The New Year is almost here and that means that smoking will soon no longer be allowed in (indoor) public places. Restaurants, gaming establishments, bars and more will be affected.

Some people will grumble because they say it is their right to smoke wherever they please. Some will cheer because they don’t have to breathe in secondhand smoke and worry about smelling like cigarettes after coming home from a bar. And some people will see the good and the bad in the Smoke Free Illinois Act — I, a non-smoker, am one of those people.

My dad and I have argued about this issue many times since it was signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich last July. Mainly because we are so alike and know how to push each other’s buttons — but let’s face it, this is a controversial issue.

INTRO TO THE ACT: 
*It will completely prohibit smoking indoors and within 15 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes. 
*It will require “No Smoking” signs to be posted in all places where smoking is prohibited and for ashtrays to be removed from these areas. 
*It will put fines in place for people and establishments that don’t follow the rules. (A person can be fined from $100 to $250. Businesses or places of employment that violate the law may be fined $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation within one year and not less than $2,500 for each additional violation within one year.) 
*Places that are exempt from the law include private residences; retail tobacco shops, open prior to Jan. 1; and private rooms and semi-private rooms in nursing homes.

Dad, a former smoker (until he had a heart attack and was forced by his doctor to quit), said the law is taking away people’s freedom to do what they choose — freedom that the Constitution guarantees all American people. He brings up an interesting point. I agree that it’s a bad thing when the government takes away one of our freedoms, because freedom is what this country is based upon. I think people should have the right to choose whether or not to smoke. I choose not to, not only because of the health benefits it affords me (I’m unhealthy enough these days, I don’t need to add tobacco to the mix), but also because I simply find it to be unpleasant. I don’t mind if you choose the opposite. I can see where people are mad about the law and where they think the government might have a little too much authority over what we citizens do, I’m just not all that steamed about it this time. (Maybe I’d be a little more angry if they took away my right to eat a cheeseburger.)

All you naysayers have to stop and think too. Just as smokers should have the right to smoke, other people should also have the freedom to choose not to be around smoke. Currently, those people can try all they want to avoid places where they will come in contact with smoke, but sooner or later it’s going to happen. It’s in the air. 

I’ve been told before by smokers that they know tobacco is an unhealthy choice, but that I can’t say anything because I eat junk food, which is also unhealthy. Smokers, whether you think so or not, your habit not only affects yourself but also the people around you. Directly. I may be able to kill myself via heart disease by stuffing cheeseburgers in my face if I choose, but it’s certainly not going to kill the person sitting next to me.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/health_effects.htm, secondhand smoke could though. It contains at least 250 chemicals known to be toxic, including more than 50 that can cause cancer, which is the second leading cause of death and was among the first diseases causually linked to smoking. Exposure to secondhand smoke can has been proven to increase the occurrence of heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmokers by 20-30 percent.

“The California Environmental Protection Agency estimates that secondhand smoke exposure causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 22,700-69,600 heart disease deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States. Each year in the United States, secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for 150,000-300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in children aged less than 18 months. This results in 7,500-15,000 hospitalizations, annually,” according to the site.

Now those figures are frightening, and that’s just from being around the stuff.

In addition to all of that, although some of you may disagree (and you certainly have the freedom to), cigarette smoke isn’t the most appealing perfume to nonsmokers (and some smokers, alike). That hasn’t stopped me from going to out in these smoky environments to be with friends — I always just dealt with it by coming home to scrub myself silly in the shower to get rid of the smell afterward. I know it has stopped some from going out though.

People I know have declined going out with my friends and I on the weekends just to avoid coming in contact with cigarette smoke, for different reasons. Some cite bad allergies and athsma that become aggravated by cigarette smoke. Others are looking out for the health of their unborn child, and don’t want to surround themselves in such an environment when pregnant. I could never really blame them, especially because our most frequent hangout is a bar known to have bad ventilation and a plethora of smoking patrons. You can’t step in that place on the weekends without a bottle of Visine handy for your burning eyes.

You may just think I feel this way because I don’t smoke, and you may be right. But I do have friends who DO smoke and see the positive in the smoking ban as well.

Many have cited the new law as a reason to quit smoking — or as a crutch to help them quit smoking. An article on BBC.com (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7160622.stm) stated that a similar ban on smoking in public places had been enforced in Wales on April 2, and since then there has been a 20% rise in people wanting to quit.

I have heard those who have no intention of quitting say that they don’t smoke in their houses or apartments anyway and are already used to going outside to get their nicotine fix.

SOME OTHER POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES:

- I do think that the ban might be a little tough to enforce, something like prohibition. I can see it now — people hiding away in smoky little rooms (like speakeasies) trying not to get caught and fined for their actions.

+ At least if these “smoke-easies” do come into play, non-smokers who care would be isolated from these rooms.

- Some businesses, like smaller bars and the Argosy Alton Belle Casino, could lose revenue to other estabishments that can allow smoking — such as bars and casinos across the river in St. Louis.

+ Some of those businesses afraid of losing patrons might find themselves catering to a completely different demographic — people who would normally have avoided a certain bar or casino because of its previous environment and ambience — once the ban takes effect.

OK, I’ve gone on long enough.

Seriously though, I sincerely hope that the new law and everything goes well and that people try to look at the positive side. I, for one, look forward to walking into my favorite hangout next week and not feeling like my eyes are about to burn out of their sockets.

—

Read more about Smoke Free Illinois, and give us your opinions.  
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume31_issue40.pdf  

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 29th, 2007 at 3:42 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.