More S.C. cities should enact smoking bans

Ripped from the wires ... Warren Bolton explains why more S.C. cities should be using their new authority to enact public smoking bans:

By Warren Bolton

SMOKING BANS save lives. A recent government study affirming that fact shouldn't shock anyone.

Instead, it should prompt more cities and counties in South Carolina to act. It's hard to understand why even more local governments haven't jumped at the opportunity to protect the health and lives of workers and patrons since the S.C. Supreme Court gave them the green light.

Many have been wringing their hands over the prospects because some bar and restaurant owners won't like it. Those business owners should be able to make the decision themselves, some argue.

But this is a matter of life and death. And -- now, this may be a shock for some -- keeping people alive and healthy is a higher priority than personal preference.
Innocent people ought not be at risk of getting sick and dying because of someone else's bad, and dangerous, habit. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke. Cigarettes cause lung cancer and other deadly illnesses -- in smokers, and in nonsmokers who inhale smoke.

Health officials say secondhand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer in nonsmoking adults by at least 20 percent. It heightens their chance of developing heart disease by at least 25 percent. Secondhand smoke increases children's risk of asthma attacks, ear problems, acute respiratory infections and sudden infant death syndrome.

Cities and counties should enact bans, first and foremost, to protect workers -- something government has been doing in the workplace for decades. While patrons can choose not to go to certain restaurants, employees have no choice but to work in smoke-filled rooms, constantly exposed to cancer-causing agents.

The recently released Centers for Disease Control study found that the percentage of nonsmoking Americans breathing in cigarette smoke has dropped dramatically since the early 1990s. It found that about 46 percent of nonsmokers had signs of nicotine in their blood in tests done from 1999 through 2004. That's way down from the 84 percent registered in similar tests done in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Guess what CDC researchers attribute the big decline to? Smoking bans. That's right. The growing number of laws and policies that ban smoking in workplaces, bars, restaurants and public places is creating healthier communities.

According to 2007 CDC data, the number of adult smokers has dropped below 20 percent. That also helps explain the decline in exposure to nonsmokers.

No doubt, some adults choose to stop smoking once they're told they can't light up in public any more. Also, as most states -- South Carolina not included -- have increased their cigarette taxes over the past several years, smoking has decreased.

It's widely acknowledged that, on average, for every 10 percent increase in the cost of cigarettes, adult smoking declines by 3 percent. The effect on smoking among teens is even more dramatic, with a decline of 7 percent.

Just think of what would happen if our state raised the cigarette tax and passed a statewide smoking ban. Unfortunately, state elected leaders haven't seen fit to do either. They came close to raising the tax this past legislative session, but the governor vetoed it. And lawmakers haven't summoned the will to pass a smoking ban, largely due to the strong tobacco lobby.

So, for now, local governments are South Carolinians' only chance for relief.

And there's a great need for relief. While there's been a great decline in the number of nonsmokers who take in secondhand smoke, that's tempered by the fact that nearly half of nonsmokers continue to involuntarily inhale poison.

The new CDC report has somber news for some groups, particularly children and black people who are nonsmokers. While the proportion of blacks with a recent exposure to smoke dropped from 94 percent to about 71 percent, it dropped from 83 percent to 43 percent for whites.

Also unsettling is the fact that exposures for children didn't drop as steeply as for adults. More than 60 percent of children ages 4 through 11 had recent exposure to cigarette smoke in the 1999-2004 period.

It's time to kick the habit.

Governments must ban smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants. Families and individuals must stop lighting up at home and in cars.

I know quitting isn't easy. But it's easier than watching friends, loved ones and neighbors suffer and perish from the effects of secondhand smoke.

Reach Bolton, a columnist for The (Columbia) State, at wbolton@thestate.com.

Comments?

Comments

[Denney Clements]

OK, so Bolton is kind of bossy. (As a rule, for example, I try to avoid saying something "must" be done. You're almost always disappointed.) But he does have a point about the health benefits of local smoking bans. Doesn't he?

dc

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Ho-hum Beat the drum and all the little ducks got in a row. I guess if it wasn't a lie it wouldn't be in print. Mr. Bolton don't let me catch you taking a drink or eating too much fatty foods. Ho- hum Beat the drum.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Ps. Don't start on me Denny. We have worn this subject out. EVERBODY QUIT SMOKING NOW! hAPPY!

