Hello Everyone -Below are 2 articles posted in the Post Bulletin. One article is by Clearway and the other is by Shawn (banthebanminnesota) about the smoking ban.Both are worth reading....things seem to be heating up lately. On channel KSTP 5 this Sunday at 10:00 on "At Issues", Sue Jeffers will be debating Senator Sheran about the ban. Don't forget to check out the www.freedomtoact.com website and thewww.banthebanminnesota.com website!On with the Show!SheilaIf you clink on this link below, you will see the actual newspaper articles side by side.Both sides: Evidence proves Freedom to Breathe is working
10/1/2008 8:50:55 AMBy David J. WilloughbyThe first anniversary of Minnesota's Freedom to Breathe Act is a testament to how thoughtful public policy can make Minnesota a better place to live and work. By virtually every measure, the statewide law protecting employees and customers from secondhand smoke is an overwhelming success.
Freedom to Breathe, along with the local smoke-free policies in Olmsted County and other Minnesota communities that preceded the statewide law, is delivering on every promise. For example, a study conducted by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center found that the exposure of hospitality workers to tobacco-specific cancer-causing chemicals decreased by 80 percent or more after the law's implementation.
Smoke-free policies also encourage smokers to quit. The Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey released last month showed that the state's smoking rate declined to a new low of 17 percent, significantly better than the national rate. Conducted before the Freedom to Breathe law went into effect, the data do reflect the positive impact of Minnesota's 15 local smoke-free ordinances in helping people quit. In fact, 164,000 Minnesotans have quit smoking since 1999. These data provide great encouragement that we will continue to see even more progress in reducing the smoking rate as the impact of the Freedom to Breathe law is registered in future surveys.
These achievements give all Minnesotans cause to celebrate. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease and is responsible for nearly $2 billion in excess medical costs in Minnesota. Reducing tobacco use and protecting people from secondhand smoke can help improve health, save lives and control health care costs for everyone.
Certainly, the new law has brought changes to some Minnesota bars and restaurants. Kenn Rockler, executive director of the Tavern League of Minnesota and vocal smoke-free opponent, recently was quoted as saying that the impact on bars and restaurants has been uneven and that "not everyone was damaged." He's right -- in reality, those establishments that approached the law with an open mind have found more success than those who have resisted the changes brought about by the law.
The observations of Rockler and others confirm scientific research in Minnesota and elsewhere that reflect a neutral-to-positive economic impact from smoke-free policies. More competition in the industry, a difficult economy and changing legal and social attitudes toward drinking have a much greater impact on the hospitality industry than smoke-free policies do.
Ultimately, the long-term success of Freedom to Breathe -- and the economic opportunities for bars and restaurants -- rests on public support. There again, the law is a winner. In a survey released last week, 77 percent of Minnesotans support the law, with an even higher percentage -- 86 percent -- saying bars and restaurants now are healthier places. With smoke-free policies helping to drive the smoking rate to a historic low, the opportunity for bars and restaurants is to attract new customers by celebrating their fresh indoor air
And on this first anniversary of Freedom to Breathe, it is an occasion for all Minnesotans to celebrate that good public policy delivers good public outcomes.
David Willoughby is chief executive officer of ClearWay Minnesota, a non-profit agency created a decade ago with state tobacco settlement money to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke through research, action and collaboration.
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=12&a=364119
Both sides: Compromise, and allow business to cater to smokers
10/1/2008 8:50:55 AMBy Shawn GertkenNow that it's been a year since the start of the statewide smoking ban, you will undoubtedly be seeing many media campaigns that state that the overwhelming majority of Minnesota residents support the ban, Minnesotans are healthier now, and that it's business as usual.
You won't be seeing or hearing much about the other side of the story, at least not through your normal media outlets.
While many chain restaurants have not realized much of an impact of the smoking ban, there are hundreds of small businesses that catered to smokers and have seen sales drops of 20 percent to 40 percent or more. Minnesota charities have also lost millions of dollars in charitable gambling that are directly attributed to the smoking ban. This is clearly evidenced by the Charitable Gambling Impact Study released in March by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. This study shows a loss of $40 million in three months.
Unfortunately, the anti-smoking forces have millions of dollars received from the tobacco settlement, among other sources, that they use to advertise the "success" of the ban. Since the small bar owners are now losing money or even going out of business, they can't afford to counter these claims.
The anti-smoking forces also possess a survey that states that more than 75 percent of Minnesotans support the ban. However, the survey respondents and survey results can easily be manipulated by targeting a specific demographic, toning the questions in a specific manner, or by other methods.
A survey was also conducted by a media outlet about a year ago that resulted in more than half of the respondents stating that they prefer that bar owners should make the choice of allowing smoking.
The anti-smoking organizations and legislators have made it very clear that they do not support compromise. However, a common-sense approach, such as allowing bars the option to allow smoking by upgrading their ventilation systems, or by granting hardship waivers to the small businesses that have been financially devastated by the smoking ban, would go a long way in helping these businesses.
There are more than 85 candidates running for the Minnesota House of Representatives this fall that support compromise. In a country founded on liberty and compromise, allowing small business that cater to smokers is the right thing to do.
