Oklahoma activists target smoking loopholes
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.
Marilyn Davidson of the American Heart Association said secondhand smoke leads to disease that kills 38,000 people a year and increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 25 percent to 30 percent.
A recent report by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies said studies have shown a decrease in the rate of heart attacks after a smoking ban was implemented.
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.
But some Oklahoma restaurant and nightclub owners have opposed an outright ban on smoking, claiming it would have a negative impact on their business. Some have invested thousands of dollars building separate smoking rooms.
“We are obviously sympathetic to them,” Davidson said. “Our main concern is the workers that have to work in these smoking rooms.”
Jim Hopper, president of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, did not return telephone calls seeking comment on the proposed smoking ban.
BY SUSAN SIMPSON
October 30, 2009 Newsok