[Brett]

Richard, would your stance on this issue be the same if you were a nonsmoker?

[Brett]

Just curious...

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Brett, Yes, I didn't start until I was 21. Even as a smoker I argued for non-smoking areas because it wasn't right for people to have sit next to smokers if the smoke bothered them. Unlike, Mr. Bolton and the Muckrakers I never had to resort to lying in order to make my points. I am an easy person to get along with and a reasonable person also. As an example I eat at litte pigs in Myrtle Beach. The place is too small for smokers and nonsmokers so I have no problem not smoking. However, Captain Benjamin's is large enough to park three tractor trailors so they could accomidate both.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Also, One last thing. I don't drink alcohol. I don't tell people not to drink in public. You don't have to drink and drive to rot your liver or beat up your wife and kids.

[Brett]

Thanks for your honest answers.

And, Richard, I know you're a tourist, but why in the world would you subject yourself to Captain Benjamin's? For goodness sakes, man, drive the extra half hour to Little River or Murrells Inlet and get some real seafood! :)

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Thanks Brett, I am always looking for tips and advice from the locals. If you have some particular restaurants in mind, I will definitely try them. Where I usually stay is closer to Murrell's Inlet than Little river.

[prefab sprout]

I was listening to Dr Dean Edell on the radio this weekend. His show is excellent--its too bad the local talk station chooses to run hate speech yakkers all week--hopefully the Dems will reinstate the fairness doctrine soon. Anyway, Dr Dean said that nothing---diet exercise prayer pilates --- nothing is better for you than not smoking. Or stopping smoking.

The less smoking the better-----

[Brett]

Richard, in that case head down to the Inlet and have some fried pickles at Creek Rats. Inlet Crab House is not on the water, but it's good, local, and cheap. And if you stay somewhere with access to a stove-top, find the Crab Cake Lady, buy as many as you think you can eat, and then buy about a dozen more. Trust me, you'll easily go through all of them!

My personal favorite (if you're into Italian) is Old World Italian Restaurant. It's on 17, south of the Inlet Square. Ironically enough, it's in a shopping center next to a Carabbas. This is the kind of place where the owner will be sure to stop by your table and chat for a while. Excellent food.

Prefab, I don't disagree with you about the smoking, but I can't agree with you on the Fairness Doctrine. Any specific reason you want to see it enacted?

[Patrick Hill]

Fairness Doctrine???? The same people that want the "fairness" doctrine packed their bags days ago and headed to the mideast to keep their noses as close the Barack O's gluteus maximus as possible.

The (N)ational (B)arack (C)hannel network is covering him as much as Greta covered Natalie Holloway.

[Brett]

By that line of thought, Patrick, wouldn't the Fairness Doctrine force the "liberal media" to be a little more balanced in their coverage?

[Patrick Hill]

Everyone should be allowed to go to their own political church. For me, Rush is a genius.

I just think it is a tad hypocritical, thats all.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Brett, thanks for the tips. I will try them especially the crab cakes.

Prefab, Ask the good Dr. how many People the Medical Industrial Complex kills everyday. I will promise you that they kill 100 for every 1 that cigarettes get blamed for. If you don't believe me read the warnings on prescription drugs and then read the warnings on a pack of cigarettes and you decide what is the most dangerous drug. If you have an honest bone in your body you will be force to admit the prescription drugs are far more dangerous!

[Patrick Hill]

I didn't use the words "liberal media." Who are you quoting? Don't put words in my mouth - that is not sanitary!

I have searched this thread up and down. Still, no "liberal media". I bulemia you. Read and purge, then flush.

[Ann]

I am so tired of hearing about cigarette smoking and how it should be banned. I know its a awful habit but drinking is also awful. I would rather be around smoking than a drunk. Alcohol kills just like cigarettes but do you hear "ban alcohol". If one goes then both should go. There is nothing worse than a drunk. What happened to freedom of choice? Down the drain.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

The next time Mr. Bolton or anyone else witness's someone being killed by second hand smoke, I hope they capture it on video. It would be interesting to watch a few whiffs of smoke dance across a room, pick out an innocent victim, attack them as they grab their chest Bugs Bunny style and a tulip pops up. Since this never happens Mr. Bolton is a liar if he says it does.

