Restaurants go smoke free
Believing their customers and employees should not have to be subjected to deadly second-hand smoke, 12 local restaurants have made a commitment to go smoke free.
The smoke-free pledges come as a result of a recent campaign by the Warren County Teen Health Council and the American Cancer Society. Restaurants signing the pledge include Krystal, Subway, McDonald’s, Charley’s BBQ, Logan Farms/Baskin Robbins, Collection Cafe, Papa John’s, Burger King, Domino’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Planet Pizza.
Teen Health Council co-sponsors Sheila Cantrell and Dawn Wanamaker said addressing the issue of second-hand smoke in public places is of utmost importance. According to the American Cancer Society, each year 3,000 non-smoking adults die of lung cancer and thousands more develop other respiratory problems.
“While some restaurants seclude smokers in a separate room, most restaurants’ smoking areas are just one side of the restaurant, which means non-smokers still get the harmful effects of tobacco smoke,” said Cantrell.
The smoke-free restaurant campaign began in January when Teen Health Council members sent informational packets detailing the harmful effects of tobacco and second-hand smoke to 42 local restaurants. Each packet also contained a written pledge for restaurant owners or managers to sign.
Funding for the campaign came through a Centers for Disease Control grant made possible with money from the multi-billion dollar tobacco settlement which was earmarked for tobacco education.
Planet Pizza owner Burgess Luna said he and his wife, Janie, chose to make their restaurant smoke-free because of the harmful nature of tobacco smoke. “Smoking is very unhealthy and we’re a family oriented business. We want to give our customers – parents, grandparents and especially children – a safe environment when they come here,” said Luna.
When asked if he was worried he might drive away potential customers, Luna said the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. “Money’s one thing, health’s another,” he said.