law is enacted. Following the growth in smoke-free laws nationwide, a parallel increase has occurred in the false allegations from the tobacco companies and their allies that smoke-free laws will hurt local economies and business. In fact, numerous careful scientific and economic analyses show that smoke-free laws do not hurt restaurant and bar patronage, employment, sales or profits. At worst, the laws have no effect at all, and they sometimes even produce slightly positive trends. More information on this subject is available at http://www.no-smoke.org.

Local policy should be driven by sound scientific evidence. . . .

Community leaders should take the time to review the evidence and create policies that advance the health of their communities. Going smoke-free is good for health, good for business and good for Idaho. Eagle City Council is encouraged to reconsider its recent vote and pass a clean air ordinance. With the council's help, we will all breathe a little easier.

The Central District Health Department is working within the community to decrease the impact of tobacco use and stands eager and willing to assist on the smoke-free issue.

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