Seventy percent of Vanderburgh County adults support a law prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, according to the results of a poll conducted by the Survey Research Center at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
"That's one of the highest percentages of the different counties we've surveyed across the state," said Jim Wolf, the center's director.
The survey also found 87 percent of those polled believe Vanderburgh County workers should be protected from secondhand smoke in the workplace, and 40 percent indicated they would dine at restaurants more often if smoking were prohibited.
Vanderburgh County respondents to those three questions indicated greater support for a smoking ban by turning in figures about 10 percent higher than people surveyed in the majority of the 12 other counties the center has polled, according to Wolf.
"But it's kind of irrelevant if they don't communicate their desires to the City Council," he said. "And the council will go with who they are hearing from." Complete survey results were released Thursday evening at a meeting of Citizens for a Smoke-free Evansville at Central Library. Another finding indicates 82 percent of Vanderburgh County adults (and half of smokers) agreed restaurants, bars and other public places would be healthier for customers and employees if they were smoke-free.
Conducted last month, the random telephone poll included 609 Vanderburgh County residents 18 or older, Wolf said, and respondents reflected the county's demographics. Smoke-free Indiana, a statewide advocacy group, commissioned the survey.
"It's really easy for us to go, 'Wow, we should win,'" said Johnny Kincaid, director of Smoke-free Communities, to roughly 20 supporters in attendance. "The problem is we haven't won it already." About 23 percent of Vanderburgh County residents smoke, he said, compared with about 25 percent statewide.
Evansville City Councilman Steve Bagbey, who initially introduced the issue of banning or restricting indoor smoking in city bars, restaurants and workplaces to the council, anticipates a vote in late May or early June. The County Commissioners plan to consider a similar law in May.
"Smokers do not have the right, anymore, in this great county of ours, to take our health away from us," Bagbey said. "This is as close as we've ever been, folks, and the old cop in me is saying we're going to kick that door in." A smoking ban has the support of the mayor and has been well received by the County Commissioners but will be a tougher sell to the City Council, he noted.
The Evansville Courier & Press recently endorsed a smoking ordinance, and Kincaid said the Evansville-Vanderburgh Library Board will adopt smoke-free campuses June 1. Thursday morning, the Vanderburgh County Board of Health unanimously adopted a resolution supporting an ordinance requiring smoke-free environments in all schools, workplaces and public places. "It's good for community health as well as being good for the economy," Kincaid said, noting restaurant business has increased in communities that have adopted smoking bans.
"We've got good things happening here," he said. "We just have to make sure when the hearing process fires up, we've got to fill the seats. It's not a done deal."
Warning against complacency, Kincaid said opposition is organizing and supporters will need to work very hard and demonstrate a positive and persistent presence.
"Even with 70 percent of the community's support, we don't have the votes to make it pass," he said. "It's about health. It's not about rights."