In January 2012, anti-smoking advocates were touting the results of a just-completed poll — and hoping the Indiana General Assembly would pass a statewide workplace smoking ban.
According to that poll of 500 Hoosiers, 70 percent of Indiana voters supported a law that would prohibit smoking in indoor workplaces and public facilities, including restaurants and bars.
“Voters know that secondhand smoke is a health hazard, and this poll shows that they want a strong law,” said Danielle Patterson, the co-chairman of the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air. “The Legislature should listen to the people of Indiana.”
Lawmakers did — and didn’t. Then-Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a bill restricting smoking, a first for the state. But the law exempted bars, casinos, retail tobacco shops and private clubs, such as veterans and fraternal organizations. A smoking ban, it was not.
The Howard County commissioners and Kokomo city council moved to correct that legislative mistake this year and passed a more comprehensive county- and city-wide smoking ban in all bars, taverns, private clubs and other places. As we had in previous instances, we advocated for such a change.
The reaction from people has been varied.
We sympathize with those like Stella Kling, who owns Stella’s Saturday Lounge, and Terri Miller, a bartender for 26 years at Hoosier Bar, who say they have felt a change in their pocketbooks.
Yet we are encouraged by the accounts of Mario Glunt, owner of Ned’s Corner Pub, and Kirstie Mates, a manager at Mulligan’s, who say their businesses have either broken even or increased since the ban.
Today is the 42nd observance of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. We again urge the Legislature not to bow to the claims of businesses arguing such a ban would hurt them financially, just as they did in 2012 and Kokomo city councilmen did in 2006 and 2014.
This year’s results from Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits Poll found 57 percent of respondents favored making smoking in all public places totally illegal. What’s more, 19 percent of those polled wanted to ban smoking outright, 7 percent higher than the level in 2007.
It’s time for a more comprehensive statewide smoking ban. Our legislators should follow Kokomo and Howard County’s lead.