We've all seen and heard commercials and other media that smoking causes cancer. We've all seen and heard that second-hand smoke can cause cancer as well. Now there are people who want to do something about it.
The LaPorte and Porter County Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalitions teamed up to form a Town Hall forum for attendants who are for or against new state legislation to bring about comprehensive smoke-free air for all workers in the state of Indiana. State Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary along with other expert panelists presented their own case in support of the new legislation and the floor was then opened for questions from the audience.
"Most people do not realize that in the case of those people that are impacted by second-hand smoke, the majority of them do not have health care coverage," Rep. Brown explained. "Which means that we, the general public, have to pay for the healthcare needs of those people."
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The main arguments that are raised when talking about a comprehensive smoke-free air regulation is that small businesses such as restaurants or bars who have a majority of customers who come to their establishment and smoke might lose some of their business or even have to close shop. And that's not something you want to have happen in an already uneasy economy. But, Rep. Brown and other panelists had to disagree.
"Only 24 percent of our 6 million-plus Hoosiers smoke," said Rep. Brown. "So, that means that there are 76 percent that do not smoke. It appears as though mathematically that those small businesses will increase their customer base if they went smoke-free as opposed to losing customers."
It seems to be that Rep. Brown may be right. Mike Peuquet, owner of Inman's Fun and Party Center where the forum was held, decided to make the bowling alley of his establishment smoke-free in 2005. He reported that that year their business had increased.
"People would call me and thank me for making [Inman's] smoke-free," Peuquet responded during the forum.
Another panelist, Suzanne Tracy who is Executive Director of the Northwest Indiana American Cancer Society, expressed her own personal disdain that workers might have to sacrifice their health in order to provide for their family. Because she had to do just that.
"For 11 years, I worked as a single mom, raising three daughters, and I worked in a restaurant where smoking was permitted," said Tracy. "It was not a choice as far as I was not going to work there. I needed that extra income to raise my children... So for 11 years, I inhaled second-hand smoke, which I have a 50% higher risk of getting lung cancer."
Tracy also commented that she notices that smoke-free establishments are not hurting but rather busier than ever. She and her family visited a smoke-free restaurant in Merrillville this past weekend and reported that they had to 45 minutes for a table.
"I thought, 'Hmm...that smoke-free business wasn't hurting for business that night!'," exclaimed Tracy.
Whether or not the smoke-free legislation gets passed in the state house this upcoming year, we just hope the best decision will be made to benefit the communities of Indiana as a whole.
Other panelists included Charles Motley, MD, a LaPorte County Emergency Medicine specialist; Rev. David Swarn, chair of the LaPorte County Minority Health Coalition board of directors; Valparaiso city councilman Jan Dick; and Indiana Tobacco Prevention & Cessation board member Marion Dick, RN.