http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/dining.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/11/21/stcharles/news/1122stc-smoke0.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293094.html Most Lake Saint Louis aldermen said Monday they are on board with pursuing a smoking ban for the city. Alderman John Pellerito, Ward 3, said he plans to draft a new ordinance that would ban all indoor smoking in public areas. Five of the city's six aldermen informally expressed support for the measure at their meeting Monday. One council member voted against pursuing a smoking ban, and the mayor also opposed the proposal. "I got a 5-to-1 vote of confidence to continue on with the smoking ban," Pellerito said. Suburban Journals jscott@yourjournal.com (Joe Scott) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=92949 http://tobacco.org/news/293083.html After months of debate, South Dakotans will get the chance to decide the fate of a statewide smoking ban. The American Cancer Society announced Thursday that there will be no appeal of last week's judges ruling. The smoking ban will be decided during the general election on November second of next year. But now, supporters of that ban have officially kicked off their campaign. . . . "We're going to move forward with the statewide ballot campaign basically. We're going to use the Great American Smokeout as our jumping off point for launching the statewide campaign," Erik Gaikowski of the American Cancer Society said. That means, their campaign starts today, and with the fate of the smoking ban out of the courts and going to the people, the American Cancer Society says they feel the ball is now in their court. KELOLAND TV sneisteadt@keloland.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091121/NEWS/911210338/1001/news http://tobacco.org/news/293082.html The way has been cleared for voters to decide the fate of South Dakota's smoking ban in next year's general election after Secretary of State Chris Nelson and Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Friday the state will not appeal a Circuit Court decision. Judge Kathleen Trandahl ruled this month that opponents of the smoking ban secured enough valid signatures in a petition drive to meet the threshold for a referendum. The ban was passed by the Legislature in March and signed into law but never enforced. . . . "I think the reality of the likelihood of success in an appeal made this a fairly easy decision," he said. "Am I greatly troubled by some areas the judge said were OK and found substantial compliance? Absolutely." Nelson said he might recommend to the state Board of Elections when it meets in December that the Legislature be approached to tighten up statutes to avoid a repeat of the controversy over the smoking ban petitions. Sioux Falls Argus-Leader pharrima@argusleader.com ( Peter Harriman) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=92637 http://tobacco.org/news/293081.html While some establishments across KELOLAND are waiting for the smoking ban to go to a public vote before they snuff out smoking in their restaurants, many popular bars in South Dakota's second largest city have already made the switch. You'll find a busy waitstaff, tables filled with food and plenty of hungry customers over the noon hour at Sports Rock in Rapid City, but you won't find a single ashtray. The bar went non-smoking this summer when the ban was first discussed in Pierre. "A lot of customers wanted to come in and eat and have an environment where it wasn't full of smoke, and we just felt that we should accommodate them because there's a huge number of people who did request that," General Manager Debbi Davids said. Months later, they've had the option to switch back and allow smoking, but Davids says her customers seem to like the change. KELOLAND TV kramaekers@keloland.com Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091120/NEWS/911200331/1003/BUSINESS http://tobacco.org/news/293040.html Backers of a statewide smoking ban say they expect to be outspent by opponents in what's expected to be a hard-fought campaign after deciding Thursday not to appeal a judge's ruling. The decision makes the prospect of a November vote more likely. However, Attorney General Marty Jackley says he and Secretary of State Chris Nelson will meet today to discuss a possible appeal. A decision is likely within a week. Jackley said the American Cancer Society's decision not to appeal "is certainly a consideration" as he and Nelson decide the state's course. . . . If, as Don Rose suggests, the state follows the cancer society's lead and decides not to appeal, the 2010 referendum will follow. Opponents of the ban such as Rose say this is what they've wanted all along. Rose owns Shenanigan's Pub, is a district director of the Licensed Beverage Dealers of South Dakota and was a key organizer of the referendum petition drive that ended up before Trandahl after the Cancer Society challenged the validity of thousands of signatures. "A vote of the people is what they should have done in the first place," Rose said. "Our deal