Shawn Gertken of Rochester is a member of Ban the Ban Minnesota, Inc. (www.banthebanminnesota.com) a non-profit organization dedicated to having Minnesota's smoking ban rescinded.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sheila Kromer
To: sheiladk@comcast.net
Sent: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 2:28 am
Subject: Can We Post - Theater Night Update 10-3-08
Both sides: Evidence proves Freedom to Breathe is working
The first anniversary of Minnesota's Freedom to Breathe Act is a testament to how thoughtful public policy can make Minnesota a better place to live and work. By virtually every measure, the statewide law protecting employees and customers from secondhand smoke is an overwhelming success.
Freedom to Breathe, along with the local smoke-free policies in Olmsted County and other Minnesota communities that preceded the statewide law, is delivering on every promise. For example, a study conducted by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center found that the exposure of hospitality workers to tobacco-specific cancer-causing chemicals decreased by 80 percent or more after the law's implementation.
Smoke-free policies also encourage smokers to quit. The Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey released last month showed that the state's smoking rate declined to a new low of 17 percent, significantly better than the national rate. Conducted before the Freedom to Breathe law went into effect, the data do reflect the positive impact of Minnesota's 15 local smoke-free ordinances in helping people quit. In fact, 164,000 Minnesotans have quit smoking since 1999. These data provide great encouragement that we will continue to see even more progress in reducing the smoking rate as the impact of the Freedom to Breathe law is registered in future surveys.
These achievements give all Minnesotans cause to celebrate. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease and is responsible for nearly $2 billion in excess medical costs in Minnesota. Reducing tobacco use and protecting people from secondhand smoke can help improve health, save lives and control health care costs for everyone.
Certainly, the new law has brought changes to some Minnesota bars and restaurants. Kenn Rockler, executive director of the Tavern League of Minnesota and vocal smoke-free opponent, recently was quoted as saying that the impact on bars and restaurants has been uneven and that "not everyone was damaged." He's right -- in reality, those establishments that approached the law with an open mind have found more success than those who have resisted the changes brought about by the law.
The observations of Rockler and others confirm scientific research in Minnesota and elsewhere that reflect a neutral-to-positive economic impact from smoke-free policies. More competition in the industry, a difficult economy and changing legal and social attitudes toward drinking have a much greater impact on the hospitality industry than smoke-free policies do.
Ultimately, the long-term success of Freedom to Breathe -- and the economic opportunities for bars and restaurants -- rests on public support. There again, the law is a winner. In a survey released last week, 77 percent of Minnesotans support the law, with an even higher percentage -- 86 percent -- saying bars and restaurants now are healthier places. With smoke-free policies helping to drive the smoking rate to a historic low, the opportunity for bars and restaurants is to attract new customers by celebrating their fresh indoor air
And on this first anniversary of Freedom to Breathe, it is an occasion for all Minnesotans to celebrate that good public policy delivers good public outcomes.
David Willoughby is chief executive officer of ClearWay Minnesota, a non-profit agency created a decade ago with state tobacco settlement money to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke through research, action and collaboration.
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=12&a=364119
Both sides: Compromise, and allow business to cater to smokers
Now that it's been a year since the start of the statewide smoking ban, you will undoubtedly be seeing many media campaigns that state that the overwhelming majority of Minnesota residents support the ban, Minnesotans are healthier now, and that it's business as usual.
You won't be seeing or hearing much about the other side of the story, at least not through your normal media outlets.
While many chain restaurants have not realized much of an impact of the smoking ban, there are hundreds of small businesses that catered to smokers and have seen sales drops of 20 percent to 40 percent or more. Minnesota charities have also lost millions of dollars in charitable gambling that are directly attributed to the smoking ban. This is clearly evidenced by the Charitable Gambling Impact Study released in March by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. This study shows a loss of $40 million in three months.
Unfortunately, the anti-smoking forces have millions of dollars received from the tobacco settlement, among other sources, that they use to advertise the "success" of the ban. Since the small bar owners are now losing money or even going out of business, they can't afford to counter these claims.
The anti-smoking forces also possess a survey that states that more than 75 percent of Minnesotans support the ban. However, the survey respondents and survey results can easily be manipulated by targeting a specific demographic, toning the questions in a specific manner, or by other methods.
A survey was also conducted by a media outlet about a year ago that resulted in more than half of the respondents stating that they prefer that bar owners should make the choice of allowing smoking.
The anti-smoking organizations and legislators have made it very clear that they do not support compromise. However, a common-sense approach, such as allowing bars the option to allow smoking by upgrading their ventilation systems, or by granting hardship waivers to the small businesses that have been financially devastated by the smoking ban, would go a long way in helping these businesses.
There are more than 85 candidates running for the Minnesota House of Representatives this fall that support compromise. In a country founded on liberty and compromise, allowing small business that cater to smokers is the right thing to do.
Shawn Gertken of Rochester is a member of Ban the Ban Minnesota, Inc. (www.banthebanminnesota.com) a non-profit organization dedicated to having Minnesota's smoking ban rescinded.
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