Now, here is what is really going on. The media has decided to prostitute itself on the altar of Big Government, Big Corporation, cradle to grave Totaletarism. Follow the money who profits from the war on tobacco? Big Pharma of course. People smoke for a reason. Big Pharma wants to replace tobacco with a far more dangerous and more addictive drug of their own.

Where does the media come in? They are owned by Big Pharma and the other coporate sponsers. Just look at what the media promotes. They support " free trade " which makes money for who? Certainly, not the millions of Americans who have had there jobs outsourced to Communist China. They support illegal immigration which makes money for who? Ask all the Americans who work in landscaping and Construction or I should say who use to work in landscaping and construction when it payed a decent wage. It certainly doesn't help the taxpayers who pick of the tab for health care and education for these illegals. Shouldn't the corporations or business who hire these illegals be paying the tab? The list goes on and on but the result is always the same. Big government and Big Corporations always profit and grow while the middle class shrinks and pays!

One final note, there was a hearing yesterday in the House. What was it about. It was about the shortfall for transportation due to shrinking gas tax revenues due to people doing what the government asked. People are using less gas so now they want to raise other taxes to make up for the shortfall. When the cigarettes are gone the Government will ask you to make up that shortfall with higher taxes also.

[Nick]

Did we loose the comments, Denny? I was enjoying watching a person just talk to themselves, and apparently get a little mad that nobody was responding. Hysterical! I was literally laughing last night.

[Pete]

Yes I agree with the column. More cities and towns in South Carolina should pass smoking bans. Maybe sooner or later the state legislature will get off of it's hands and pass a statewide ban. Secondhand smoke is a proven and well known health risk to all non-smokers.

[Tom Davis]

Richard,
I like 'little pigs' in MBch, too ... and I also don't smoke in there. The tip on "Old World" Italian above is a good one.
Creek Ratz is pretty good for bar-hopping but here's a 'local-tip' ... for a real 'local bar' you gotta' try "THE WHALE" it's just past Wachesaw Road (on Business 17 in Murrells Inlet, not the bypass - Big Blue Sign) it's the kind of place that Inlet fishermen and guys on scooters and bikes (as in bicycles) go 'cause they don't even OWN cars; they sit next to doctor's and lawyers (typical site: weejuns, then flips, then white rubber fish boots, then barefooted ... the place is a hoot). The beer is COLD and the 'bar food' is THE VERY BEST in the Inlet ... no foolin'; and I've been around. The first "Seafood Platter" I EVER purchased in Murrells Inlet was $2.50 (Wayside - 1967 - Fish, Shrimp, Deviled Crab, Fried Oysters and French Fries) ... I wouldn't steer you wrong.
The Whale serves a 'crazy basket' (fried pickles, wings, grouper bites, fried mushrooms) for $6 ... it's fantastic AND a LOT of food.
Their 'blackened grouper sandwich' is the best in the Inlet (tied only by the one served at Harrelson's Seafood) but $1 cheaper; and for GREAT, REALLY CHEAP food ... they serve a 'Johnsonville Rib-Eye' (fried bologna w/ L/T on a great bun) that'll take ya' dang breath it's so good -$2 bucks! ... and the serve the BEST hot dogs in Eastern SC (the guy's chili has a 'little bit' of clove oil in it ... VERY unique and really fantastic.
If you're with your wife just keep driving down to Russell's ... it's about 50% LOCALS even on the 4th of July ... Russell's 'potato balls' served w/ his 'Crab Basket' are as addictive as dope (or cigarettes, anyway).
Beer Joint (with great food): THE WHALE
Great Food (with a good bar): RUSSELL'S
Great outside bar (daylight): WAHOO's
Great outside bar (after dark): HOT FISH CLUB
That's all you need to know about Murrells Inlet (but DO GO to "Dead Dog" once in a while ... great view, good 'deck musice' many nights.
Creek Ratz has good music, too ... the Whale has good music, too ... Hot Fish is all loud stuff, but sometimes they have good shaggin' music ... it's always crowded after 10 (I shouldn't know that, but I do).
Have FUN!