Health News
State Rep. Susan Westrom of Lexington, left, announced her intent to file a bill today that calls for a statewide smoking ban, which would prohibit cigarette use in workplaces, restaurants, bars and private clubs.
The Courier-Journal's Laura Ungar reports the bill is supported by the Smoke Free Kentucky coalition. "We feel like the time has come to make sure everyone across the state is protected," said Amy Barkley, a director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "There's absolutely no reason for anyone to be exposed to secondhand smoke."
- Poll Shows About 63% Of Jessamine County Residents Support A Statewide Smoking Ban
A recent poll facilitated by Asbury University's Psychology Department for the Jessamine County Health Department showed that about 63 percent of the county's residents endorse a statewide law banning smoking in every workplace, and about 66 percent...
- Northern Kentucky Health Board Supports Statewide Smoking Ban
The main health board in Northern Kentucky, where local smoking bans have stirred much controversy. has endorsed the idea of a statewide ban on smoking in all places of employment. "The 32-member board, which represents Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton...
- Rep. Westrom, Bolstered By Increasing Public Support, Thinks Third Time May Be The Charm To Pass A Statewide Smoking Ban Law
A coalition of health groups say they will give state Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington, the most public support ever for a bill to ban smoking in Kentucky restaurants and workplaces, a bill she's tried to get passed twice, Jacqueline Pitts of CN2 reports....
- Coalition Of Health Groups Launches Two-week Ad Campaign To Drum Up Support For A Statewide Smoking Ban
A geographically targeted newspaper and online advertising campaign calling for "a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free law" is hitting Kentucky media outlets this week, as the legislature convenes, and next week. The campaign was launched by Smoke-Free...
- Prediction: Smoking Bans Will Be In Effect Nationwide By 2020
Bans of smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, will probably be in effect nationwide by 2020, a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded. "It is by no means a foregone conclusion that we'll...
Health News
Statewide smoking ban proposed in legislature
State Rep. Susan Westrom of Lexington, left, announced her intent to file a bill today that calls for a statewide smoking ban, which would prohibit cigarette use in workplaces, restaurants, bars and private clubs.The Courier-Journal's Laura Ungar reports the bill is supported by the Smoke Free Kentucky coalition. "We feel like the time has come to make sure everyone across the state is protected," said Amy Barkley, a director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "There's absolutely no reason for anyone to be exposed to secondhand smoke."
Tobacco-Free Kids advocates released numbers from a poll Wednesday showing 59 percent of Kentucky voters support would support a comprehensive smoking ban, which prohibits cigarette use from the workplace, restaurants and bars. Of those, 44 percent strongly favor the law, a press release reads. The survey also found 76 percent of Kentucky voters believe exposure to secondhand smoke is harmful.
Dr. Terry Pechacek, associate director for science with the Centers for Disease Control's Office on Smoking and Health, said that is definitely the case, saying there is "no safe level of exposure" to cigarette smoke. He supports any move that would ban the substance. "This is not anti-smoker," he said. "This is protecting those people through no fault of their own who are being exposed to a deadly set of toxic compounds that come from the end of a cigarette."
"If (smoking) was not a personal behavior, it would have been something that would have been addressed long ago," he added, likening the harmful effects of smoke to "lead in gasoline." "As soon as we recognized the lead was getting into the environment and harming children, it was rapidly removed."
Statewide, 28 communities have passed smoking ban ordinances, 26 of which have already taken effect, Ungar reports. Lexington implemented its ban in 2004. In 2007, Louisville enacted a ban prohibiting smoking in public buildings. Nationwide, 29 states and Washington, D.C. have passed comprehensive smoking bans. Four other states have smoke-free laws that include restaurants but allow tobacco use in bars.
In Kentucky, CDC numbers show 25.6 percent of adults smoke. It ties with West Virginia for having the country's highest percentage of adult smokers.
Dr. Ellen Hahn, who directs the Tobacco Policy Research Program and has been instrumental in getting smoking bans passed in Kentucky communities, said she does not believe the statewide ban will pass this year "because such proposals typically don't," she told Ungar. State Rep. Tom Burch of Louisville, who chairs the House Committee on Health and Welfare, said he plans to sign on as a sponsor of the legislation. He told Kentucky Health News the issue will be given a "favorable hearing" in his committee. (Read more)
For useful information, including maps, regarding smoking ban legislation nationwide, go here.
- Poll Shows About 63% Of Jessamine County Residents Support A Statewide Smoking Ban
A recent poll facilitated by Asbury University's Psychology Department for the Jessamine County Health Department showed that about 63 percent of the county's residents endorse a statewide law banning smoking in every workplace, and about 66 percent...
- Northern Kentucky Health Board Supports Statewide Smoking Ban
The main health board in Northern Kentucky, where local smoking bans have stirred much controversy. has endorsed the idea of a statewide ban on smoking in all places of employment. "The 32-member board, which represents Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton...
- Rep. Westrom, Bolstered By Increasing Public Support, Thinks Third Time May Be The Charm To Pass A Statewide Smoking Ban Law
A coalition of health groups say they will give state Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington, the most public support ever for a bill to ban smoking in Kentucky restaurants and workplaces, a bill she's tried to get passed twice, Jacqueline Pitts of CN2 reports....
- Coalition Of Health Groups Launches Two-week Ad Campaign To Drum Up Support For A Statewide Smoking Ban
A geographically targeted newspaper and online advertising campaign calling for "a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free law" is hitting Kentucky media outlets this week, as the legislature convenes, and next week. The campaign was launched by Smoke-Free...
- Prediction: Smoking Bans Will Be In Effect Nationwide By 2020
Bans of smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, will probably be in effect nationwide by 2020, a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded. "It is by no means a foregone conclusion that we'll...