New coalition announces results of public opinion poll on smokefree air

EVANSVILLE ENJOYED AND NOW EXPECTS SMOKEFREE AIR

 

Smokefree Evansville, a new coalition of concerned health advocates, has called on local elected officials to bring back a smokefree air ordinance for the city of Evansville.  The group released the results of a recently conducted public opinion survey, commissioned by the Survey Research Center at Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) on what would have been the two year anniversary of the city’s smokefree air ordinance.   Anne Mitchell, Interim Director at the Survey Research Center IUPUI, was on hand at a news conference held by Smokefree Evansville to release key findings of the survey.  Key findings include:

      There was widespread support for the law:   Seventy-five percent of Evansville adults indicated support for the law which was in place from April 1, 2012 up until February 11, 2014, and made most public places in Evansville, including workplaces, restaurants, bars, and private clubs smokefree.

People want a stronger law:  Sixty nine percent of residents favored amending the smokefree air ordinance to include the casino. Eighty-six percent of Evansville adults and 65 percent of smokers feel that all Evansville workers, including casino workers, should be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

People continued to support business:  A majority of residents (84 percent) went out as often as before or more frequently.

People were healthier:  Eighty-nine percent agreed that restaurants and bars were healthier for customers and employees when they were smokefree.  During the law, 26 percent of current smokers stated that they were smoking fewer cigarettes and 34 percent had thought about quitting smoking.

Smokefree Evansville is calling on Evansville’s elected officials to take note of the results of this survey,” said Cathy Engel, member of Smokefree Evansville, “and stand on the side of good public health policy for the future of our community by enacting a new smokefree air ordinance.”

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Smokefree Evansville is a coalition of concerned citizens that are fighting to protect the health and well-being of those who are affected by secondhand smoke in their workplace.

 

As a result, Smokefree Evansville’s coalition is encouraging city leaders to bring back a stronger smokefree indoor air ordinance than the one they passed in 2012, one that includes protection for every worker in Evansville.  

 

Smokefree Evansville strongly believes that no one, no matter where they work, should have to choose between their health and their paycheck.