was we always wanted to be able to let the people vote," added Mark O'Neill, president of the Licensed Beverage Dealers of South Dakota. Sioux Falls Argus-Leader pharrima@argusleader.com (Peter Harriman) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a914966130 http://tobacco.org/news/293034.html Nonsmokers outside restaurants and bars in Athens, Georgia, have significantly elevated salivary cotinine levels indicative of secondhand smoke exposure. InformaWorld.com Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://wellness.blogs.time.com/2009/11/19/the-science-behind-moving-smoking-bans-outside/ http://tobacco.org/news/293004.html Reflecting on the existing scientific research on second hand smoke exposure outdoors, William Saletan of Slate.com sifts through the most relevant points from two major studies on the subject (the 2006 California Air Resources Board study, and a 2007 study from Stanford). Among the findings: outdoors, second hand smoke levels vary widely and quickly, depend on the individual's distance from a smoker (farther than 6.5 feet or 2 meters, generally reduces exposure to "background" levels), are influenced by how confined the outdoor space is (if there are walls or fences), and the concentration of smokers in a given area. The data, Saletan concludes, point to the need for a measured approach for crafting policy to reduce second hand smoke exposure outdoors. He writes: "If you want to argue for parkwide smoking bans based on asthma or on an analogy to noise pollution, go ahead and make that case. But let's not cloud that debate by invoking the general harm of secondhand smoke. Studies of secondhand smoke have indeed moved outdoors. Their findings support restrictions on lighting up within a few feet of other people. But they don't warrant more than that." A new study published in the November issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene may contribute to the debate. Researchers from the University of Georgia measured second hand smoke exposure among people sitting in the outdoor areas of bars and restaurants where indoor smoking was banned in the city of Athens, Georgia. . . . generally speaking, hanging out in an outdoor smoking area exposes you to less second hand smoke than being in an indoor, confined space with smokers, and the more space you have between yourself and smokers, the lower levels of exposure you will have. So, this particular study doesn't ring the death knell for outdoor smoking. But, the researchers point out, wielding the official trump card of the public health argument: Although the increment in cotinine concentrations and, thus, the [second hand smoke] exposure levels were relatively low at the sites of interest, the current view is that there is no level of personal exposure to [second hand smoke] that can be regarded as safe. This study demonstrates the ongoing exposure of nonsmokers to [second hand smoke] outside restaurants and bars, and the limitations of indoor smoking bans alone in protecting the public from exposure to [second hand smoke] outside these establishments. In other words, the movement to ban smoking in outdoor spaces is here to stay. Time Magazine Blogs Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.2news.tv/news/local/70435182.html http://tobacco.org/news/292970.html Working with Smoke Free Idaho the American Cancer Society is trying again - advocating for city wide smoking bans and this time they're hoping Boise takes the lead. "We want to make sure that every worker in the state of Idaho has the right to breath smoke free air," said Cathy Callaway, Senior Representative for state and local campaigns with the American Cancer Society. Idaho law allows smoking inside bars and businesses with fewer than five employees. Over the summer advocates tried to change that in Eagle but the ban went down in flames after the city council decided this is an issue for state lawmakers. "The best practices all across the country are to start at the local level," Callaway said. KBCI-TV Channel 2 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.kfbb.com/news/local/70421072.html http://tobacco.org/news/292962.html Last night, the Tavern Association was lobbying commissioners to change the City Ordinance banning smoking within 20 feet of a building. While some local bars and restaurants say they're hurting from the city ordinance, City Attorney Chad Parker thinks health trumps those concerns. “The intent and purpose of this is to protect the publics right to not breathe smoke filled air. And so what do you do with that? Is there a right to smoke - no. There's no recognized right to smoke. There's a desire to smoke - we understand that. We also understand there's an addiction,” Parker said. KFBB-TV Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091118154619.htm http://tobacco.org/news/292942.html Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard. The study, thought to be the first to assess levels of a nicotine byproduct known as cotinine in nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors, found levels up to 162 percent greater