Smoking ban makes 2004 a fresher start

Wednesday, December 31, 2003

Beginning tomorrow, more Mainers can breath easier, especially if they are hanging out -- or working -- at a saloon or even a pool hall.

Consider the following information from U.S. and Canadian health agencies:

l Two-thirds of smoke from a cigarette is not inhaled by the smoker, but enters the air around the smoker.

l Second-hand smoke has at least twice the nicotine and tar as the smoke inhaled by the smoker.

l Second-hand smoke is a complex mix of more than 4,000 substances, at least 42 of which are known to cause cancer in humans and animals, and many more of which are strong irritants.

l Regular exposure to second-hand smoke increases the chances of contracting lung disease by 25 percent and heart disease by 10 percent.

l Second-hand smoke is the third-ranking known cause of lung cancer after active smoking and indoor radon.

l Second-hand smoke ranks third as a major preventable cause of death behind only active smoking and alcohol.

l Second-hand smoke aggravates symptoms in people with allergies and asthma, and can cause eye, nose and throat irritations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, coughing and wheezing in otherwise healthy people.

l Children have a higher metabolism and can absorb higher amounts of smoke than adults.

l Infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer chronic respiratory illness, impaired lung function, middle-ear infections, food allergies and can even succumb to sudden infant death syndrome.

l Electronic air-cleaning systems would need to increase the air-exchange rate a thousand fold to be effective -- resulting in gale-force winds.

And the list goes on.

Those who oppose the elimination of smoking inside public places tend to argue on behalf of individual rights and freedom. The problem here is that smokers have the option not to smoke, while nonsmokers cannot choose not to breathe. This is why lawmakers were correct to treat smoking as a grave threat to public health, one that exposes everyone in proximity to extremely dangerous toxins.

Those of you who work or have worked at a bar or restaurant know this as well as anyone. You are some of the people whom this law aims to protect. Even a part-time job bartending or waiting on tables at a smoke-filled pub can produce breathing and other health problems that could be the start of something worse, according to the American Lung Association.

We understand that some bar operators fear that the new smoking ban will cost them customers and, thus, customers' money.

However, studies on the effects of such bans in the United States and Canada have shown that most bars and restaurants suffer little or no decrease in revenues. In fact, studies in California and New York showed that after smoking was banned, many establishments saw increased cash flows because more nonsmokers started showing up.

We hope the same will happen here.

Many people already view the new year as a fresh start. With the expanded ban on smoking, 2004 becomes even fresher.

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