Jump to full article: NewsOK, 2009-10-30
Author: SUSAN SIMPSON
Intro: Anti-smoking proponents say they will push once again for legislation to close loopholes in state law that permit smoking in some bars and restaurants.
The intent is to protect workers from the health effects of secondhand smoke, representatives of the American Heart Association and the state Health Department said.
On Thursday proponents said they would seek legislation similar to a bill that died in the Oklahoma House this year.
The bill would remove exemptions to anti-smoking legislation approved in 2003. The exemptions allow smoking in stand-alone bars and in separately-ventilated smoking rooms in restaurants. . . .
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease, said Dr. Alan Blum, a family medicine professor at the University of Alabama and director of the Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society.
Blum said restaurant groups that oppose bans are influenced by tobacco companies that want to protect their profits.
"Basically, it's about health over money," Blum said.
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