than in the control group. The results appear in the November issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. "Indoor smoking bans have helped to create more of these outdoor environments where people are exposed to secondhand smoke," said study co-author Luke Naeher, associate professor in the UGA College of Public Health. "We know from our previous study that there are measurable airborne levels of secondhand smoke in these environments, and we know from this study that we can measure internal exposure. "Secondhand smoke contains several known carcinogens and the current thinking is that there is no safe level of exposure," he added. "So the levels that we are seeing are a potential public health issue." Athens-Clarke County, Ga., enacted an indoor smoking ban in 2005, providing Naeher and his colleagues and ideal environment for their study. ScienceDaily Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/duncan-111809 http://tobacco.org/news/292913.html Whether the state took an improper route to nab the admitted smoking ban violator is just one of several arguments Des Moines County District Court Judge Mary Ann Brown will consider before ruling whether the smoking ban violates the U.S. and Iowa constitutions. Though the hearing lasted just two hours Tuesday morning, with the arguments largely made up of the written briefs the attorneys previously submitted to the judge, the owner of Otis Campbell's Bar and Grill said he'd take what he could get. "I'm grateful that it got this far now," Duncan said after the trial. "I believe in the system." Brown asked few questions during the hearing but thanked the attorneys at the end of their arguments. She did not offer a time frame for making a decision but said it will be "as quickly as we can." Burlington Hawk Eye ccrippes@thehawkeye.com (CHRISTINIA CRIPPES) Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.indystar.com/article/20091116/OPINION01/911160310/-1/OPINION09/Let-s-be-like-the-Irish-ban-indoor-smoking http://tobacco.org/news/292865.html It is disheartening that the leaders of Indianapolis are hesitating to pass the smoking ban in public establishments. . . . who will pick up the tab of those sick from smoke exposure who are uninsured and either choose to smoke or opt to expose others to their smoking? The answer is, every taxpayer. On a recent visit to Ireland, a country at the top of the list with the number of bars per square mile, I discovered this country had banned smoking in taverns. The taverns were crowded and people didn't mind stepping outside for a smoke. People were enjoying the music, beer and hospitality. Indiana, step up to the plate and be progressive for once. Indianapolis Star Ireland Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/529806.html?nav=5017 http://tobacco.org/news/292856.html Here's an onion to the Warren VFW Post 1090 members who think they are above the law. An organization such as this one should be setting an example of obeying state laws such as the no-smoking ban. To rack up $1,600 in fines has to amount to a lot of violations. And to seek exemption from the fine by using the excuse that it will hurt their charitable efforts is appalling. If you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime. They should obey the law. Warren Tribune Chronicle Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/11/senate_has_not_yet_taken_action_on_smoking_ban_bill http://tobacco.org/news/292851.html The smoke still has not cleared between the Michigan House and Senate on whether state residents should be allowed to enjoy cigarettes while dining. It has been six months since the Michigan House passed a statewide smoking ban for public places, such as restaurants and bars, and the Senate still has not picked up the bill, which exempts casinos and cigar bars. Some representatives still are pushing for the Senate to take action on the bill, but experts said disagreement between the two houses could mean the Senate might not pick it up at all. “Having just finished up the budget process, we are looking at our agenda for the upcoming year and we haven’t had any discussion of how we will address the smoking ban,” said Matt Marsden, spokesman for Sen. Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester. The Senate passed a smoking ban with no exemptions in 2008, but the House never picked up that bill, he said. “If there is going to be a smoking ban, we don’t believe there should be carve-outs for certain establishments,” Marsden said. But exempting casinos and cigar bars would create a “middle ground,” State News Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wsfa.com/global/story.asp?s=11526009 http://tobacco.org/news/292850.html In a 4-3 vote the proposed smoking ordinance in Prattville failed to pass at Tuesday's city council meeting. Councilman Tom Miller and Council President Dean Argo wanted to ban employees and customers younger than 19 years old from smoking in restaurants. Some business owners feared they would lose employees if the ordinance passed. WSFA 12 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT