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Healthcare Professionals Support S.D. Smoking Ban
By Travis Gulbrandson
travis.gulbrandson@yankton.net
With the 2009 legislative session looming, preliminary reports suggest a bill to ban smoking from bars and restaurants may be introduced.
This is welcome news to state health care professionals, who say such a ban could greatly benefit South Dakota’s citizens.
“The health of the people comes first and foremost,” said Ellen McVay, president of Yankton Medical Alliance. “What the non-smoking ban would do is to ensure that whenever any person or member of the family, no matter what age, can go into a restaurant or bar and enjoy being there without having it be a potential health problem for them.”
Dr. Rodney Parry, dean of the USD School of Medicine and Health Sciences, added, “I think it’s for everyone’s benefit. I think it’s for the benefit of the employees, the benefit of the general population and hopefully the benefit of the smokers, too.”
Both McVay and Parry pointed to an ongoing study which attributed a dramatic decrease in heart attacks in Pueblo, Colo., to that community’s smoking ban.
According to the study, the rate of hospitalized heart attack victims dropped 41 percent in the three years after Pueblo instituted a workplace smoking ban. There were no similar decreases in two neighboring areas, which researchers say is proof the ban has been effective.
“It’s the most compelling literature I’ve seen,” Parry said. “If you are a worker in a place where there is smoking, your risk of heart attack is much greater than people who are not in such an environment.”
Locally, several area businesses have already taken on smoke-free policies, including Minerva’s Grill & Bar and Murdo’s Aten Resort.
One of the first to implement such a policy was Ben’s Brewing Co., which opened its doors as a smoke-free business.
Owner Ben Hanten said, “It was a good business decision for us. It wasn’t because we were anti-smoker; it was because we felt people who didn’t want to be in smoke, that audience wasn’t being served.”
He added that if his business encouraged others to become smoke-free as well, “that’s great.”
McVay said this is a trend that will probably continue into the future, regardless of whether a ban is enacted or not.
“I think people are much more savvy now,” she said. “They understand the health dimensions. ... There is a momentum in this country that is fueled by the medical facts, and I think people are just not going to risk their health to go to a smoking restaurant or bar anymore.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is welcome news to state health care professionals, who say such a ban could greatly benefit South Dakota’s citizens.
“The health of the people comes first and foremost,” said Ellen McVay, president of Yankton Medical Alliance. “What the non-smoking ban would do is to ensure that whenever any person or member of the family, no matter what age, can go into a restaurant or bar and enjoy being there without having it be a potential health problem for them.”
Dr. Rodney Parry, dean of the USD School of Medicine and Health Sciences, added, “I think it’s for everyone’s benefit. I think it’s for the benefit of the employees, the benefit of the general population and hopefully the benefit of the smokers, too.”
Both McVay and Parry pointed to an ongoing study which attributed a dramatic decrease in heart attacks in Pueblo, Colo., to that community’s smoking ban.
According to the study, the rate of hospitalized heart attack victims dropped 41 percent in the three years after Pueblo instituted a workplace smoking ban. There were no similar decreases in two neighboring areas, which researchers say is proof the ban has been effective.
“It’s the most compelling literature I’ve seen,” Parry said. “If you are a worker in a place where there is smoking, your risk of heart attack is much greater than people who are not in such an environment.”
Locally, several area businesses have already taken on smoke-free policies, including Minerva’s Grill & Bar and Murdo’s Aten Resort.
One of the first to implement such a policy was Ben’s Brewing Co., which opened its doors as a smoke-free business.
Owner Ben Hanten said, “It was a good business decision for us. It wasn’t because we were anti-smoker; it was because we felt people who didn’t want to be in smoke, that audience wasn’t being served.”
He added that if his business encouraged others to become smoke-free as well, “that’s great.”
McVay said this is a trend that will probably continue into the future, regardless of whether a ban is enacted or not.
“I think people are much more savvy now,” she said. “They understand the health dimensions. ... There is a momentum in this country that is fueled by the medical facts, and I think people are just not going to risk their health to go to a smoking restaurant or bar anymore.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of yankton.net.
CarolT wrote on Jan 11, 2009 10:33 AM:
" The Pueblo study is all a lie. The death rates from AMI in Pueblo actually ROSE the year after the smoking ban. Those anti-smoker frauds only claimed that the rates of HOSPITALIZATION for AMI declined, not deaths! And, they could create a false impression of a decline merely by being too free with admissions (and raking in extra money for it) beforehand, and then magically reduce the admission rate by tightening up the policy.
http://www.smokershistory.com/etsheart.html#Pueblo "
http://www.smokershistory.com/etsheart.html#Pueblo "
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gfeneralsn wrote on Jan 8, 2009 6:30 AM: