Health & Fitness
Association Urges Residents to Vote No on Smokefree Exemptions
American Lung Association only supports comprehensive smokefree law
Today, the American Lung Association in Missouri announced that the organization is opposed to Prop F in St. Louis County and “Proposition Smoke-Free with Exemptions” in St. Charles County. Both ballot initiatives allow for smoking exemptions in casinos and bars, which risks the health of local residents.
These initiatives would create smokefree exemptions such as non-smoking sections at casinos, but this doesn’t protect workers in those sections and nothing stops the smoke from traveling through the ventilation systems, pipes and even electrical outlets. The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke. In fact, more than 41,200 adult nonsmokers die every year in the U.S. from heart disease and lung cancer caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.
“The Lung Association will only support a comprehensive smokefree law that would make every workplace smokefree, including restaurants, bars, casinos and private clubs,” said Leah Martin, Director of Advocacy for the Lung Association. “No one should have to choose between breathing healthy air and a paycheck, no matter where they work. St. Louis County and St. Charles County need to put the health of our community first to reduce the death and disease associated with tobacco use. We urge citizens to vote no on Prop F in St. Louis County and vote no on ‘Proposition Smoke-Free with Exemptions’ in St. Charles County.”
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This year the Lung Association, as a member of the Show-Me Smoke Free Coalition, helped collect more than 80,000 signatures in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties in support of including a comprehensive smokefree law question on the November election ballot. Unfortunately, this initiative was taken off the ballot due to technicalities.
“We look forward to advocating for truly comprehensive smokefree policies in the St. Louis region, with the goal of protecting the health of all citizens and workers, whether they work in an office or a casino,” Martin added.