Once Enemies, Now Friends
Restaurant Associations and Health Groups Work for Common Goal 

Once the biggest opponents of smokefree workplace legislation, restaurant associations are quickly becoming the biggest supporters.

More than a hundred U.S. cities now have smokefree laws in place, and restaurants have found that business has not been hurt.  In addition, cleaning bills are lower, employee health is better, and managing is easier not having to separate customers.

Rick J. Sampson, the president of the New York State Restaurant Association, said that a majority of the 8,000 members of his group, including restaurants, food service operators and suppliers, indicated their support for a total ban on smoking in a recent survey. "This is the future," he said. "This is the way it's going."   Mr. Sampson pledged to settle for nothing less than a complete ban on smoking in workplaces and said he would advocate for legislation in that direction.

 

Massachusetts's restaurant association also recently dropped its opposition to smokefree workplace legislation.  In California, the nation's largest restaurant association endorsed smokefree workplace legislation many years ago.

 

"I remember when restaurant associations testified that smokefree workplace legislation would hurt tourism, lead to massive layoffs, and drive restaurants out of business," says Joe Cherner, president of SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc., the nation's largest smokefree advocacy group.  "It's nice to see them come onboard.  We are thrilled to now be advocating together."

 

Basically, restaurant associations want a healthy environment for workers and a level playing field for business.  So do restaurant unions.  According to San Francisco's Hotel and Restaurant Employee's Union (HERE), "When smokefree workplace legislation was proposed in California, some hospitality-based unions were opposed. They were concerned about the potential economic impact such legislation would have.  Now, it is obvious that such concerns were unfounded. SmokeFree workplace legislation is not only good for health, it is also good for business."

 

At a recent hearing in Boston, Janice Loux, president of Boston's Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union testified, "Bar and restaurant workers are one and a half to two times more likely to die of lung cancer than they would be if bar and restaurants were one hundred percent smokefree.  Bar and restaurant workers endure levels of secondhand smoke four to six times greater than found in the home of a smoker.  Our members are clear on this issue.  Clean air works in our workplace."

"When legislatures pass laws allowing smoking in one workplace but not in another, it creates an unlevel playing field and it says that some workers' health is more important than other workers' health." adds Cherner.  "We are all human beings.  The health of ALL workers is EQUALLY important.  Tobacco smoke causes cancer.  All workers deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree workplace."

To send a letter in support of smokefree workplace legislation, go to www.smokefree.org

 

Joseph W. Cherner, President
SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc.
http://www.smokefree.org

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."       Margaret Mead