It is no mystery that cigarette smoking has only negative effects on one's health. The smoking ban wants to protect the non-smoking, innocent citizens who work and dine in restaurants and bars from these toxic chemicals. It seems like a simple solution to ban smoking to protect the public's health, therefore, reducing health care costs. Right? Not so easy in the state of Virginia. Philip Morris, one of the largest tobacco producing plants is located just south of Richmond, Virginia. Lobbyists for Philip Morris argue that banning smoking in public places will cause a decrease in revenue which may potentially result in job losses. The American Non-Smokers' Rights Foundation outlines numerous studies conducted by the tobacco industries
(http://no-smoke.org/document.php?id=208). They argue that the studies were inconclusive due to flaws within the research conducted.
The Impact of Clean Indoor Air Exemptions and Preemption Policies on the Prevalence of a Tobacco-Specific Lung Carcinogen Among Nonsmoking Bar and Restaurant Workers proves the need for policy change (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=19&hid=16&sid=61258509-ee85-4812-b90b-52067528f987%40sessionmgr9). The article outlines that workers exposed to second-hand smoke in restaurant have an increased amount of tobacco specific lung carcinogens in their urine. These carcinogens increase a person's risk for lung cancer and other lung diseases. These diseases have a serious impact on health care costs. If the smoking ban was in effect, less people would be exposed to carcinogens from second-hand smoking which would ultimately reduce health care costs.
As nurses, it is important for us to continue to educate our patients and those in our communities about the effects of smoking. We need to advocate for the elimination of smoking in public places such as, hospitals, college campuses, and work place environments. In conclusion, with the the smoking ban policy in effect the overall health and quality of life of Virginia citizens would increase and our health care costs would decrease.
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Its interesting the lobbyists for Philip Morris are using the the United States current economic instability as an excuse for why the Indoor Clean Air Act shouldn't be passed. I think that tobacco companies have been able to get away with so much in our society due to their power in the government and large sum donations.
ReplyDeleteI think that as nurses we could make great strides with this bill by acting locally. Encouraging our friends not to smoke and even promoting that JMU be a smoke free campus.
I am from Maryland and this bill has already been passed in the metropolitan area. This bill has done wonders to make our area a more clean and smoke free area. When you walk into a restaurant or bar you aren't greeted with a cloud of smoke that automatically clings to your clothes, hair, and lungs. Smokers must go outside, away from the restaurant or bar onto the sidewalk. You don't have to walk into a restaurant request a nonsmoking area and wonder how the smoke doesn't travel from the smoking to the nonsmoking area when in fact both sections are under the same roof.
ReplyDeleteAs a nursing major, I look at this bill as a benefit. It allows people to control the secondhand and thirdhand smoke they are inhaling. This helps prevent the complications smoke has on the body and will in turn help lower the amount of people treated for smoking complications. All in all, this bill helps lower the costs of treating complications of smoking, may curb the smoking population into nonsmoking habits,(since they cant do it at their convenience inside buildings anymore), and promotes a healthy environment.
Virginia is a "tobacco state" and many of the plants are located right outside of Virginia, I do indeed think this will be a hard bill to pass in this state, and hope that Government Officials are not curbed by the head companies into voting against the bill. Nurses need to work to show the complications smoking has on people and the environment to show officials why this bill needs to be passed.
I think this bill is going to be very beneficial in the long run for people's health. I am from Maryland as well and even though they banned smoking in restaurants I never once have heard people complain about this or say that it is more of a problem rather than a solution. I find a lot more people are happier going to restaurants knowing they will not smell like smoke when they leave and because of this, can enjoy their meal better. I think this will be hard to pass in Virginia because this is a tobacco state, but once they do, it will definitely help improve people's health especially kids who are exposed to secondhand smoke. Overall, I think this bill is a great idea and should be passed in every state and could save lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this bill should be passed! I think it would do a lot to help keep our air clean and to prevent lung disease. Is Philip Morris the only company speaking out against the bill? What about the restaraunts and bars that might lose customers because of the bill?
ReplyDeleteTo Molly- You make a good point. Nurses acting on a local level could be the building blocks for a community against public smoking. By acting logically and through avenues of public political action nurses can make a difference by starting within their own communities.
ReplyDeleteShannon- I think it is important that we look at other states that have already passed bills that do not permit smoking in restaurants and bars. This is a good way to show evidence that it can not only be done, but that it benefits everyone involved. Not only are people who are unwilling to be around second-hand smoke happy, but the smokers themselves have learned to adjust. We want to show the legislators in Virginia that this option is beneficial for everyone and that it's not too much to ask for. Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteKristin - I don't even think the real problem lies with the fact that so much tobacco is manufactured and shipped from Virginia. Phillip Morris clearly has not lost any money from rising taxes, or bans in other states. The real problem here is that the rich tobacco lobbyists have the power to buy out the legislators and push their own agendas. I think that it was a great first step for Virginia to even pass the bill that they did. I feel like most of the people in Virginia want this bill passed, and it's our duty to push the legislators to stop letting the lobbyists buy them out.
ReplyDeleteSGC - I have heard of some concern from restaurant owners having an issue with this bill. According to them, they feel that a majority of their patrons are smokers and that if they attempt to make restrictions on smoking, that their patrons will just go somewhere else. I feel that the partial ban that was passed in Virginia might actually make this a real problem. If some bars allow smoking due to patios or because they have a smoking section, they will have an edge over the bars that do not. This could be a good incentive to get other bars to follow suit, but I think to eliminate that problem all together, a complete ban would help. That way, all bars would be forced to not allow smoking and no one would feel like they were losing patrons to other bars that would allow it.
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