An organized effort to reduce smoking in Kentucky—to the point of virtually eliminating it—came to the One Sucker Tobacco Capitol recently in the county which has paid tribute to “King Tobacco” for over half a century.
A group invited by Kathy Thweatt of the Barren River District Health Department to a luncheon at Slappyz Family Diner was updated on the Smoke-Free effort and encouraged to contact state legislators in support of legislation in that calls for a statewide smoke free workplace law.
Russellville has billed itself—without contradiction—as the One Sucker Capitol of the World. Thousands have gathered in October since the 1950s for a homecoming celebration known as the Logan County Tobacco (& Heritage) Festival.
Health educators and smoke-free advocates from a wide area came to Logan County for the gathering to enlist support for the statewide effort to get the Kentucky General Assembly to pass a strong, statewide, smoke-free workplace law that applies to all workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars.
It was noted that Logan County’s two lawmakers in Frankfort, Rep. Martha Jane King and Sen. Whitney Westerfield, have not yet committed to vote for passage of the bill. Those gathered were urged to contact those two in support of the law.
Carol Douglas, who is tobacco program coordinator for the district health department, presented national data presentation on smoke-free ordinances. She said, “Sixty-seven percent of Kentucky residents believe the right of customers and employers in restaurants is more important than the right of smokers. Also, 59 percent favor a smoke-free law. And 71 percent of Kentucky residents don’t smoke.”
Jamie Bloyd, who is outreach and education coordinator for Smoke-Free Kentucky, talked about her personal experiences in watching a loved one die from lung cancer. “It’s like drowning on dry land,” she said, contending that more people die from the effects of second-hand smoke than die in accidents.
She said besides the health benefits of the law, it also makes economic sense. “$500 million in Medicaid funds is going to treat people who smoke,” she said. The speakers also noted how much money businesses would save in not having to clean the smell of smoke from their premises or repair damage from burns on rugs and furniture.
A total of 20 locations in Logan County not allowing smoking are listed in the Smoke Free Communities publication entitled Smoke Free Restaurant and Attractions in South Central Kentucky. The restaurants are Dot Diner outside Adairville; Countryside Bake Shop and Federal Grove Bed of Auburn; Shady Cliff Inn of Dunmor; and—from Russellville—Arby’s, Ariella, Captain D’s, Dairy Queen, KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Russellville Donuts, Ski Daddy’s, Slappyz Family Diner and Sylfoni’s Pizza.
Granny’s Kitchen in Russellville is advertising on WRUS radio that it is no longer allowing patrons to smoke in the restaurant, a favorite gathering place of many people who in the past have profited from the sale of tobacco in Logan County, either directly or via the economic term known as the Multiplier Effect. Times appear to be changing.
Logan County attractions listed as smoke free in the same publication are Red River Meeting House, Auburn Historic District, Auburn Museum, South Union Shaker Village and the Logan County Archives.
Gov. Steve Beshear has advocated a reduction in smoking as part of his emphasis on improving the health of Kentuckians. Al Cross of Kentucky Health News quotes the governor as advocating reducing the state's smoking rate, now at least 28 percent, to only 10 percent by 2018. Saying "tobacco use is the single-biggest factor negatively impacting our health," he again endorsed a statewide ban on smoking in most public places.
A suggested editorial from Nicole Canler of Smoke Free Kentucky offers these observations:
Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard
There is now overwhelming and irrefutable evidence that secondhand smoke harms human health. As
the U.S. Surgeon General stated when releasing a landmark 2006 report on secondhand smoke, “The
debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard that causes
premature death and disease in children and non-smoking adults.” In 2010, the 30th Surgeon General’s
Report confirmed that even a little bit of tobacco smoke causes damage to the DNA, blood vessels, and
lung tissue, causing disease. The Surgeon General’s conclusions from both reports include:
• Secondhand smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals that attack every organ in the body.
• Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer and heart disease in non-smoking adults and respiratory and
ear infections, more severe asthma attacks, sudden infant death syndrome and low birth weight in
children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50,000 Americans die
each year from lung cancer and heart disease caused by secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand
smoke causes DNA damage leading to cancer, and blood vessel damage leading to heart disease.
• There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can trigger immediate,
harmful changes in the cardiovascular system that increases risk of heart attack or stroke.
• The only way to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke is to require smoke-free workplaces
and public places. Other approaches, such as air ventilation systems and smoking and non-smoking
sections, do not work.
The same suggested editorial notes:
Smoke-Free laws protect health without harming business
Dozens of scientific studies – including one released last month -- and the experience of the growing
number of smoke-free states and cities all show the same thing: Smoke-free laws at worst have no impact
on the restaurant and bar business and even have a positive impact in some cases. This conclusion is
based on comparisons of objective economic data, such as employment, sales, and profits, before and
after smoke-free laws take effect. As the Surgeon General’s 2006 report concluded, “Evidence from peer-reviewed studies shows that smoke-free policies and regulations do not have an adverse economic
impact on the hospitality industry.”
In Lexington, which went smoke-free in April 2004, a study concluded, “In general, selected key business
indicators in Lexington restaurants, bars and hotels have not been affected by the smoke-free law.” The
same was true of an economic study which examined the economic impact on Northern Kentucky border
counties when Ohio went smoke-free.
These findings are not surprising given the strong public support for smoke-free laws and strong
preference for smoke-free establishments. A 2012 poll found that Kentucky voters support a statewide
smoke-free law by a 59 percent to 38 percent margin. This includes 44 percent who strongly favor the law. Support cuts across party lines, including 69 percent of Republicans, 44 percent of Independents and 59 percent of Democrats. The Zagat Survey, the authoritative survey of restaurant dining trends, has consistently found that consumers strongly prefer smoke-free restaurants.
The 2008 Zagat Survey: America’s Top Restaurants of 132,000 Americans showed 77 percent of diners said they'd eat out less if smoking were permitted in local restaurants, and only 2 percent saying they'd dine out more.
What you can do
Smoke-Free Kentucky has a list of 17 steps those who want to support the initiative can do. They include:
*Sign up for alerts at www.smokefreekentucky.org to state engaged in the campaign.
*Become a fan of www.facebook.com/smokefreeky
*Visit www.youtube.com/smokefreekentucky
*Call, email or write a letter to your elected officials and tell them why you personally support a smoke-free Kentucky.